Due to importance of addressing gender issues in the circumstances of pandemic, the Public Defender of Georgia, with the support of UN Women, translated a policy research document prepared by the UN – “Impact of COVID-19 on women”. The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) has a negative impact on gender equality. International practice shows that risks of gender-based violence have increased, access to women health services, incomes and livelihoods, education, clean water and food has become more complicated. The UN policy research document contains a review of impact of the pandemic in terms of the economy, health, unremunerated work, gender-based violence and humanitarian missions. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes a viewpoint of Ekaterine Skhiladze – “Father and mother fight with daggers: Impact of the pandemic on violence against women and domestic violence”. “In Georgia, in the circumstances of the new coronavirus pandemic, challenges of systemic character, existing in the field of prevention of violence against women and domestic violence, as well as protection and assistance of victims, have further aggravated. Complicated economic situation, loss of jobs, closure of child care facilities, restriction of traffic have hit women the most of all. The caregiving burden of women in families has increased, their economic situation has deteriorated, and risks of domestic violence due to longer stays with abusers have increased”, - is stated in the publication. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. With support from the European Union, the two UN sister agencies will work with government bodies and civil society partners in six countries to challenge deeply ingrained gender stereotypes, increase men’s involvement in domestic work and childcare, and engage with potential perpetrators to prevent gender-based violence. Read more... Source: georgia.unfpa.org

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) publishes a policy document of Tatia Kinkladze, a lawyer of the organization: Why are gender quotas needed? “Enactment of a gender quota mechanism is not the only and sufficient guarantee that unequal treatment and discrimination against women will be weakened. It is important to continue the process of reforming anti-discrimination legislation and introduce mechanisms that are going to facilitate economic empowerment of women, effective investigation of gender-based violent actions and their prevention, as well as eradication of those systemic problems that lead to inequality against women”. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. According to an information of the UN Women Georgia, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a package of amendments to the Law of Georgia on Elimination of Domestic Violence, Protection and Support of Victims of Domestic Violence and other accompanying laws. “According to the changes, it will be possible to establish a GPS electronic monitoring system to track high-risk DV offenders. The technology provides an early warning system that enables law enforcement to intervene before a crime is committed”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) publishes a study: Femicide and challenges related to it in Georgia. “Present study is a kind of an attempt to review legislative guarantees that criminalize gender-based violence as well as femicide in Georgia, reveal problems that exist in practice in this area and elaborate recommendations”. Read more… Source:isfed.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by the Women’s Foundation, the green/ecological concept building will serve women and human rights, green, feminist activists, non-governmental organizations of women and local women free of charge to organize and conduct business meetings.  “Besides, it will serve as a residence for female artists and writers - a space for privacy and work, where they will be able to live for some time, and take care of the premises and the community garden instead. In order to ensure administration of free services and financial sustainability, the space will be additionally used for commercial purposes”.  Read more… Source: www.womenfundgeorgia.org

Tbilisi. UN Women Georgia Country Office decided to present women whose contribution to the response against the virus had particular significance. To show that at most responsible moment women stood on the frontline and courageously safeguarded people’s safety and well-being, often at the cost of risking their own health. Read more... Source: The organization’s page in a social network

New Thinking Institute launches an innovative project. “Despite the fact that a number of state and non-governmental organizations have been implementing awareness raising projects for years, the problem of early marriage is still acute in Georgia. Due to early marriage women do not have access to education and employment opportunities. Marriage at a young age also significantly hinders their engagement in social life. To resolve above-mentioned problems, New Thinking Institute offers parents a project - “School of Mothers”, which is going to bring 20 volunteer mothers, living in Sadakhlo, Molaogli and Khuldara villages, together to participate in 10 months seminars and trainings in various subjects, including civic education, Georgian and English (elementary level) languages, nature, mathematics, computer programs. Within the framework of the project, we will also carry out social activities, cooperate with local self-government and schools. Participants of “School of Mothers” have already been selected”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more…  Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. With the joint initiative of UN Women and the Public Defender’s Office in Georgia, the free online course on Gender Equality has been developed. The online course is available for anyone to enroll. Use your time efficiently during quarantine, take the course and find out more about #GenderEquality. The initiative is carried out within the project “A Joint Action for Women’s Economic Empowerment in Georgia”, funded by the Government of Norway. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. According to information of the Georgian Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT), the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims publishes a report related to so called “Conversion Therapy”. “The report contains a detailed review of methods practiced by different countries and the impact that these interventions have on humans”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. According to information of the United Nations Women’s Fund, companies that signed Women’s Empowerment Principles in Georgia, plan new initiatives to support women. “These initiatives take into account an important role of women entrepreneurs in the economy of the country and negative impact that COVID-19 is going to have on both entrepreneur and other women living in the country. One of the companies that has taken steps in this direction is “Georgian Audit Company”. It signed Women’s Empowerment Principles in January 2020. At the end of February, when there was confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Georgia, the company announced publicly that it was offering free taxpayer services to women entrepreneurs. In March, 23 women took advantage of this service”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: georgia.unwomen.org

Tbilisi. The EU-supported Tsalka and Keda Local Action Groups (LAGs), in partnership with CENN, invite you to participate in a cycle of webinars: ‘Women and Covid-19’. The webinars will be dealing with various topics in connection to the impact of Covid-19 on women, challenges the women face while in isolation and the possible ways to respond effectively to the occurred challenges. To participate in the webinars, please register at the following link...  For more information visit... Source: The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia issues the following statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission. “The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge that has forced countries, citizens and governments to drastically change the way we live. It impacts everybody. Its negative effects are particularly hard for people in vulnerable situations. The immediate and necessary measures adopted to address the health and economic challenges should not leave anyone behind, including those already living below the poverty line, internally displaced persons and persons with disabilities, victims of gender-based and domestic violence and people and children living on the streets. The EU and its Member States are supporting the government and a number of state and civil society organisations in their actions to help those most affected by the pandemic. Grants provided to civil society organisations, including through the so-called Rapid Reaction Mechanism, allow them to provide immediate support to vulnerable groups. In a crisis like this, all parts of a democratic society play a crucial role, wherefore an enabling environment for a pluralistic civil society is more important than ever. No one is immune to the effects of this pandemic and no one should be left behind”. Read more… Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. As UN Women Georgia informs in Georgia mostly women are engaged in production of medical protective garments and their role is enormous in the fight against the spread of coronavirus. “70 women employees of Doctor Goods are working around the clock to increase production of protective garments and masks for Georgian medical workers”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. According to Women’s Information Center, there have been discussed risks of increase of domestic violence cases during the pandemic at a sitting of the inter-agency commission that works on the same issues. The statement, released by the Government, notes that along with economic and social risks, the state controls risks of violence against women and domestic violence. Read more… Source: ginsc.net

W-Talks start on April 2 and are an initiative of the USAID Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia Program (PROLoG). Each edition of W-Talk will be hosted by Ana Abashidze, head of the Partnership for Human Rights. Read more… Source: The page of the organization in the social network

Tbilisi. The Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) addresses state agencies in regard to the situation on spread of the coronavirus. “The crisis, caused by the virus, most severely affects those who do not have the “luxury” of self-isolation or working remotely, as well as lonely and homeless seniors, homeless people, IDPs, single mothers, people with disabilities and more. Among them are also transgender people and, so far, the state refuses to regulate legal recognition of their gender, which is a vitally important legal tool to ensure access of transgender people to health, employment and other social protection mechanisms rather than just a legal formality”. Read more… Source: women.ge

Tbilisi. Due to COVID-19, women who work remotely are, in parallel, managing increased household and care work. This is a big responsibility and men can step in to share it equally. “Globally, women do three times more unpaid care work than men, including child care and caring for the sick. In Georgia on average - women carry out 45 hours of unpaid household and care work per week, compared to men who average about 15 hours per week (UN Women, 2018)”. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. As Gender Information Network informs, according to data of Geostat, in the IV quarter of 2019, the average monthly nominal salary of men in Georgia is GEL 575 higher than that of women.  Based on a report of the “National Statistics Office”, in the IV quarter of 2019, the average salary of women constituted GEL 1018.5, while that of men – GEL 1593.2 and the annual increase of salary reached GEL 112.5 and 124.7 respectively. By types of activity, salaries of men exceeded those of women in almost all sectors”, - is stated on the website of the Platform. Read more…  Source: ginsc.net

With the support of UN Women TASO Foundation is conducting trainings in business management for women entrepreneurs. The training course consists of 55 contact hours and is conducted at the Academy of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia. „It is notable that the women entrepreneurs have received small grants for their business development. The initiative is funded within the framework of the project “A joint Action for Women’s Economic Empowerment in Georgia” funded by the government of Norway“, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. On March 10, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), conducted presentation of a report on the first systemic study, which reflects work environment, career development and professional advancement in terms of gender equality in civil sector. “Data of the quantitative and qualitative study confirm that ways passed by women and men managers in civil service are different, and these differences are reflected through various cultural practices that reveal gender inequality in civil service”, - is stated on the website of the organization.  Read more… Source: idfi.ge