UN Women supports the institution of the Thematic Rapporteur on Women, Peace and Security
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Supporting the Parliament of Georgia in implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda (WPSA), as well as the new initiative of the Thematic Rapporteur on Women, Peace and Security, by lobbying decision makers on behalf of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and women residing in the villages adjacent to the Administrative Boundary Lines (ABLs) is one of the significant priorities of UN Women.
With the purpose of realizing this priority, meetings were held by Teona Akubardia - Member of Parliament, Deputy Chairperson of the Defence and Security Committee of the Parliament, and Thematic Rapporteur on Women, Peace and Security - with the IDP women and women who are residing in the villages adjacent to the ABLs.
The meetings were held on 6 and 7 December in Zugdidi, also in village of Khurcha, and in Gori in partnership with the IDP Women’s Association “Consent” and the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, which are coalition members and UN Women partner organizations. The women who attended the meetings raised issues and challenges related to human security, infrastructure and access to public services.
“It looks like everybody forgot about us and about IDP issues,” said Nestan Tsulaia, an IDP from Abkhazia who attended the meeting in Khurcha. “Conflict resolution is a dormant topic now. They also talk less about women’s participation in peace processes.”
The institution of the Thematic Rapporteur is a relatively new parliamentary mechanism that is intended to implement the legislative and supervisory activities of the Parliament more effectively. The instrument of the Thematic Rapporteur is supported by a joint parliamentary project between the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This pilot initiative is carried out with the expertise and technical support of UN Women, the immediate mandate of which is to support the implementation of the WPSA in Georgia.
“These women are leaders in their communities, and they have to fight for survival, development and a better future in harsh circumstances,” said Ms. Akubardia after the meetings.
The challenges identified at the meetings will be reflected in the report of the Thematic Rapporteur. Afterwards, the report will be forwarded to the Gender Equality Council of the Parliament and other relevant parliamentary committees for further response and to identify necessary effective actions to solve the issues.
The activities in support of parliamentary oversight functions are carried out within the framework of the UN Women project “Accelerating Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Georgia”, generously funded by the UK Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.