Consulting civil society on Women, Peace and Security Action Plan

The Assistant to the Prime Minister on Human Rights and Gender Equality Issues, Ms. Sophio Japaridze met with women’s NGOs to discuss implementation of the 2016-2017 National Action Plan on the UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security.

The consultations also aim at identifying areas to be addressed in the new NAP for 2018-2020. Representatives from civil society, women's NGOs and the Public Defender's Office (PDO) attended the meeting on 26 June 2017 in Tbilisi facilitated by UN Women.

Preliminary findings of the NAP’s mid-term review undertaken by NGO Women's Information Center, as well as the results of NAP monitoring by the PDO, were presented and discussed at the meeting. It was emphasized by civil society representatives that increased ownership of the NAP’s implementation on the part of the government is desirable.

Representatives of NGOs were informed about the newly established Inter-Agency Commission for Gender Equality, Ending Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence that will be responsible for the national coordination of the implementation of gender equality action plans, including this NAP. The Commission comprises deputy ministers and thematic experts from the Ministries and plans to establish a Consultative Group with representatives of civil society and international organizations.

According to Ms. Japaridze, the new NAP on Women, Peace and Security will be developed in line with the Action Plan of the Government of Georgia on the Protection of Human Rights and will be based on the needs and priorities of IDP and conflict-affected women, informed by the results and lessons learned from the implementation of the current NAP. UN Women will provide technical support to the drafting process, ensuring that high levels of civil society and grassroots women’s groups are informed of and participate in the process.