New strategy under way on gender equality and gender mainstreaming for local authorities
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Local governments play a key role in effective localization of international and national commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment. However, initiatives for promoting gender equality at the local level are still at an embryonic stage in Georgia.
Carried out by the Public Defender’s Office with UN Women support in 2019, an assessment of local governments’ gender equality policies revealed that despite progress, gender equality policies at the local level lack a systemic approach, are sporadic in nature and do not adequately respond to the needs and interests of local women and girls. To address this gap and support local governments in better undertaking obligations that promote gender equality, women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming, UN Women launched a new three-year partnership with the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG). The partnership aims at supporting the integration of gender equality and gender mainstreaming into local planning processes and developing the gender mainstreaming capacity of local governments in all 64 municipalities across Georgia.
From 6 to 9 July 2020, UN Women in partnership with NALAG conducted a three-day workshop in Kobuleti, Georgia embarking on the development of the NALAG strategy on gender equality and gender mainstreaming. The initiative brought together 16 NALAG representatives to discuss the role of local governments in promoting a gender equality agenda and to develop a strategic framework for action on gender equality for local governments.
“The workshop gave us an opportunity to define gender equality and gender mainstreaming priorities for NALAG and strategize how NALAG can support municipalities in promoting women’s empowerment in a more systemic manner,” remarked Natia Ghvinashvili, Deputy Executive Director of NALAG.
Tamar Taliashvili, Vice-President of NALAG, further noted: “The role of NALAG in supporting the implementation of gender equality policies at the local level is increasing. The ultimate goal of this work is to see the positive impact of these initiatives on the daily lives of women and girls across Georgia.”
UN Women plans to further accelerate work on strengthening local-level gender equality initiatives in line with Georgia’s international and national commitments on women’s empowerment and the recommendations of the Public Defender’s Office issued under its “Assessment of Gender Policy of Local Self-Government Bodies”. UN Women’s cooperation with NALAG is taking place within the framework of the project “Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia”, supported by the Government of Norway.