On November 29, 2023, the Socrates Club at Ilia State University School of Law, with support from the USAID Rule of Law Program, discussed a court decision made by the Tetritskaro District Court in 2018 on forced marriage.

The Tetritskaro District Court Judge Badri Niparishvili spoke, and Natia Aslanova, a law student, moderated the meeting. The case under consideration pertained to the forced marriage of a minor girl, during which the court provided crucial legal clarifications in its ruling.

According to the court decision, even though the minor was able to escape from the unwanted marriage, the father was held liable since forcing a marriage in this case was accompanied by an aggravating circumstance, which is a crime committed against a minor, knowingly by an offender. The Court ruled that the crime is considered completed from the moment of coercion, that is, when a person is forced to marry against her will, regardless of whether the offender succeeded in achieving his goal or not. The case is important as it sets a precedent by establishing legal clarity on forced marriages of minors.

Throughout the discussion attended by 13 people, the moderator and speaker delved into the legal aspects of forced marriage, examined the repercussions of the court's decisions, and explored the challenges prevalent in today's reality. Audience engagement was lively, with questions focusing on the role of the education system, particularly schools, and how they can establish internal support systems to prevent such cases. In conclusion, the moderator and the presenter emphasized the significance of raising awareness in the ongoing battle against forced marriages, recognizing the critical role that education and legal interventions play in fostering a society free from such gender-based violence.

The event was part of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign held by Ilia State University School of Law with the USAID Rule of Law Program support.