To commemorate Women’s History Month, on March 15, Judge Natia Gujabidze of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals met with over 300 high school students at the Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi and discussed the protection of women’s rights by Georgian courts.

Judge Gujabidze explained the roles of individual judges, recounting her professional pathway which included working on both administrative and civil law cases. She shared the challenges judges face when handling high-profile cases. Responding to student inquiries, she explained the differences between administrative law and civil law and noted that she prefers to handle civil law cases because they offer a broader scope for statutory interpretation.

To bring complex legal concepts to life, Judge Gujabidze presented the facts of two illustrative cases.  One case involved the dismissal of a pregnant public employee and another addressed the division of property in an unregistered marriage. The unregistered marriage case involved the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl for marriage, and the students were incredulous that such behaviors persisted and often went unpunished in Georgia.

Students were keen to learn about the path to becoming a judge, about the main challenges in the profession, and about the evolving judicial landscape in Georgia. They also sought insights into the specific cases discussed by Judge Gujabidze.

This event was organized as part of the USAID Rule of Law Program’s informative sessions aimed at fostering dialogue between judges and high school students, promoting the judicial profession, and enhancing the younger generation’s understanding of various human rights issues. Judge Gujabidze, has extensive experience in cases involving women's property rights, unregistered marriages, and the protection of women and children in family disputes and is a member of the Rule of Law Practice Groups focusing on Women’s and Child’s Rights.