Japan and UN Women Join Hands to Strengthen the Resilience of Ukrainian Refugee Women and Girls in Georgia
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Tbilisi, Georgia - Supported by the Government of Japan, UN Women has launched a vital initiative supporting Ukrainian refugee women and girls in Slovakia, Poland, and Georgia. With a $565,000 investment, the project will benefit 480 Ukrainian refugee women and girls, impacting representatives from CSOs, state partners, and Women’s Rights Organizations.
Amid the ongoing crisis, over 11 million people have fled Ukraine since February 2022 and their majority are women and children. The war exacerbated to the risks of trafficking in human beings, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, and forced labor.
The project addresses refugees’ challenges, with 80% expected to stay in their current host countries for a longer term. Labor market integration, social tensions, and long-term housing challenges in host countries remain to be significant barriers. Women refugees, including heads of households, face difficulties in finding sustainable livelihoods and decent jobs, that deepens their insecurities and trauma.
The Embassy of Japan in Georgia congratulates on the launch of this project and it will not spare no efforts to support the implementation of the project in its capacity. Japan attaches importance to the promotion of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) initiative to protect human dignity, as one of its major foreign policies. I wish this project would offer an opportunity for Ukrainian refugee women and girls to live a fulfilling life in the host country.
Mr. Hideki Ishizuka, Ambassador of Japan in Georgia
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This project, generously supported by the Government of Japan, targets the unique adversities of women and girls from Ukraine. Our goal is not only providing aid but empowering them towards a resilient and sustainable future. Collaborating with local stakeholders and aligning with the Regional Refugee Response Plan, we are dedicated to fostering a gender-sensitive, inclusive environment for these refugees focusing on innovation, technological change, and education for gender equality. We also hope that the project offers an opportunity for Ukrainian refugee women and girls in the recovery and reconstruction of post war.
Kaori Ishikawa, UN Women Representative in Georgia
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The Georgia-related component of the project aims at empowering Ukrainian refugee women to deepen their ICT skills, enabling access to digital jobs locally as well as internationally. The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) network of business community under UN Women also plays a vital role in supporting women’s access to employment. The intervention also aims to improve psychological well being and resilience of Ukrainian women residing in Georgia, along with increasing of gender sensitivity of humanitarian interventions carried out by the government of Georgia.
UN Women remains committed to supporting the people of Ukraine, especially the women and girls, at this time of greatest need.
For media inquiries contact:
Gvantsa Asatiani – Communications Analyst, UN Women Georgia
Email: gvantsa.asatiani@unwomen.org
