Gender in development (Phase II of Project "Women in Development")

GEO-99-003
Total budget: USD 290,897
UNDP sector: Social
Duration: April 1999 to December 2002

Background

Georgia has declared its adherence to the fundamental human rights. Gender equality is considered a priority for the state. The Georgian Constitution declares gender equality as a core element of the family. These high-sounding phrases are still relatively far from reality, yet they demonstrate the Government’s commitment to moving in a more gender sensitive direction. In February 1998 a State Commission on Elaboration of State Policy for the Development of Women was established, and in June 1998 a National Action Plan for Improving Women’s Conditions in Georgia in 1998–2000 was approved by the President. Its duration was extended in December 2000 until 2004. This Action Plan aims at materialising the recommendations made in the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.

Traditionally gender based discrimination and negligence of women's rights have not been recognised in Georgia, and no effective study or undertaking has been made in this direction. UNDP Project "Women in Development" from June 1997 to December 1998 aimed at widening public awareness on Georgia’s gender related problems and facilitating women’s involvement in the country’s socio-economic and political life. The project has been successfully completed and the first steps in promoting women in development have been taken, but further support is necessary to create appropriate conditions for women’s sustainable development.

Objective

The development objective of the project Gender in Development is to facilitate the creation of social, political and economic conditions for a wider, more active and ultimately equal involvement of women in the country’s socio-economic and political life. More specifically, the immediate objectives include 1) supporting the Government’s efforts in implementing a sustainable gender programme in the country; 2) gender sensitisation of the legislation as well as the Ministries’ programmes; 3) strengthening the established regional forums to act as gender information and activation centres; and 4) creation of a central Gender Resource and Information Centre for training, policy recommendation and public awareness raising.

Strategy

The project will be executed by the State Commission on Elaboration of State Policy for the Development of Women and implemented by the Gender Development Association (NGO). The project builds on the Government’s commitment to the advancement of women and protection of their rights according to international and national legislation. To this end, the project strategy is to build the capacities of the relevant Government entities as well as the NGO community, and to mobilise them to the implementation of the National Action Plan for 1998–2004. The regional operations and public awareness raising activities will largely rest on the implementing agency.

Expected outcomes

• The National Action Plan for Improving Women’s Conditions in Georgia in 1998–2004 budgeted, implemented and monitored in co-ordination with the respective Ministry’s existing and new programmes

• The legislation of the country analysed from a gender point of view; recommendations for new laws drafted and discussed with Parliamentarians.

• Eleven Gender Focal Points (identified in Phase I) in the regions systematically trained and provided with informative material, enabling them to act as Gender Activists in their respective regions

• Six Women’s Regional Centres established, with the capacity to provide training and support to the local communities in preparation of the local elections in 2002 with specific focus on women as voters and candidates. After the elections women elected into local councils will be trained on gender issues.

• Resource and Information Centre established, bringing together gender specialists to produce gender sensitive research, statistics and analysis and with the capacity to provide policy recommendations to the Government. Special publications will be produced containing information about women’s participation in the local elections.

• Public information campaigns implemented through the publication of a quarterly bulletin, brochures and TV and radio programmes.