From where I stand: “Labour rights are already a pressing priority for young people and women”
Raisa Liparteliani, a labour rights advocate and deputy chairwoman of the Georgian Trade Union Confederation, has been working on labour rights for more than 17 years, and she has made a significant contribution to the progress that Georgia has made on this issue. Raisa, 41, took part in the “17 Faces of Action” project from Georgia, along with other women.
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“A decent, equal and safe working environment means business profitability and economic growth, which is especially relevant for poor countries like Georgia. Despite the fact that decent work is one of the challenges in the Georgian reality, there is still some progress in this regard.
I have been working on this issue for more than 17 years, and I can say that labour rights legislation in Georgia has improved. An enforcement body has been created - the Labour Inspectorate - and anyone can appeal to it if necessary. Currently, labour rights are already a pressing priority for young people and women, which is also a significant advancement.
A special focus of my work is women’s labour rights - their legal support and awareness-raising, the improvement of legislation and standards, the ratification of international conventions and advocacy at the global level. In recent years, I have also participated in the development of Convention No. 190 of the International Labour Organization, which focuses on gender equality.
I think that any woman - through her protest and individual struggle to protect labour rights - can become a role model and a source of motivation for other women. It is an opportunity to implement positive changes, not only in everyday labour activities but also at the legislative level.”
The initiative “17 Faces of Action” aims to promote women’s contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project was initiated by the United Nations Office at Geneva and its representative, Director-General Tatiana Valovaya, as well as the Swiss Association of Women and Empowerment. In Georgia, the project was implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Country Team and with the technical support of UN Women. Raisa Liparteliani’s work makes a significant contribution to the achievement of SDG 8, which promotes economic growth and decent work for all.