Tbilisi. Women's Political Participation Working Group member local CSOs have submitted a legislative proposal in the Parliament on June 10, which seeks to increase women's political participation in Georgia's representative authorities through quota allocation. In case the Parliament adopts the initiative, a minimum of 25% representation will be secured for women in the legislative body following next elections. For the full text... Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. With the view of improvement of gender equality legislation, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Parliament of Georgia with legislative proposals to establish definition in the legislation regarding sexist advertisements that are so widespread in TV broadcasting. for the full text... source:ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian National Olympic Committee and CSO "Journalist Network for Gender Equality" have executed Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation on May 20. The Memorandum strives to take into account gender aspects during the conduct of events organized by the Olympic Committee, including the European Youth Olympic Festival "Tbilisi 2015", create gender discrimination-free environment, and to promote the idea of gender equality. The event is supported by the "International Foundation for Electoral Systems" (IFES). For the full text... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Kakheti. At the initiative of the Economic Policy Research Center, a meeting was held in Telavi over activating of women entrepreneurs. The project aims to empower women wishing to start their own business. After elaborating business ideas, women entrepreneurs will be able to participate in the small grants program announced by the organization, which will assist in expanding their business. The organization operates in 4 cities of Georgia and plans to fund 8 small grants projects. The project is implemented with financial support of the Swiss Embassy.

Tbilisi. "Liberal" has released an infographic based on the study data of selecting sex by gender signs in Georgia. The study was carried out in Georgia by Christophe Z.Gilomoto with support of the World Bank and UNFPA. For the full text... Source: liberali.ge

Shida Kartli. Journalist Network for Gender Equality has organized information meetings in the tea-houses located in villages Araplo, Aghmamedlo and Kesalo of the Marneuli Municipality for the ethnically Azerbaijani population residing in these villages. The organization's journalists and experts have thoroughly briefed the population on negative sides of a child marriage and more stringent sanctions for a forced marriage. For the full text... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Adjara. The Gender Equality Network has organized a discussion on April14 in the Khulo Municipality aimed at enhancing women's participation in political processes. Meeting participants have discussed a low level of women's activities in high mountainous Adjara. Discussion participants noted that owing to stereotypes, majority of women limit themselves to family care and periodic involvement in seasonal works. The organization has founded in Khulo the club "For Democracy and Equality", which aims to enhance women's political activities in the region. In addition to the staff of the Gender Equality Network, representatives of the local authorities have also attended the meeting.

Tbilisi. With financial support of the Women's Foundation, representatives of young researchers – "Supporters of Social changes" – have released a study: "Sexual Harassment – Women's "Invisible" Discrimination". "Sexual harassment is a less visible and hardly identifiable form of gender discrimination. Despite its "invisible" nature, sexual harassment is a rather spread social practice infringing upon women's rights and dignity", web page of the Women's Foundation in the social network states. The study... Source: web page of the Women's Foundation in the social network.

Kakheti. As part of the women's history month, the Civic Engagement Centre has organized a discussion in Telavi over homophobia and the rights of women representing LGBT community. Meeting participants have discussed discrimination on the grounds of homophobia and transphobia, public attitude towards the LGBT community and other issues. Members of the Telavi Gender Equality Club, active citizens, and representatives of CSOs, self-government and media have attended the event.  

Tbilisi. What does "Feminization of migration" mean? Does it bring freedom and independence or discrimination to women? To what extent are women free in their choice during labor migration? Hard and troublesome ways of women migration and return in radioprogram FeminStream, prepared by Women's Fund in Georgia in cooperation with Radio Freedom and Independent Group of Feminists with financial support of the Heinrich-Boell-Stiftung South Caucasus For the full text… Source: the Heinrich-Boell-Stiftung South Caucasus

Kakheti. The project "Powerful Women in Rural Areas" was presented in Telavi, implemented as part of the European Neighborhood Program – "European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development". The Program aims to enhance the role of women involved in agricultural activities, inform public about their problems and needs, and activate them in the communities and regions. Meeting audience has got familiar with details of the project implemented jointly by the association "Woman and Business" and the business development center "Kavkasia".

Tbilisi. Last week the Heinrich Boll Foundation has held discussions in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi - "Who's afraid of gender quotas?". The Foundation offers a video recording of discussion held in Tbilisi for those who were unable to attend a public discussion. Source: web page of the Boll Foundation in the social network.

Tbilisi. According to the data provided by research organization "ACT", six out of ten Tbilisi residents favor fixing of gender quotas at all levels: in the Parliament, in the election lists of political parties, and on executive positions. Yet, the analysis of study results from the gender perspective has revealed that only half (50%) of men favor the principle of fixing quotas, whereas the majority of women (69%-66%-63% according to the above chart) favor fixing quotas at all levels. For the full text... Source: www.liberali.ge

Kakheti. CSO "Woman and Business" is assisting former inmate women in realization of business ideas by funding business projects of women. The organization's representatives have organized a meeting in Telavi over these issues, aimed at transforming the ideas into a project. Expert of "Woman and Business", Eka Gegeshidze: "Former inmate women were provided with consultations they will take into account when processing the idea plans. Plans will be formed into projects, which will be transferred for consideration to a special commission. The EU-funded project is being implemented for 2 years, and strives to re-socialize and economically empower former inmate women in various regions of Georgia. As for the grant amount, 1000 EUROs are allocated for each individual, while overall it is planned to fund 60 business ideas. At the moment, grants are issued to 11 beneficiaries", - Eka Gegeshidze said.

Tbilisi. The exhibition was opened on March 19 in the main hall of the Tbilisi City Council: "Founding Assembly Member Women: 1919-1921", which is dedicated to the month of women's stories and the first Georgian politician women in the history of the Georgian Democratic Republic. Exhibition offers documentation and photo materials depicting the life and work of the Founding Assembly member women. The exhibition is a mutual cooperation product of the "Women's Information Center" and the National Archive of Georgia, and is organized as part of the project "Women as Actors for Change and Empowerment", implemented by the Women's Information Center in Tbilisi, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Imereti and Gali with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Source: the Women's Information Center.

Tbilisi. March is regarded as a month of women's stories in numerous countries across the globe. The Heinrich Boll Foundation is informing the public about the impressive stories of women from Georgia. Yet, many people may have not heard anything about their stories. The Foundation has published a book on their stories - "50 Women from Georgia" - last year, and the Foundation makes the stories of prominent Georgian women available on the web page as well. Women's stories from Georgia... Source: feminism-boell.org

Tbilisi. CSO "Women's Information Center" and the National Archive of Georgia will organize an exhibition on March 19 about the work of Georgian politician women at the times of the Georgian Democratic Republic. Any citizen of Georgia, irrespective of sex, was eligible to participate in the 1919 elections. As a result, 5 women were elected as members of the Founding Assembly. The event will be held on March 19, at 18:30, in the Tbilisi City Council building. source: the Women's Information Center.

Tbilisi. The Public Defender has released a statement on sexist expressions made by representative of political party "Free Georgia". "I would like to express concern with regards to offensive, degrading and sexist remarks towards women voiced by head of Imereti regional unit of the political party "Free Georgia” Gogi Tsulaia during his interview to media sources that was disseminated on March 14 of the current year, through regional news agency TopNews.com.ge".  for the full text... Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Constitutionalists' Association has reacted to initiative of the Women's Movement on increasing the number of women in the Parliament. The Association does not agree that introducing a quotation system is an effective tool for increasing women's representation in the legislative body. "We believe that using such a mechanism must be a compelling state interest and a proportional means for achieving the objective, because a quotation system gives advantage to women and restricts the right to equality warranted by Article 14 of the Constitution of Georgia". For the full text... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. NIMD's Democracy School has released a post by the representative of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy in the South Caucasus, Levan Tsutskiridze – "Why I'm against Quotas?". "... The organization I work for promotes increased women's participation in politics, be it at national, local or political party level. We don't have an official position on quotas. I personally support equality quotas in the Parliament, self-governments or in the parties, and oppose quotas enjoyed by men...", the blog states. For the full text... Source: web page of NIMD's Democracy School in the social network.

Tbilisi. CSO "JumpStart Georgia" has released another infograph: "The lion's whelp is a lion, be it male or female?!". ‘’According to the wide-spread opinion in Georgian society, most of the parents’ property is given to a son and not to a daughter. UNDP 2013 research confirms this spread opinion. At the same time, a significant share of respondents supports equality. However, the number of people who believe that a major part of parents’ propertyshould be given to a daughter is very small”. The infograph... Source: feradi.info

Tbilisi. "Say No to Early and Forced Marriage!" - CSO Journalist Network for Gender Equality is launching a new project aimed at protecting the rights of girls and boys by informing about regulations on forced and early marriage, informing the population about the risks, dangers and adverse effects of early marriage. The project will be implemented in the communities settled with ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Georgia, where a forced and early marriage is a tradition. This tradition substantially infringes upon fundamental rights set by the European Convention on Human Rights. Starting from 1 April 2015, forced marriage becomes punishable under the Criminal Code. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.