Baia Pataraia, Eliso Rukhadze, Tozu Gulmamedli recognized for activism in women’s rights
The 2021 edition of the awards were held as part of the Global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Photo: Women's Fund in Georgia/Facebook
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Three women’s rights activists – Baia Pataraia, Eliso Rukhadze and Tozu Gulmamedli – have been awarded the Kato Mikeladze Award from the Women’s Fund for their dedication to gender equality and women’s rights protection in Georgia.
Tozu Gulmamedli is an activist working with women in ethnic minorities, and founder of the Iormughanlo Community Centre that provides youth in minority communities with opportunities for development and empowerment.
I really did not expect to be among the winners of the prize. I am relatively young and inexperienced compared to other candidates but I am very pleased”, Tozu Gulmamedli said.
Eliso Rukhadze is a lawyer who has represented women and girl survivors of violence at Sapari shelter since 2017, and worked to contribute to the re-socialisation and economic empowerment of her beneficiaries.
Specialising in underage law, violence against women, and domestic violence, she has also provided training in legislative strategies for gender equality and for regulations in eliminating violence against women.
Baia Pataraia is a human rights defender who has since 2013 headed the Sapari non-governmental organisation involved in work across Georgia on issues of early marriage, domestic violence, sexual harassment and more.
Pataraia has worked to provide professional training on gendered violence and discrimination to public service professionals including judges, lawyers and police officers, and is founder of the Women's Movement non-formal feminist group.
Representatives of UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme in Georgia, Kaori Ishikawa and Nick Beresford attended the award ceremony:
Such an honour to be at the #KatoMikeladze award organized by Women’s Fund Georgia.
— Kaori Ishikawa კაორი იშიკავა (@IshikawaKaori) November 29, 2021
Looking forward to meeting inspiring human rights activists in #Georgia ???????? #16DaysofActivism #WomenHumanRightsDefendersDay @unwomeneca @UNDPGeorgia pic.twitter.com/PHtwWXM50F
The Kato Mikeladze Award is named after a Georgian feminist and activist who published articles and led activism on women's rights and gender equality in Georgia between the late 19th century and the 1920s.
The 2021 edition of the awards were held as part of the Global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Known as 16 Days, the campaign has brought together more than 6000 organisations in about 187 states since its inception in 1991.
Women human rights defenders involved in activism in Georgia are set to be honoured in Tbilisi in the latest edition of the Kato Mikeladze Award, with the awards ceremony organised by Women’s Fund in Georgia set to select the recipient out of 10 nominees on Monday.
The UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have launched a project titled “Ending Violence against Women and Girls in Georgia” (EVAWGG).
The European Union and the United Nations have launched a three-year regional programme called ‘EU 4 Gender Equality: Together Against Gender Stereotypes and Gender-Based Violence’ to strengthen gender equality and prevent gender-based violence in the countries of the Eastern Partnership.
Comparisons between data from 2013 and 2019 highlight promising changes both inside and outside the home, but continued attention and resources are needed to maintain and accelerate progress towards equality,” said the survey.
The Women, Peace and Security agenda of the United Nations Women Organisation, and the role of women in conflict prevention and peaceful resolution, were in the focus of a meeting between Tea Akhvlediani, the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, and Kaori Ishikawa, the UN Women Country Representative in Georgia, on Friday.