Donor Coordination Meeting on Gender Equality Issues

A Donor Coordination Meeting on gender equality issues was held on March 17 in the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel.

The aim of the event organized by the UN Joint Project, “UN Initiative in Support of the Greater Gender Equality in the Country”, was to support the improved coordination and cooperation among the interested stakeholders. Representatives of donor organizations received updated information on the status of the 2011-2013 Draft National Action Plan on Gender Equality and 2011-2012 Draft National Action Plan on Domestic Violence, UN Gender Theme Group objectives and activities and shared information on the ongoing programs and projects.

Tamar Khomasuridze, UNFPA Georgia office representative, stated that the UN Joint Project, “UN Initiative in Support of the Greater Gender Equality in Georgia”, has been operational in Georgia since 2006. “UNFPA is a managing agency of the project. The objective of the UN Joint Project is to support strengthening of the Gender Equality national mechanisms, to promote coordination between the state and non-state structures and to foster policy dialogue in the field of gender equality,” Khomasuridze said.

In recent years, the Georgian government has undertaken significant steps in developing gender equal state policy in the country. The elaboration of the Gender Equality State Strategy and developing the legislative basis, such as, the Law of Georgia on Gender Equality, the Law of Georgia on Domestic Violence and the Law of Georgia on Trafficking, has been the significant steps forward. Each of the above mentioned documents is an effective mechanism for establishing gender equality in the country. Despite all these steps, there is still much to be done for establishing genuine gender equality in the country, which means equal opportunities for men and women and equal empowerment.

Ms. Rusudan Kervalishvili, the Vice Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Gender Equality Council, Ms. Lali Papiashvili, Chairman of the Interagency Council on Domestic Violence, Mr. Jamie McGoldrick, UN Resident Coordinator, and representatives of the donor organizations, such as but not limited to, United UNFPA, UN Women, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, EC, US Embassy, Embassy of Netherlands, Embassy of France participated in the meeting.