Document

The High-level Conference on "Women's Participation in Politics"

The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia hosted a high-level conference on "Women's participation in politics".

The meeting was held in hybrid mode and was attended by women in politics, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Human Rights, Chairman of the Parliamentary Gender Equality Council, activists of civil society organizations, experts, representatives of international organizations, and 12 embassies accredited in Georgia.

Ekaterine Gamakharia, a representative of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi", though online format, emphasized that political empowerment and participation of such marginalized groups as conflict-affected women, IDPs, and people living in remote regions are not paid sufficient attention, and the need to promote the political participation of this category of women is essential.

She stressed the need for more consultations with women followed by a timely and proper response to the concerns raised. She also highlighted the importance of women’s economic empowerment, and the need to improve the transport system and social infrastructure in rural areas (including improving kindergartens and, school infrastructure and increasing their working hours, introducing after-school clubs, and creating additional childcare services).

Ekaterine paid special attention to the absence or insufficient women's organizations in the regions, and the lack of initiatives directed to their capacity building and strengthening their competitiveness against the big organizations by the international organizations, which further hinders the positive change in the situation in the regions.