‘We need a system which ensures gender equality,’ President says
By Messenger Staff
Wednesday, November 11
Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelahsvili has hosted an international conference entitled Gender Equality - Challenges and Possibilities in the European Neighbourhood Policy Region, wherein the President invited Georgian and foreign actors of the field.
In his address to the assembled members of the public, the President spoke about the importance of gender equality and stability in the region, in which women are actively participating in their countries’ political lives.
Margvelashvili mentioned the tragic (and occasionally fatal) acts of violence towards women that took place in Georgia - especially those last year - and stressed that Georgians are united in their anger over such horrible incidents.
The President stressed that Georgian public is united in achieving better outcomes with regards to gender equality, and reiterated his decision to appoint women as the head of the State Security Service and the Supreme Court of Georgia.
The President emphasised that more steps were required to provide better circumstances in terms of gender issues and spoke about the draft which was introduced in the legislative body over specifying gender quotas in election lists.
“We need a system that will not be dependent on goodwill. We need a system that will be stable,” Margvelashvili said.
Prior to the gathering, the President met with Estonian Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand. As well as discussing gender-related issues, they also touched on Georgia’s visa-liberalization prospects.
After her meetings with Georgian officials, Kaljurand said she was “very optimistic” over Georgia gaining visa-free travel to the European Union (EU) member states.
“We are very optimistic about visa liberalization with Georgia. We believe the European Commission will make an optimistic decision, and I hope that Georgian citizens will soon be able to travel to the EU without a visa,” she said.
"It is very important for us to explain and clarify all the reforms relating to the EU,” she said. “We would like our citizens to realize that this process is not easy to achieve.”
According to Marina Kalijurand, it is necessary to work hard in order to achieve visa liberalization with the EU.
“We are very optimistic about visa liberalization with Georgia. We believe the European Commission will make an optimistic decision and we hope Georgian citizens will soon be able to travel to the EU without a visa. This is a very symbolic and, so to say, practical effort. The Estonian party, as well as the European Union, hopes that at the beginning of the next year the issue of visa liberalization will be resolved," the Estonian Foreign Minister declared.
