For All Women and Girls: Nana Gogokhia’s journey of empowerment, responsibility and solidarity

Displacement as a calling

Nana’s journey has been shaped by personal history. At the age of 10, she was forced to flee her home in Abkhazia due to the war. Today, at 43, the memory of displacement continues to fuel her mission.

A lawyer by training, Nana began her professional path in 2004, focusing on the rights of internally displaced and conflict-affected persons. Over time, her advocacy expanded to include women’s rights, particularly those of rural women, returning émigrés and women seeking economic independence.

“Displacement has had a profound impact on my work. It gives me a deep sense of responsibility,” Nana says. “Everything I do - all the experiences I gain - I hope to one day bring back to Abkhazia.”

The power of a woman’s voice

Nana vividly recalls a meeting from a decade ago in a remote village, where local women shared a simple yet telling concern: Their kindergarten lacked even basic toys, making it difficult to leave their children there. As a result, women were pulled away from opportunities - from work, community life and decision-making.

“This meant no time for themselves, no space for labour outside the home, no place at the decision-making table,” Nana explains. “That’s why I advocate for municipal programmes that are shaped by women’s voices and designed around their real needs.”

In her work, Nana sees how women are often silenced, sidelined and stripped of their rights. “It’s painful. But it’s also completely evident: When women’s voices go unheard, their problems remain unsolved.”

Never standing on the sidelines

For Nana, meaningful change begins with education, awareness and a shift in mindset. These, she says, are the building blocks for healthy values, mutual respect and shared responsibility.

“In such an environment, a person’s gender no longer defines their role - their skills and capacities do,” she says.

She encourages all women to engage fully in the issues that affect their lives. “We can no longer afford to step aside. Every woman’s participation matters. I have a 17-year-old daughter who watches me closely. That’s why I fight with hope and determination.”

Strength in solidarity

Despite growing challenges, Nana insists that support for women must not falter. “Now more than ever, women need to feel they are not alone.”

She envisions a future where activist networks multiply - locally and globally. “The more we find one another, the stronger our solidarity grows. International organizations should actively support such initiatives by creating real opportunities.”

Nana does not only speak of solidarity - she lives it. She recently participated in the Women’s Leadership Academy, implemented by UN Women as part of the project “Women’s Increased Leadership for Democracy in Georgia” (WILD) in partnership with the Eastern European Centre for Multiparty Democracy (EECMD) and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Thanks to the Academy, she has formed lasting bonds with fellow women leaders. “This project made us a team,” she says. “When I need help - from a psychologist, a lawyer or another expert - I turn to women from the Academy. We unite our strengths to support others, and we know we’ll always be there for one another.”

Why the Beijing Declaration still matters

“Women are increasingly excluded from development processes. How do we respond to that?” Nana asks, pointing to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as a critical guide.

“International mechanisms like this declaration need to be more visible, more widely used. Even those who are indifferent or pessimistic must see that something is happening - that women are protected and valued in the international space. The realities we face today only reinforce the importance of the commitments made 30 years ago.”

Creating a supportive world for every woman and girl

“When I work with women, I try to build their confidence - to help them believe they can do anything,” Nana says. “Support from a stranger can be incredibly powerful.”

She believes society must recognize that supporting women’s rights and dignity is not just a women’s issue - it’s a reflection of a society’s strength and maturity.

“I want every woman to have access to support systems and spaces where her needs are seen and heard.”