Internally displaced women supporting the peaceful resolution of conflict

Internally displaced women have unique experiences and challenges; it is therefore necessary to take their perspectives into consideration in order to implement effective policy on conflict resolution and peacebuilding. There are 100,628 women among the 228,951 internally displaced persons (IDPs); however, their equal, full and meaningful participation in peace, security and reconciliation processes remains a challenge.

The UN Women study on “Views and Attitudes of IDP Women on Conflict Transformation, Reconciliation and Peacebuilding”” was an important step in overcoming this challenge. One of the study objectives was to identify the factors that hinder the participation of IDP women in conflict transformation and how to facilitate their engagement in future.

On 27 February, the study findings were presented to the representatives of CSOs, the media and public and international organizations working on the issue. As highlighted during the presentation, the results suggest that the majority of IDP women in Georgia - 87 per cent - think that the conflicts must be resolved peacefully. Moreover, 88 per cent are in favour of reconciliation with the Abkhaz and 85 per cent with the Ossetians. The surveyed women believe that the best way to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the conflicts is to promote friendship among the youth, including young women (55 per cent), and to facilitate free movement across the Administrative Boundary Lines (53 per cent).

“The research revealed some interesting details. For example, almost every second woman has contacts in Tskhinvali [or] Abkhazia. This is extremely important, because it shows that there is a great deal of resources that have not been utilized to date,” said Julia Kharashvili, Chairperson of the IDP Women Association “Consent”.

The research presentation was followed by a panel discussion, during which the media representatives talked about the role of the media in shaping the public’s ideas about conflict transformation and peacebuilding, innovative approaches to peacebuilding and technologies, and the challenges and opportunities.

Initiated and supported by the UN Women Georgia Country Office, the research was carried out by the research company ANOVA in 2023. It consisted of both quantitative and qualitative components: face-to-face and in-depth interviews, focus groups and a literature review. The event was held within the framework of the UN Women project “Accelerating Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Georgia”, generously funded by the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund of the UK Government.