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

Democrats. The party presents itself as a vocal critic of the government’s approach to IDP issues, whichmake up 60 percent of the party’s platform. While Davitaia mentioned several policy ideas for IDPs in aninterview, he also stated that the government did not address them. He emphasized the difficulties ofcommunicating with IDPs, since “they have a negative attitude towards all politicians, regardless ofideology, no matter if you are part of the government or parliament” (referring to the opposition inparliament). 104 IDPs and activists interviewed noted Davitaia’s lack of connection to the IDP communityand stated that it seemed as though IDPs did not vote him into power or give him a mandate. 105Other political parties, such as Our Georgia – Free Democrats, have an organization within their party forIDPs from Abkhazia. The organization is made up of about 500 members and the Free Democrats haveplans to create a similar organization for IDPs from Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia. 106 The ChristianDemocratic Movement also has a special wing for IDPs. Representatives from this party mention this is“very active” and that “they visit collective centers.” 107 Although other parties, including the rulingUnited National Movement, may have similar organizations for IDPs, none of our IDP interviewees andfocus group participants mentioned these as avenues of participation. 108 In this sense, it is difficult togauge the effectiveness of these organizations in enabling IDP political participation. It is also unclearwhether the government and opposition adopt different approaches to displaced persons. One experton the subject noted that the leader of the opposition Georgian Dream Movement, Bidzina Ivanishvili,has taken, in her words, a more “realistic” approach to IDPs, saying that return “won’t happen in thenear future, that it’s impossible.” The nascent political movement has not yet offered a plan for IDPintegration, but some experts argue that a new leader could present an opportunity for a new approachto IDP issues that better reflects their needs and interests on this important issue. 109Regarding women’s participation among political parties, several parties have recently signed NDI’s Winwith Women Global Action Plan. They have recently created women’s wings and organizations withintheir structures. 110 Interestingly, these women’s wings are not political structures per se although theyare organized by political parties. Women who are involved do not necessarily want to run for officealthough they support the party. In interviews regarding the women’s wings of Our Georgia – FreeDemocrats and the Christian Democratic Movement, representatives of both parties mentionedsignificant female involvement in the organizations, with participants preferring to be involved in nonpoliticalactivities. 111104 Paata Davitaia, Personal Interview.105 Nino Kalandarishvili (Director, Institute for the Study of Nationalism and Conflict, Member of Synergy), Personal Interview,30 January 2012; David Chochia, Personal Interview.106 Alex Petriashvili (Our Georgia – Free Democrats). Personal Interview. 23 March 2012.107 CDM Woman Leader (Christian Democrats). Personal Interview. 21 March 2012.108 The IDPs who participated in this study do not comprise a representative sample, however.109 Nana Sumbadze, Personal Interview.110 Teona Kupunia (Women's Political Participation Program Officer, National Democratic Institute), Personal Interview, 13March 2012.111 Thea Tsukuliani, Personal Interview; CDM Leader, Personal Interview.26