Council of Elder Women: Amplifying the voices of women in Pankisi

Located in Akhmeta Municipality, the Pankisi Gorge is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Kists. Here, the authority of religious leaders and the influence of customary law and traditions have been very strong, affecting the rights of local women for years.

In a community where even discussing gender equality was once considered challenging, the establishment of the Council of Elder Women marked a major breakthrough. The initiative was driven by local women, with significant contribution from both Iza Bekauri, Head of the Sakartvelo Regional Empowerment Foundation (SREF), and Guliko Khangoshvili, the first-ever Head of the Council.

Guliko is 65 and lives in the village of Duisi with her husband. She has four children and nine grandchildren. A dentist by profession, she first worked as a dental technician in Tbilisi, and in 2009, after returning to the village, she continued her work but as a culinary instructor at the Kakheti Regional Development Foundation (now the SREF).

“I have always been good at cooking and baking, so I gladly agreed to teach,” recalls Guliko. “At the same time, I joined the women’s club, where local women would gather and share their needs with each other. It was through these meetings that many problems came to light. For example, there is a traditional local dispute resolution system led by the Council of Elder Men, where women are not allowed to participate directly—only the male relatives would speak for them. Women also found it difficult to discuss their problems not only publicly but even within their families. That was when Iza Bekauri came up with the idea of creating a Council of Elder Women, to serve as a bridge between the men’s council and the women of Pankisi, to advocate for their legitimate interests.”

To bring the idea to life, a group of women visited villages across the valley and selected 15 candidates for the Council, and then they presented the initiative to the Council of Elder Men. Although initially rejected, they ultimately succeeded in convincing them. “We explained that we could amplify women’s voices and contribute to fair decision-making,” says Guliko. “They trusted us, and in 2011, with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), we officially registered our organization in the Public Registry.”

At the initial stage, the women faced substantial resistance from the local community, but they gradually gained everyone’s trust and began working actively. Over the years, with the support of donors, including UN Women as one of the most active supporters, they achieved transformative results.

Thanks to the Council’s efforts, local women secured their rights to child custody and property ownership after divorce, and alimony issues were addressed as well. Notably, early marriage—once widespread in the community—is no longer registered through religious ceremonies.

“After divorce, women were not allowed to take their children with them,” Guliko notes. “Through our work and explanations, we ensured that at least young children could remain with their mothers. Then we enrolled these women in vocational courses, and with the help of donors, we provided small grants so that they could become economically empowered, earn an income and provide for their children. We made sure no one was left behind.”

The Council also helped local women obtain important information. Booklets were designed and distributed containing information about women’s rights in accordance with Georgian legislation, religion and Kist law. It was with the help of this Council that the voices of women in the Pankisi Gorge were heard.

“I feel proud when I know that mothers are free to take their children away after divorce, and also some of them are economically empowered—to see that the Council has contributed to all of this. We also feel gratitude from the women,” says Guliko, who led the Council until 2025. While the organization’s work is currently suspended, its members continue to provide voluntary support and, if necessary, continue assisting women.

The Council of Elder Women was supported by UN Women within the framework of the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality (UNJP4GE), with generous funding from Sweden.