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

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an effort to address these stereotypes and increase the number of women in politics, leading activistsadvocate for party and parliamentary quotas. 46In March 2010 the Parliament of Georgia passed the Gender Equality Law, which put in placeinstitutional mechanisms to improve gender issues at the legislative level. The legislation provides forthe establishment of a national women’s machinery, the enhancement of women’s security, equality inthe labor market and the strengthening of women’s political participation. The law also encouragesgender-responsive planning and budgeting on the part of the government. 47Georgia has also ratified the UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination AgainstWomen (CEDAW) in 1994, but the CEDAW Committee flagged several human rights concerns. Theseinclude limited sex-disaggregated data, trafficking in women and girls, and underrepresentation ofwomen in public and political life.Although current reforms seek to address these problems, significant gender gaps persist at all levels ofsociety, particularly for rural and IDP women. In many ways, women IDPs face even moremarginalization in Georgian society and have had minimal influence over national policymaking andconflict resolution processes. 48 However, the effort to promote women’s involvement has receivedattention with a number of initiatives around the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and its sisterresolutions (1820, 1888, 1889, and 1960) on Women, Peace and Security. This set of resolutions calls foradopting a gender perspective and recognizing the needs of women and girls in post-conflict settings. 49In 2010, a Gender Equality National Action Plan was drafted for the implementation of Resolution 1325and was approved by the Parliament of Georgia in December 2011. 50 NGOs founded by and for womenhave also contributed extensively to developing the State Strategy on IDPs in 2007, and following theAugust War, they mobilized to provide humanitarian assistance to the new wave of IDPs. The upcomingsections will present our findings on the important role of women’s NGOs, particularly IDP NGOs inpromoting the political participation of these groups.46 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Georgia - Gender Equality Indicators 2007. Organization for Securityand Co-operation in Europe. 2007. Web. 22 Nov. 2011.47 Shiolashvili, Neli. Statement to the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee on Agenda Item 28(a), Advancementof Women. United Nations. United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY. 11 Oct. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.48 Women’s Information Center. Women, Peace and Security: Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution No. 1325 inGeorgia. Tbilisi: Women’s Information Center, 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. 25.49 United Nations. Security Council. Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000). 31 Oct. 2000. Web. 15 Nov. 2011.50 Ibid.15
METHODOLOGYResearch questionsOur research aims to promote more inclusive governance and peacebuilding around IDP issues inGeorgia. Therefore, we seek to answer the following three-part question:1. To what extent are internally displaced men and women involved in policymakingregarding their needs and interests as IDPs?2. What factors affect women and men IDPs' participation in and influence overpolicymaking regarding their needs and interests as IDPs?3. What opportunities exist to promote effective, inclusive and gender-balanced IDPparticipation in these processes so that they will better address IDPs' specific rights,needs and interests?Key Concepts and DefinitionsInternally displaced persons (IDPs) 51 : We use the Georgian government’s definition of: “internallydisplaced persons – persecuted” as citizens of Georgia or stateless persons who permanently residewithin Georgia who were forced to flee their places of residence due to threats to a “family member’slife, health or freedom due to the aggression of foreign country, internal conflicts or mass violation ofhuman rights.” 52 We have also compared this definition with the more general definition presented inthe UN’s Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, discussed more in detail below. Adopting theconvention of previous studies, we use the term “old wave IDP” for those who were displaced duringthe conflicts of the 1990s, while “new wave IDPs” were displaced during the 2008 conflict.Our research design and process considers two central ideas generally regarding IDP populations:IDPs are entitled to enjoy, equally and without discrimination, the same rights and freedomsunder international and domestic law as do other persons in their country. 53 Individuals areidentified as such so that they can be granted legal protection, due to the vulnerability thatmembers of this population face.51 Our research considers only conflict-affected IDPs currently residing within Georgia proper. Due to a lack of information andaccess, our research does not include IDPs who have returned to the conflict regions since displacement or who were displacedwithin the conflict regions.52 Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia. Web. 4Dec. 2011.53 UNHCR, Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons, 2008.16
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 12 and 13: people-to-people diplomacy efforts
Page 14 and 15: and the Guiding Principles, in Febr
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
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groups do not differentiate between
Page 70 and 71:
funding and influence to implement
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een in operation for two years or l
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organization, and highlighted that
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The Education System’s Influence
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system has an important role to pla
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Political FactorsMany elements of t
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international organizations working
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uling party. 433 There were some si
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especially highly-influential broad
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ationale behind the government’s
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international working for a major d
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Also, according to a World Bank rep
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willing to challenge authorities th
Page 96 and 97:
The lack of narrative connecting po
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GEORGIAN GO
Page 100 and 101:
the government also needs to commit
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‣ Continue to support and expand
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‣ Address male IDP needs (Immedia
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The campaign should have a face, su
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APPENDIX BList of IntervieweesLocal
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Kristy KellyLincoln MitchellLawrenc
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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.
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