Promoting IDPs' and Women's Voices in Post-Conflict Georgia

More documents

Recommendations

Info

people-to-people diplomacy efforts have not effectively supplemented Track I efforts at conflictresolution.Russia claims to be just a peacekeeper, but its military and economic support to Abkhazia and SouthOssetia make Russia a key actor in the conflict. While the two countries have not reestablisheddiplomatic relations since the 2008 war, a senior Georgian government official emphasized that theymust engage Moscow in working towards a solution, since Russia has the last word in all major decisionsregarding security, troops or return of IDPs. 31 This fact, coupled with Russia’s military power —especially compared to Georgia’s — makes any potential solution to the conflict dependent on Russia’sinterests in the geopolitical context. Moreover, the United States and the European Union are also keyplayers in the effort to reach a sustainable deal.IDPs’ Social, Legal and Political SituationThe government of Georgia legally recognizes “internally displaced persons – persecuted” as citizens ofGeorgia or stateless persons who permanently reside within Georgia and who were forced to flee fromthe conflict regions. 32 The Law on Forcibly Displaced Persons – Persecuted from the Occupied Territoriesof Georgia, last amended in 2011, defines and regulates IDP status. The Law also sets out in generalterms the specific rights of the internally displaced in their places of temporary residence and upon theirreturn to their pre-displacement residences. 33 The Law establishes the granting of the IDP status tochildren of IDPs, entitles IDPs to a monthly allowance and free health care and education, includingsecondary education.The government recognizes the presence of 251,000 IDPs in Georgia as a result of conflicts in Abkhaziaand Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia in the beginning of 1990s, comprising the “old wave.” In addition,about 26,000 people displaced from Tskinvali region/South Ossetian as a result of the August 2008 warform the “new wave.” UNHCR estimated in 2011 that 54% of IDPs were female, 24% were children and17% were older persons. 34 The majority of the IDPs live in the municipalities of Tbilisi, Kutaisi, or Zugdidi.About 39% of “old wave” IDPs live in government-owned collective centers, many of which are rundown.The remaining 61% live in private accommodations either on their own or with another family. 35The number of IDPs living in collective centers has decreased in recent years due to efforts by theGeorgian government to resettle IDPs into private accommodations, particularly through a privatizationplan for collective centers. The assumption behind this decision is that those IDPs living among the localpopulation will more easily become socially and economically integrated. However, unemployment31 Senior Government Official (Government of Georgia), Personal Interview, 3 February 2012.32 Georgia. Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia.“IDP Issues – General Information.” Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation andRefugees of Georgia, N.d. Web. 30 Nov 2011.33 Brookings. National and Regional Laws and Policies on Internal Displacement – Georgia. Web. 28 April 2012.34 Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Georgia: Partial progress towards durable solutions for IDPs. A profile of theinternal displacement situation. 21 March, 2012. 55.35 Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 56.11
estimates among IDPs in Georgia remain in the 35% to 45% range, which is substantially higher than theestimated 16% for the non-displaced population. 36The situation of IDPs in Georgia is similar to other cases in the region, such as Azerbaijan, where IDPs arealso a particularly vulnerable group. Like in Georgia, a large part of the IDPs in Azerbaijan are living incollective centers characterized by insufficient housing conditions and have limited access to the labormarket. Government initiatives to target IDP needs in both countries are also very similar: they are oftenlimited to cash and in-kind benefits such as social assistance, free usage of healthcare or free provisionof electricity, gas and water. 37 Moreover, the IDP issue has been politicized in both countries, as IDPs’integration has been forestalled in the effort to continue to lay claim over the conflict regions.More than 200 legislative acts and bylaws have been issued regarding the legal and social protection ofIDPs, and an ad hoc ministry —the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation, now officially calledMinistry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees(but in shorthand still referred to as the MRA)— was set up in 1995. In accordance with the Law on IDPs36 Mitchneck, Beth, Olga V. Mayorova and Joanna Regulska. “Post-Conflict Displacement: Isolation and Integration in Georgia.”Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 99.5 Feb. 2009: 1022-1032. Web. 21 Nov. 2011.37 European Commission. Social protection and social inclusion in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. 2011. 13.12
Page 2 and 3: Promoting IDPs’ and Women’s Voi
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTSAcronyms and Abbreviations
Page 6 and 7: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYInternally displac
Page 8 and 9: THE WOMEN’S POLITICAL RESOURCE CE
Page 10 and 11: fair reporting on politically sensi
Page 14 and 15: and the Guiding Principles, in Febr
Page 16 and 17: an effort to address these stereoty
Page 18 and 19: The identities, perceptions, and re
Page 20 and 21: even IDPs themselves. The HRBA seek
Page 22 and 23: Karaleti settlement, and Potskho-Et
Page 24 and 25: displacement differently, with men
Page 26 and 27: on an equal footing with men in for
Page 28 and 29: The Ministry for Internally Displac
Page 30 and 31: Defender’s Office) and leave no r
Page 32 and 33: prominent national level IDP NGO wo
Page 34 and 35: in the past but none have yet to be
Page 36 and 37: Grassroots Peacebuilding EffortsCiv
Page 38 and 39: esettlement and local integration h
Page 40 and 41: ability to contribute to the new Ac
Page 42 and 43: Women convened a working group to a
Page 44 and 45: were involved, in addition to “wo
Page 46 and 47: towards addressing this population
Page 48 and 49: waves. 224 A Conciliation Resources
Page 50 and 51: governing shelter requirements. 238
Page 52 and 53: esults of eviction on those who did
Page 54 and 55: FINDINGSSIPA team member Drilon Gas
Page 56 and 57: unique opportunities exist for them
Page 58 and 59: an important opportunity for women
Page 60 and 61: early morning…when I was going to
Page 62 and 63:
our office to investigate these iss
Page 64 and 65:
on this? It’s impossible.” 322
Page 66 and 67:
high levels of unemployment and pov
Page 68 and 69:
groups do not differentiate between
Page 70 and 71:
funding and influence to implement
Page 72 and 73:
een in operation for two years or l
Page 74 and 75:
organization, and highlighted that
Page 76 and 77:
The Education System’s Influence
Page 78 and 79:
system has an important role to pla
Page 80 and 81:
Political FactorsMany elements of t
Page 82 and 83:
international organizations working
Page 84 and 85:
uling party. 433 There were some si
Page 86 and 87:
especially highly-influential broad
Page 88 and 89:
ationale behind the government’s
Page 90 and 91:
international working for a major d
Page 92 and 93:
Also, according to a World Bank rep
Page 94 and 95:
willing to challenge authorities th
Page 96 and 97:
The lack of narrative connecting po
Page 98 and 99:
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GEORGIAN GO
Page 100 and 101:
the government also needs to commit
Page 102 and 103:
‣ Continue to support and expand
Page 104 and 105:
‣ Address male IDP needs (Immedia
Page 106 and 107:
The campaign should have a face, su
Page 108 and 109:
APPENDIX BList of IntervieweesLocal
Page 110 and 111:
Kristy KellyLincoln MitchellLawrenc
Page 112 and 113:
Article 10 - Non-discrimination in
Page 114 and 115:
Principle 18.1 - Adequate standard
Page 116 and 117:
Esaiashvili, Mariam (Official, Mini
Page 118 and 119:
Lanskoy, Miriam and Giorgi Areshidz
Page 120:
Transparency International Georgia.
show all

Promoting IDPs' and Women's Voices in Post-Conflict Georgia

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?