Int’l organisations, diplomatic offices in Georgia call for “investment in women”, “accelerating progress” on Women’s Day

The United Nations in Georgia, the European Union Delegation to the country, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and 25 embassies operating in the country on Friday released a joint statement on International Women’s Day to reaffirm commitment to achieving gender equality and empowerment for “all women and girls”. 

The statement says women in Georgia spend five times more time on unpaid domestic and care work than men, which prevents women from pursuing their own professional success and from participating in political and public life.  

Women's economic activity rate (41.5%) lags significantly behind men's (64%). Nearly half of women aged 25-34 are not working. Thousands of women have migrated to support their families through remittances. Violence against women and girls remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations. Women's voices are often excluded from political participation and decision-making”, it reads.

The message for Women’s Day also notes women in Georgia hold only one-fifth of parliamentary seats and one-fourth of local council seats, despite the implementation of mandatory electoral gender quotas.

Fifty-four percent of women candidates in Georgia have experienced physical, psychological, economic, or sexual violence and harassment during their election campaigns or political careers”, the organisations and diplomatic offices point out.

The statement also says closing gender employment gaps, ensuring fair wages and formalising women's informal work could “significantly” boost Georgia's economy.

It also calls for public and private investments to drive women’s inclusion across all sectors of the economy and to address all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.