Women can, women act, women change: Open Day on Women, Peace and Security

UN Women recently hosted its annual Open Day on Women, Peace and Security. This year, the event, which is grounded in dialogue among civil society, youth, internally displaced (IDP) and conflict-affected women, UN agencies, and international partners, was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

The Open Day event brought together members of the diplomatic corps of Georgia’s partner countries, including the Ambassador of Austria, Robert Gerschner; the Ambassador of Denmark, Anne Toft Sørensen; the Ambassador of Japan, Ishizuka Hideki; the Ambassador of Sweden, Anna Lyberg; and the Head of Programmes at the British Embassy in Tbilisi, Chris Reilly. Other guests included the UNHCR Representative in Georgia, Kemlin Furley; UNDP staff; and representatives of other UN agencies.

During the meeting, invited ambassadors and international partners discussed the latest results of the Women, Peace and Security Index, as well as successful experiences and challenges related to the implementation of the WPS agenda.

“Today, I am speaking from the perspective of the communities we serve,” Ms. Furley said in her remarks. “UNHCR continues to remain present in Gali, working to preserve family links and support the wellbeing of people who face many challenges. Our role is to protect through presence — to help ensure that people can stay in their homes and live in dignity. In many ways, our work is about keeping bridges open: between families, between communities, and between hope and reality.”

A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to the perspectives of IDP and conflict-affected women living along the administrative boundary line (ABL). They presented the needs identified in their communities, existing security-related challenges, and initiatives implemented to improve conditions in their local communities. Particular attention was paid to the results of the Network of Women and Youth Peace Ambassadors, as well as to social mobilization outcomes and current challenges.

Tamar Sachaleli, who lives in the village of Kvemo Chala in Kaspi Municipality and is a member of the Network of Women and Youth Peace Ambassadors, spoke about how the implementation of the WPS agenda has changed her life: “I used to attend meetings alone, but now there are five women from my village who have joined me to carry out community-based initiatives. We discuss local issues and look for solutions together. As women peace ambassadors, we strive to improve living conditions and contribute to peacebuilding. For example, after four years of advocacy, 28 houses were rehabilitated in the village of Zardiaantkari near the ABL, with a major contribution from our network member Tsitsino Elikashvili. The Tiriphoni Channel was also cleared, supplying irrigation water to many villages in Gori Municipality. I hope that, with the support of donor organizations, our network will continue its work and that the problems will be addressed—at least partially, if not fully. Yes, women can, women act, and women change many things.”

Ana Leponava, a community worker with the IDP Women’s Association “Consent” and another member of the Network of Women and Youth Peace Ambassadors, also spoke about challenges alongside positive changes. She noted that there are key concerns remaining in her home region of Samegrelo, particularly in the villages along the ABL, including the security of people and their access to drinking water.

“For us - women, youth and IDPs in the regions - community-based initiatives are vital,” Ana added. “They create new opportunities, improve people’s everyday lives, and support us in finding common ways for development. Their results clearly demonstrate that well-planned and well-supported actions can strengthen entire communities, which is why it is essential to keep it going.”

The experiences and perspectives shared by women’s civil society organizations, together with other recommendations discussed during this year’s Open Day, will be submitted to the relevant UN committee, to be reflected in an addendum to General Recommendation No. 30 (2013) under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

It is also noteworthy that Open Day was preceded by a meeting for members of the Network of Women and Youth Peace Ambassadors, during which participants were introduced to negotiation and mediation practices in protracted conflicts. The knowledge gained will support them in facilitating dialogue and confidence-building and in promoting inclusive peacebuilding processes. The session was delivered by the Austrian Centre for Peace, which is a partner of UN Women.

The 2025 Open Day on Women, Peace and Security was held within the framework of the UN Women project “Women Act for Peace and Security”, with generous financial support from the UK Government.