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

In general, IDPs communicate more immediate needs through their community leader, such as the needfor a doctor at the local hospital, or for governmental support to pay for heating. 166 Communicationbetween IDP groups and their local governments have seen improvements in the past few years. LocalMRA representatives and IDP communities meet regularly in many communities, although this is notsystematic. 167 NGOs have played an important role in bringing community leaders, local governmentofficials, Abkhaz government-in-exile representatives, and other relevant actors who can provideneeded information to IDPs and address some of their personal issues. 168In terms of the gendered involvement of IDPs in civil society, a representative from a Georgian IDP NGOnoted that, “almost all women, especially in urban areas…do participate in the political process in someways.” 169In lieu of running for office, IDP women establish and work for NGOs and participate asbeneficiaries, primarily in western Georgia. These IDP-led NGOs have helped mobilize IDP women fromhundreds of collective centers for both local initiatives such as municipal budgeting, as well as nationalpolicies like the National Action Plan on Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 170 withthe support of UN Women. 171Increasing IDPs’ and Women’s Community EngagementSelf-help groups, coordinated by NGOs such as the Taso Foundation, have also facilitatedIDP involvement at various levels. Self-help group members receive technical, communitymobilization, and leadership training, which encourage women in particular to becomeinvolved in political life. Members also conduct needs assessments within theircommunities, and present their findings to government officials at meetings organized byNGOs and international organizations. There are approximately 50 self-help groupscurrently meeting throughout Georgia, and many have been successful in having theirconcerns addressed by both local and national government officials.Some IDP women who want to become more politically active also have access towomen’s leadership programs such as the Women Leaders Club (WLC), established by theZugdidi-based women’s NGO Gaenati in 2012. This program offers trainings to both IDPand non-IDP women on women’s rights, leadership, and strengthening their roles in peacebuilding and policymaking processes. They work with women currently in positions ofpower in the community, such as school principals and municipal government officials, toencourage them to develop their political careers and support them in running for office.Ten of the most active women will be brought to attend a session at the Parliament ofGeorgia, and to meet the Deputy Chairperson of Parliament, Rusudan Kervalishvili.166 Focus Group with IDP Men from the New Wave of Displacement. March. 2012.167 Georgian Ombudsman Representative. Personal Interview. March. 2012.168 Georgian NGO representative. Personal Interview. March. 2012.169 IDP Woman. Personal Interview. March. 2012.170 The full name is the “2012-2015 National Action Plan for Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions #1325,1820, 1888, 1889 and 1960 on ‘Women, Peace and Security.’”171 Marina Tabukashvili, Personal interview, and Elene Rusetskaia. Director, Women’s Information Center. Personal Interviews.March 2012.34