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

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waves. 224 A Conciliation Resources survey of 1,000 IDPs found that almost 90% support return. 225 UNHCRalso found that men and women equally express this desire, so return does not seem to be a genderedinterest. 226Older generations seem more connected to this idea, but age is hardly an absolutedeterminant. 227 Given their enduring desire to return, IDPs should have the opportunity to engage inefforts to make the option a reality.As described above, the policy of promoting return is explained in significant detail in the State Strategy,but finds few mentions in the Action Plan. This discrepancy mirrors the disconnect between rhetoric andreality in Georgian society regarding the issue of return of IDPs. While the government continues topromote this idea, a political resolution to the conflict stands in the way of IDPs being able to exercisetheir right to organized, safe and dignified return. The government’s efforts to promote it have beenlimited to the stalemated Geneva talks. As discussed, IDPs have been involved in this Track I diplomacyprocess. The Abkhaz government-in-exile, an already weak body, serves as their representative but failsto do so adequately.IDP involvement needs to become more systematic to ensure that any agreement accurately representsIDPs’ needs and interests. The efforts promoting implementation of UNSCR 1325 work in this directionby encouraging women’s involvement in the peace talks. A similar mechanism should be established toensure IDP participation as well.IDPs, and IDP NGOs, have also been a key force behind people-to-people diplomacy, so-called Track IIdiplomacy, as described above. They may be more strongly represented among people-to-peopleinitiatives in comparison with the broader Georgian population. However, limited government supportfor these efforts limits their opportunities to participate in the process of promoting the right to returnto their former homes, as will be explained in further detail later in this report.The return of approximately 40,000-50,000 IDPs to the Gali region of Abkhazia, on the border withGeorgia proper, highlights the circumstances under which some return has taken place. 228 This remainsofficially unrecognized as returnees’ security cannot be guaranteed. 229 An unemployed IDP stated thatmore job opportunities may exist in Gali than in his home in a remote area of western Georgia. 230However, those who do return to Abkhazia largely live in an insecure environment, facing a number of224 New wave men IDPs, Focus Group, 13 March 2012; New wave women IDPs, Focus Group, 2 February 2012; Old wave menIDPs, Focus Group, 12 March 2012; Old wave women IDPs, Focus Group, 3 February 2012.225 “Displacement in Georgia: IDP attitudes to conflict, return and justice.” Conciliation Resources. April 2011.226 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees cited in Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 134.227 Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies cited in Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 134; Old wavemen IDPs, Focus Group, 12 March 2012.228 An international organization representative cited this figure but stated that she has reason to believe the number is actuallymuch lower. No official statistics exist as the returns are not officially recognized. International Organization Representative,Personal Interview, 19 March 2012.229 Senior Government Official, Personal Interview; Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 134-5.230 IDP in Potskho-Etzeri, Personal Interview, 17 March 2012.47
human rights concerns regarding their freedom of movement, education, and other political andeconomic rights. 231With its emphasis on the right to safe and dignified return of IDPs, the government has also done littleto support these returnees, again countering a commitment made in the State Strategy. 232 Thegovernment’s lack of engagement in this area most likely stems from its inability to exercise anyinfluence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, by failing to support this population in any way, theymay be missing an opportunity to consolidate their right to return.International organizations have filled some of these gaps in providing assistance to returnees in Gali.For example, UNHCR, NRC, and DRC, among others, conduct shelter and livelihood projects inAbkhazia. 233 However, they could also play a larger role in supporting their participation in peacebuildingefforts. Gewis states, “NGOs that run assistance programs aren’t the ones interested in the peaceprocess, and vice versa.” 234 The lack of general support for this population overall prevents their abilityto engage in efforts to secure their right to return. Returnees are a key group that should become moreengaged in peacebuilding as the right to safe and dignified return affects them most directly. Overall, astrue access to durable solutions requires conflict resolution, 235 IDPs in general need to be more engagedin these processes at both the official and grassroots levels.Implementing Integration Policy: The Example of HousingThe Georgian government has recently made progress in supporting integration efforts that enable IDPparticipation. In this way, IDPs have engaged in the implementation of the State Strategy and ActionPlan on an individual level, as these programs relate to their own lives. Their aim is to increase IDPs’ selfsufficiencyand reducing their reliance on the state, thereby promoting their ability to participate insociety. 236 However, they have fallen far short of their projected goals in the Action Plan.Housing initiatives that promote integration include privatization and rehabilitation of collective centers,providing IDPs with ownership over renovated dwellings. By the end of 2010, up to 10,000 old wave IDPfamilies living in 278 collective centers in Tbilisi and about 7,000 families in 286 collective centersoutside of the city had received renovated apartments. The MRA has also begun the process oftransferring them into private ownership for these IDPs. 237 Representing this population, the GeorgianYoung Lawyers Association lobbied for female spouses to be able to co-own their property. Theorganization also took care of other legal issues, such as a purchase agreement and regulations231 Human Rights Watch, “Georgia/Abkhazia: Back Home but in Limbo,” July 2011.232 Government of Georgia, State Strategy on Internally Displaced Persons – Persecuted, 6.233 Mzevi Jojua, Personal Interview; International Organization Representative, Personal Interview, 19 March 2012.234 Tina Gewis, Personal Interview.235 Nadine Walicki, “Part Protracted, Part Progress: Durable Solutions for IDPs through Local Integration in Georgia” in ResolvingInternal Displacement: Prospects for Local Integration. Elizabeth Ferris (ed.). Brookings Institution – London School ofEconomics Project on Internal Displacement. June 2011. 62.236 Mariam Esaishvili (MRA), Personal Interview, 30 January 2012.237 Ibid., citing the Government of Georgia, June 2011, 158.48
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 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 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.
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Promoting IDPs' and Women's Voices in Post-Conflict Georgia

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