Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia made a Statement on International Women's Day.  ‘Although certain mechanisms have been developed to combat violence against women and domestic violence in recent years, the gender-based killings of eight women over the past two months and four attempted murders indicate that the existing system, which is largely reactive and implies the involvement of law enforcement agencies only after violence takes place, is not effective’, - mentioned the Public Defender. Read more…  Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. A high-level meeting on prevention of violence against women in politics and elections was organized by the UN Gender Theme Group in Tbilisi. “Violence against women is also linked to their small representation. One of the reasons why women experience violence is that they lack the opportunity to be fully empowered and are not decision-makers. This is an issue that would be good to observe improved and to hear from international partners as to what is going on to address it. This issue has not been the main focus until recently, therefore our conference will pay its attention to elimination of violence against women in politics and elections. Our recommendation is to urge all politicians and political parties to work on this issue”, - stated Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia. Read more…  Source: www.ginsc.net

Tbilisi. According to information of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), today the Tbilisi Court of Appeals made an important decision related to combatting violence against women. “The court ruled that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Office of the Prosecutor General were supposed to take respective measures to protect the victim of domestic violence who committed suicide. Prior to her death, the woman applied to relevant authorities for help 16 times and the state had to know that her life and health were in danger. State authorities have been charged to compensate the loss in favor of the mother of the deceased”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Conference on Prevention and Monitoring of Femicide was held with the support of the Public Defender of Georgia and UN Women on 11 December 2019. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the systemic problem and the most extreme form of the killing of women. The main findings of the report show that it is still problematic for the court to assess a case as femicide or attempted femicide. Even when gender motives are identified, this is not reflected in aggravating circumstances of the punishment. Accordingly, it is important for the Prosecutor's Office to take appropriate measures to identify gender motives in the murders or attempted murders of woman. Read more… Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) publishes a study: “Mandatory gender quota at parliamentary elections in the EU Member States”. “Applying a mandatory gender quota is an effective mechanism to tackle gender inequality quickly. We have studied laws and practices of the EU member states to see how they managed to increase representation of women in the legislative body and what reforms they implemented to achieve it. The research shows that a mandatory gender quota at parliamentary elections is applied in 10 out of the 28 EU member states. The first six of them also use a unified proportional representation electoral system (List PR)”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. UNDP, in partnership the UN Women and the governments of Czech Republic and Denmark, published a study on behavior of the domestic violence bystanders. “The study showed that in half of the cases of domestic violence the witnesses remain inert and those who are willing to help often do not know how. The study was presented within the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence which this year runs under a slogan “Every Woman Has A Story”. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a blogpost: Gender imbalance in the self-government bodies of the municipalities of Adjara. “The representation of women in the city councils of Adjara has increased, although, in spite of this, there is a significant gender imbalance in the self-government bodies, especially in the executive organs of the municipalities. Women’s representation is still low in the factions and commissions of the city councils. Only 2 of the 29 factions (both in Batumi) in the region’s self-government bodies are chaired by women. As for commissions, only 4 of the 30 commissions in 6 city councils are chaired by women (in Kobuleti, Khelvachauri, Shuakhevi, and Khulo)”, is noted in the statement.  Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the decision of the Women's Fund in Georgia, this year the theme of the Kato Mikeladze award was cooperation and intersection among movements. There were nominated 16 women for the award, those who work in related fields, but whose activities are directed towards improvement of legal status of women. The winner of the Kato Mikeladze award for 2019 is Khatia Gogoberidze. The winner has been given a financial prize set by Mama Cash - the International Feminist Foundation, while the UN Development Program ensures her attendance at a meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women that is going to take place in March 2020 in New York. Read more… Source: www.womenfundgeorgia.org

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia made a statement on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.  ‘The 16-day campaign against gender-based violence has been celebrated worldwide since 1991, begining on November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ending on December 10 - International Human Rights Day. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the challenges and problems facing the country in terms of violence against women’, - The Public Defender said, - ‘Georgia joins the global campaign every year and focuses on establishing zero tolerance for violence against women and girls. The main theme of this year’s 16-day campaign against gender-based violence is sexual harassment. This year has been important in terms of legislative regulation of sexual harassment and development of appropriate practices’.  Read more…  Source: http://ombudsman.ge

#Happeningnow UN Women is presenting The Progress of the World's Women report 2019. The report presents the realities the families living in a changing world taking into consideration global economic, demographic, political and social changes. The progress report offers in-depth analysis in the areas of family laws, income and labour, unpaid work, violence against women, families and migration etc. Read more… Source: Social network

#Happeningnow With the support of UN Women a Training of Trainers on the issues of Violence against women and domestic violence is ongoing at the Georgian Bar Association Training Center. „The course aims at building capacity of the trainers on the latest legislative regulations as well as covering psychological aspects of VAWG/DV primarily aimed at preventing secondary victimization. The trainers will conduct learning sessions for lawyers in different regions of Georgia“. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. Third Leadership Academy was held in Tbilisi. Human Rights House Tbilisi is implementing a project with IREX Europe, a French-based NGO, aimed at promoting and strengthening the leadership skills of young women human rights defenders.  This 26-month project covers 5 countries of Eurasia with the support of the European Commission. The leadership academy in Georgia is co-financed by the Human Rights House Foundation.  About 30 young human rights activists from Georgia and Azerbaijan participated in the Third Leadership Academy. The topic of the Academy was non-profit and social marketing for human rights defenders.  Read more…  Source: https://hrht.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a blog post: The Challenges That Female Public Figures Face in Georgia. “The subject of women's social life and participation in politics has recently been widely discussed in the public. The majority of the population in Georgia hold a positive view on women’s participation in public life. According to public opinion polls, 65% of Georgians support the introduction of a mandatory gender quota in the parliament. Important legislative changes have been adopted in recent years to strengthen women's rights, including through the efforts of the Gender Equality Council of the Parliament of Georgia. However, from a legal point of view, the progress loses its value if there is no effective response from the state and the ruling political groups on the instances of psychological terror against women on the basis of their political and public activism and critical positions”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Computer courses are conducted for women and girls from self-help groups in Akhmeta, Telavi, Lagodekhi and Tetritskaro municipalities. Read more… Source: Social network

UN Women, in the frameworks of its support to private sector partners conducted a workshop on Sexual Harassment complaints mechanisms with 15 representatives of Socar Georgia Petroleum. “The workshop aims at informing company’s management on the recently adopted legislative amendments on sexual harassment as well as finalizing the complaints mechanism which SOCAR Georgia Petroleum will soon introduce. Sexual Harassment Complaints Mechanism is part of the Action Plan on Women’s Empowerment Principles (#WEPs) which Socar is implementing since 2018“. Read more… Source: The web page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. According to information of the Gender Informational Portal, those committed violence against women or domestic violence will be monitored electronically. “The package of amendments has already been presented to the parliament and will be discussed at the bureau sitting of today. Electronic monitoring envisages a special bracelet to be attached to the violator after issuing a restraining order”, - is stated on the website of the Portal. Read more… Source: www.ginsc.net

Kvemo Kartli. Youth from Kvemo Kartli extend their support to Hamid Sadikov, a teacher of geography in Tazakendi, who has been forced by part of the population to apologize in the center of the village for his status related to kidnaping of a schoolgirl and posted in a social networ. There has appeared a website in a social network that publishes the first video, in which Muslim youth address both Hamid and the public: “Hello, we have come, we are in front of you! We come to fight against injustice! We come to protest premature marriage and abduction of girls by force! Hamid, you are not alone! Do not touch a teacher, if you have something to say tell it to me! I am Hamid! We are Hamids! Watch the video… Source: The website in a social network

Tbilisi. A full of positive emotions two-day “Community Leadership Forum 2019” is over. The forum of his year was dedicated to the International Day of Rural Women. The forum was conducted within the framework of the project “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” with the support of the European Union and Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the reports about alleged sexual and physical abuse committed by a member of Tbilisi City Assembly against his employee.  ‘Depending on the gravity and sensitivity of the case, the Public Defender calls on the Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia to conduct an effective investigation, including by carrying out all necessary investigative or other procedural actions. In addition, it is important to eliminate any doubts about political interests or biased investigation, and the investigating authority to actively cooperate with the alleged victim and her representative’, - Is mentioned in a Public Defender’s statement.  Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the comment made by Mamuka Khazaradze, founder of the Lelo political movement, about Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili on 3 October 2019. Mamuka Khazaradze said: ‘Maia Tskitishvili knows nothing about infrastructure. She may bake khachapuri well, but I don't know what her experience was in her previous life, when she was receiving billions’.  ‘The Public Defender considers that Mamuka Khazaradze's statement is sexist and strengthens discriminatory stereotypes about gender roles of men and women. In his statement Mamuka Khazaradze implied that women can only be competent in the kitchen, while he quesitoend their ability to get involved in public or political life, their education and qualifications’, - mentions the Public Defender.  Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Mayors of Rustavi, Kutaisi, Ozurgeti and Lagodekhi municipalities have signed the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life. The signing ceremony was initiated by the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia. The document, developed by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) in May 2006, aims to both establish gender balance and take respective measures within the frameworks of their jurisdiction in order to improve equality between men and women at municipalities. Read more… Source: http://nala.ge

 In August 2019, the “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus” project provided opportunity to 21 vulnerable women of Shirak and Gegharkunik regions to advance their skills in sewing and tailoring.  „Two workshops were conducted by the specialists of the Burda Academy Yerevan. The participating women took part in masterclasses on how to start a sewing business, in fashion stylist, and in networking closing event with several Armenian designers. "Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus” is a project of UN Women, implemented in three countries of the South Caucasus with support from the Swiss Cooperation South Caucasus and the Austrian Development Agency The Armenian segment of the project is implemented by UNDP in Armenia in partnership with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia and in close collaboration with UN Women Georgia”, is noted in the statement.  Read more… Source: Social network