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

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On September 3-4, within a frame of an ongoing project, Taso Foundation conducted trainings on Women's Leadership in Aspindza and Akhaltsikhe municipalities. Women had an opportunity to meet a rural leader from village Leilani, who is not only the leader in her community but also of the women's movement as a whole. Leadership, management, motivation, these are some of the topics discussed during the training. These activities are carried out in the framework of the project “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus” is managed by UN Women and funded by Swiss Development Cooperation and Austrian Development Cooperation. Read more Source: The page of the organization

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) publishes a blog post: “Dynamic of issuance of restraining orders by regions requires further analysis and appropriate actions from MIA”. “In 2014-2018 years, the indicator of issuance of restraining orders has a growing tendency in almost every region, except Guria and Samtskhe-Javakheti”. Read more… Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) publishes a blog post: How to increase applying of victims of violence to police via carrying out gender statistics. “For me, as a lawyer, statistics is the best tool to convince a violence affected woman to trust the state. Statistics, which I almost never have because the state does not consider that it is important to know how and how often women become victims of violence, what happens with these women when abusers are released from prison, whether they confront repeated violence and a lot more...”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is concerned about the increased use of sexist terms by politicians and public officials towards women involved in political and public life, including politician Tinatin Bokuchava and journalist Inga Grigolia.  “It is alarming that authors of sexist phrases are often politicians, including elected male members of elective bodies - parliament and city councils. Their opinions are not based on objective or professional criticism, but are conditioned by gender stereotypes and emphasize the sex and sexuality of the victim”, - is mentioned in the Public defender’s statement.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. “Women’s Movement” expresses its solidarity towards Inga Grigolia, a journalist, and condemns an insulting statement of sexual character made by Levan Oniani, Chairperson of Rustavi City Assembly, against her. “We call on Rustavi City Assembly to dismiss Chairperson of the Assembly from his position, while the ruling party – “Georgian Dream” – to expel Levan Oniani from their team”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source:    The page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. According to the Gender Informational portal, for the first time a woman will be holding the position of President of the European Commission. “The European Commission will be headed by Ursula von der Leyen, a representative of Germany, who has been appointed as Minister of Defense of Germany since 2013, while the European Central Bank – by Christine Lagarde, former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund”, - is stated on the portal. Read more… Source: www.ginsc.net

Tbilisi. Europe Foundation responds to the Impact Assessment of Industrial, Technical Support, and Access to Finance Components for the ‘Produce in Georgia’ Program (2014-2018) published by LEPL Enterprise Georgia operating under the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. “In August 2018, Europe Foundation commissioned a Gendered Assessment of SME Development Strategy of Georgia 2016-2020, which was later shared with relevant stakeholders. The assessment concluded that strategy development was not preceded by a gender analysis. Since needs, challenges, and opportunities vary for men and women, a gender analysis is necessary. Without this, SME Development Strategy will not lead to interventions that improve economic outcomes for women and men in the SME sector”, - Is mentioned in the response.  Read more Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Women’s fund in Georgia publishes a new study of We Research - “Environmental Justice and Women’s Rights in Georgia”.  “According to the new study, presented by Women's Fund in Georgia, the intersection of environmental and gender equality is a new fi eld for the key actors working on the environmental as well as on gender equality issues Its implementation is challenging for most of the parties concerned The lack of information, experience, and resources is considered as a signifi cant barrier for the key actors working on environmental issues to mainstream gender aspect in their ongoing activities Absence of specifi c action plans and/ or widespread gender neutral and gender stereotypical attitudes is also considered as challenging”, - In the study is mentioned, - “According to focus group participants, vulnerability caused due to the environmental changes is determined by the territorial attachment, economic status and social connections It is noteworthy that in comparison to men, having lower income and lower participation in the workforce make women more vulnerable to environmental changes However, the interviewees do not discuss economic vulnerability issues with specifi c reference to gender”. Read more  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group releases a statement in regard to violence publicly encouraged during past few days against LGBTQI people living in Georgia. “We urge means of media to not facilitate promotion of hate speech language and more stigmatization of LGBTQI people; We call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to eliminate immediately hate-motivated crimes or incidents, including threats related to such crimes”. Read... Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Elevate your Company through Women’s Empowerment! – On June 15-16 UN Women in collaboration with the Business Leaders`Federation ''Women for Tomorrow'' will host a two-day forum for women’s economic empowerment in Batumi. ''The two-day forum will highlight businesses’ role in women’s empowerment, showcase inspirational role models and share information about the training, grant and education opportunities available for women. The guests will have a chance to attend various indoor and outdoor events organized during the forum, including workshop sessions for women entrepreneurs and start-uppers'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. "Women’s Fund in Georgia” presents a blog of the Executive Director of the Fund – "Activism is always in danger”. "Activism is in danger in Georgia - probably not only in Georgia, but for me this is primarily alarming and that is why I am addressing you - in Georgia activism is in danger!”, - considers Nana Pantsulaia, - "Activists and activist campaigns are the force that grows citizens, develops civil society and forms the perception of justice. There is a lot more that can be said as to why we need activism, but to my opinion it is not necessary because I think we already know it. Now we have to say what activism itself needs”. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Georgian Women’s Movement extends its support to students of the Batumi State University and releases a statement. ''We extend our support to a student who was the first revealing an abuser. However, we are concerned about the fact that he refused to accept efficient service offered by GYLA and hired a private lawyer who made the very first statement voicing a supportive opinion in favor of the abuser. We request the Ministry of Internal Affairs to study the case and make sure that possible facts of pressure on a witness are prevented, taking into consideration the fact that the abuser is a member of the Batumi City Assembly from the ruling party and has a motive as well as a possibility to pressurize the victim'', - 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. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) defends a student who has accused a lecturer of the Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University in sexual harassment. ''GYLA addresses the Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University urging to develop relevant regulations in order to prevent sexual harassment within the space of the University'', - 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. 13-14, Tbilisi hosted a conference ''Localization of 2018-2020 National Action Plan of Georgia for Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security''. The participants of the conference were representatives of Sakrebulo , City halls , Gender Equality Councils and 1325 working groups, as well as IDPs and conflict affected population of 10 target municipalities of the project (Gori, Kaspi, Khashuri, Kareli, Dusheti, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Sachkhere, Stepantsminda and Tskhaltubo). Read more… Source: The page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. With the support of Georgian Farmers Association and the UN Women, within the framework of the project - "A Joint Action for Women's Economic Empowerment in Georgia”, 65 more women entrepreneurs, living in Western Georgia regions, will participate in trainings for improvement knowledge and qualification. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) publishes a blog post regarding the case of Tatia Samkharadze. ''The Court of Appeals made a final decision in regard to the first case of sexual harassment and on December 12, left into force a decision of the first instance of court on the case – ''Tatia Samkharadze against Shalva Ramishvili''. With mentioned decision, the court once again reconfirmed that Shalva Ramishvili committed a sexual harassment against Tatia Samkharadze at the workplace, using his official position'', - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:phrgeorgia.wordpress.com