State Concept of Georgia on Gender Equality

3. MAJOR DIRECTIONS FOR ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY The Concept aims to encourage the equal and effective implementation of the rights and opportunities for women and men. The Concept recognizes the principles of Currently, the gender equality is becoming one of the major priorities of the Georgian gender equality in all spheres of public and social life and provides for the relevant state policy aimed at providing effective conditions for the equality of women and men measures for prevention and elimination of all forms of discrimination on the ground and securing this equality. of sex as well as for the advancing gender equality. The Georgian Government commits itself to secure effective implementation of the The Concept determines the state's obligation to provide the relevant legislative and equal rights and opportunities for women and men in political, economic and social other measures in order to amend the legal framework, which constitutes the spheres. The Georgian Government will elaborate and implement the government discrimination on the ground of sex, and to ensure its implementation. strategy based on the main directions determined by this Concept. Creation and implementation of the reporting and monitoring systems represent an important

2. DEFINITION OF TERMS factor in the process of implementing the international obligations, national law and administrative and other statutory documents and implementing the state strategic Gender programs related to Gender Equality. Gender refers to cultural expectations towards the behaviour, attitudes, personal traits, and physical and intellectual capabilities of women and men. 4. MECHANISMS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF MAJOR DIRECTIONS OF THE GENDER EQUALITY Gender Equality Gender equality is an integral part of human rights. It refers to an equal presentation, In order to implement the main directions of gender equality the Georgian rights, responsibility and participation of women and men in all spheres of private and Government employs the relevant mechanisms and measures aimed at ensuring public life. equality between women and men in Georgia. The Government of Georgia recognizes that the elaboration, implementation and economic development and poverty reduction, as well as in the employment policy, will monitoring of the gender equality government strategy should be carried out through stimulate gender balance at the labour market and especially in entrepreneurial the effective cooperation and partnership between the government and civil society, activities. Equal access of women and men to fiscal, credit and production resources is thus supporting the increase of public awareness on the value of gender equality one of the mechanisms for private sector development and for creation of jobs. In order to ensure gender equality one of the most important and primary measures The Georgian Government should pay particular attention to the development of involve the development of relevant legal framework. When forming the government gender-sensitive, social justice-oriented budget both at central and local levels. strategies in different spheres, the special attention should be paid to persistent incorporation of gender principles and elaboration and implementation of the specific 7. SOCIAL SPHERE programmes, including regular implementation of special measures, gathering and analysing the statistical data, as well as promoting the research and education on The Government of Georgia actively implements reforms m the social sphere. gender issues. Incorporation of gender principles in the social policy will encourage the Today there are two interim structures the Gender Advisory Council under the Chair establishment of the social justice in the society. To achieve this goal, the state should of Parliament and the Governmental Commission working on gender equality issues elaborate and implement the programmes aimed at gender equality in healthcare and in Georgia. But, due to the priority of gender equality, it is preferable to establish a social security systems. The Georgian Government should recognize and give proper standing national machinery and ensure its effective operation in both, legislative and consideration to the work of the caretaker for children, elders and other members of executive branches, on central and local levels. the family in its social strategy. In the process of implementing the education reforms the Government should ensure

5. POLITICAL SPHERE the equal access of women and men to the basic, vocational, higher and continuous education, as well as to the information and communication technologies. By supporting 'the Rose Revolution", the citizens of Georgia expressed their will to build a democratic state. The implementation of gender equality principles is one of 8. CONCLUDING PROVISIONS the most essential parts of the democratic processes. Every citizen woman or man - is equally responsible for the transparent and accountable political system based on the To implement the State Concept on Gender Equality, the Government of Georgia principles of the rule oflaw and equality of citizens before the law. should: In order to achieve these goals it is necessary to: • elaborate special measures, including legislative ones, aimed at achieving gender • promote the full and equal participation of women and men at all levels and in all equality; branches the government; • integrate gender equality principles in every strategy and program; • encourage the equal participation of women and men in political parties and • exercise monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the Gender Equality National within their executive and oversight structures; Action Plan, elaborated and adopted by the Government of Georgia; • encourage the full and equal participation of women and men at all levels of the • secure the development of the standing gender equality national machinery and its conflict resolution and peace-building processes. effective operation at the legislative and executive branches, as well as at the central and local levels.

6. ECONOMIC SPHERE The state and local budgets are the major source for implementation of the State Concept of Georgia on Gender Equality together with financial and technical support Economic development is the major priority of the population of Georgia. The of international and local organizations. Government of Georgia aims at providing proper environment for sustainable The adoption and amendment of the State Concept of Georgia on Gender Equality is development of market based economy. Provision of equal participation of women made by the Resolution of the Parliament. and men is an important mechanism in implementation of the policy of economic security, which will facilitate the achievement of this goal. The integration of gender equality perspectives in the state programmes for the