A multi-party staff of the Club of Women-Voters was joined by the representative of Communist party, Shorena Baramidze. This time she better introduced herself to attendees. In her words membership of Communist party was caused by different interests, one of which was good neighbourly relations with Russia.
There were also discussed local self-government elections of 2010. Members of the Club think that increase of women’s representation in politics is necessary since woman is more sensible by nature and she can better react to social issues, issues of health protection, education and culture.
According to the results there are only 3 women represented in the local elections in Ozurgeti. Participants of the Club – journalists, teachers think that only three women would not be able to change the situation in the city, though they believe that these women will do their best.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Meeting of the Club of young women "Abkhazia – want to know everything” was carried out in the office of Fund "Sukhumi” with the participation of 8 young women IDPs from Abkhazia.
The topic of the meeting – "Social-economic and humanitarian-cultural community of Georgians and Abkhazians”. This topic was very interesting but at the same time complicated for the Club participants.
"At the meeting I have learnt about historical, cultural, religious communities of Georgians and Abkhazians. United geographic, economic space was the basis for creating of these communities. I study at the historical faculty and this thematic is very important for me”, - Tamuna Subeliani.
Participants mentioned that relations should be started from anew, there should be created communities.
The next meeting of the Club will be held in August.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation
A regular meeting of the Club of Women-Voters was held in the collective centre of Khoni.
A representative of Fund "Sukhumi” acquainted women IDPs with the results of the local self government elections held on May 30, 2010 which were discussed by the participants.
Women mentioned that there are no women in the local self governance bodies, that bad results.
Members of the Club told about social problems – raised the issues of housing again. Part of IDPs express dissatisfaction because of the low quality of repair works and shortage of living space.
Women focused their attention on everyday problems. They mentioned that life of women IDPs is monotomous and such meetings give them more possibility to get new information.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
"Georgian-Abkhaz mixed families” – this was the topic of the Club of young women "Abkhazia – want to know everything”, held in Women’s Support centre of Khoni.
This topic was very close for the Club participants. They gave many examples of mixed families.
"Recently my uncle married on Abkhazian. They are happy together”.
"There have been created many such families after the conflict. This gives hope for peaceful future of our nations”, - mentioned participants of the Club.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation
Hot discussions about significance of the role of Media in the local self-government elections were held at the Club of Women-Voters in Tskhaltubo.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Editor of the local newspaper "Tskhaltubo” Eter Devidze. She provided attendees with detailed answers to their questions and addressed leaders of political parties with recommendations that they give women more opportunities for self-realization.
Despite the fact that editorial board wanted to introduce readers with all women candidates in Tskhaltubo, only one woman addressed them for support.
We should mention the fact that it is necessary to activate the work for overcoming of information vacuum in Tskhaltubo since there are not published many local editions.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
In June meetings of the Club "Abkhazia – want to know everything” were organized in Kutaisi and in Tskhaltubo.
One of the meetings was attended by a Swedish student Therese Svetberg who listened to the stories of the girls about traditions, culture and Abkhaz cuisine with great interest.
Participants of the meetings mentioned that the Club "Abkhazia-want to know everything” is very important since they learn a lot of interesting information about Abkhazia. Meetings differ from one another that make the work more interesting.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
Meeting of the Club of Women-Voters in Khoni was devoted to evaluation of local self-government elections and future cooperation with newly elected local self-government.
Evaluating elections participant mentioned that voters were especially active in Khoni – 61,09% (according to CEC).
Despite the fact that none of women was elected as a member of the local self-government, Club members are planning to set before men, elected for the local self-government more actively social and other problems, solution of which is important for IDPs as well as for the local self-government.
Meeting of the Club of Women-Voters in Tskhaltubo started with good news – one woman has been elected as a member of the local self-government of Tskhaltubo. She is Khatuna Tsereteli – a majority candidate of the village Mekvena from "Tortladze – democratic party”.
Members of the Club did not expect peculiar changed in the government from the gender point of view and mentioned that the main reason was unwillingness of parties to include women in elections lists.
Evaluating elections they said that women, as always, were very active in Election Administration. Almost all members of the Club of Women-Voters took active participation in election processes as chairpersons of District election commissions, secretaries and members of commissions.
Members of the Club expressed wish for cooperation with the only woman – member of the local self-government of Tskhaltubo. They planned to invite her to the next Club meeting.
-According to the results of local self-government elections of 2010 three women will be presented in the local self-government of Ozurgeti. One of them, Irina Sajaia is an active member of the Club of Women-Voters in Ozurgeti – this was good information provided at the meeting of the Club of Women-Voters in Ozurgeti.
It was mentioned that during the work in the local self government Irina Sajaia differed with great initiative and activeness. Now she has another chance to continue the work she started several years ago. Members of the Club are expecting from her innovations in different spheres.
At the meeting of the Club participants analyzed results of the local self government elections once again. They think that society became more active from the gender perspective and this, in their opinion, is a result of active work carried out before elections.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Participants of the Club of Women-Voters meeting in Batumi congratulated a member of the Christian-democratic party, a journalist by the profession, Nazibrola Kobuladze with winning the local self government elections. It should be noted that Mrs. Nazibrola has been a member of the Batumi Club of Women-Voters for a year.
It was mentioned at the meeting that there is a progress from the gender perspective. In the past convocation of the local self-government in Batumi, there was no woman and this year there will be three.
-In Batumi local self-government I will take care of health and education of our children. Educated and healthy generation should be the main for our State, - mentioned Nazibrola Kobuladze.
The meeting was attended by the Swedish student – Theresa Westberg, who shared attendees with experience of her country: - how women in Sweden achieved political success and what changed since the number of women in the governing bodies and local self-government had increased.
In the opinion of the participants, experience of Swedish women is really useful for the Georgian politics. From the gender perspective Georgia is on the 120th place while Sweden on the second!
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
A leader of the Club of Women-Voters Darejan Tskhvitaria has become a member of the local self-government for the second time. Members of the Club – her fellow citizens, colleagues, friends congratulated her with success.
-Relations with people are priority for me. I will do everything for improving of their social condition, - declared Darejan Tskhvitaria.
On the question, whether she is going to be more advanced in politics, her answer was the following:
-It’s too early to think about this, though I don’t rule out it. How can one be a solder and does not think about being a General.
Representatives of the Club think that activeness of Darejan Tskhvitaria in the local self-government will be a stimulus for the rest members of the Club.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Another pre-election meeting of Khobi Club of Women-Voters was held in the village Baia.
Leader of the Club and majority candidate, Manana Shulaia, running for elections in the same village, organized a meeting with members of the Club of Women-Voters, female residents of the village in her house.
-I invited you to my house to show that I am the same woman as you. I am worried about on the same problems as your families. Today, we are going to talk about general issues. We’ll focus on specific issues of concern to residents of our village and require timely solutions.
At the meeting the majority candidate acquainted attendees with their election programme. She mentioned that if she wins election, issues of employment will be the priority ones, as this problem is especially acute in the village Baia as well as throughout Georgia.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA
Pre-election euphoria is felt in the Club of Women-Voters in Poti.
Majority candidate and also leader of the Club, Darejan Tskhvitaria acquainted members of the Club with her election programme.
Employment, solution of social issues, creation of new work places – these are priority issues included in the programme of Darejan Tskhvitaria.
Candidate considers that working in the local self-government she obtained great experience and in the future, in case of victory, she will continue effective work for the solution of the aforementioned issues.
-Members of the Club of Women-Voters are waiting for the forthcoming elections with hope. They think that number of women in the local self-government would be increased and after elections social conditions of the city inhabitants would be improved.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
A pre-election meeting of Club of Women-Voters was held in the office of Fund "Sukhumi”. Candidates – Nato Katamadze (Alliance for Georgia) and Lia Gvenetadze (Christian-democratic movement), being at the same time members of the Club of Women-Voters, presented club members their election campaigns.
After submitting their programmes candidates answered questions of attendees.
It should be noted that social sphere and heath protection are priority for them. They pay special attention to the proper reallocation of budget.
Participants had different positions regarding certain issues and that was the reason of hot discussions.
It was mentioned at the meeting that the level of awareness of voters in regard to election legislation and gender issues had been increased that would be well observed during elections and number of women would be increased compared with last years.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
-Which historic monuments do you know in Abkhazia? What did you hear about these monuments?
Meeting of the Club "Abkhazia – want to know everything” organized in Fund "Sukhumi” started with these questions.
Participants told about stories of Ilori and Bedia monasteries, about Novi Afon cave, which they read about in the literature of different genres and which they heard about from their parents.
It should be noted that local women have also joined the Club.
-I am not from Abkhazia, but I have many friends IDPs. Abkhazia is my motherland and I want to know more about it. I attend meeting of the Club with great pleasure. It’s important that our generation has such kind of possibility.
At the next meeting held on May 17, members of the Club organized photo-exhibition: "Photos from family album”.
Black and white photos, taken in Abkhazia at different times, once again renewed past, happy years of joint life of Abkhaz and Georgians.
Members of the Club will gather together the next month and the topic of the meeting will be Abkhazia again.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
Meeting of the Club of Women-Voters held in Batumi started with interesting news – candidate of Christian-Democratic Movement, the second in the list, Nazibrola Kobuladze, starts its political carrier. It should be noted that Nazibrola Kobuladze is a member of the Club of Women-Voters since 2010.
Leaders of the Club, Inga Mebonia and Nona Chkheidze acquainted participants with the information about the situation in Adjara before elections and number of women presented in election lists.
Members of the Club think that, compared with the last years, women’s involvement had increased and we should expect better results in the future.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
A pre-election mood was felt at the Meeting of the Club of Women-Voters in Tskhaltubo.
Majority candidates, being at the same time members of the Club, provided participants of the meeting with the information about their pre-election programmes.
After acquainting with the programmes members of the Club addressed candidates with questions: how far priority are IDPs’ issues, what they would do if they come to the local self-government.
Participants of the Club also discussed problems existing in Education system. Candidates, on their turn, told about changes they will make if they win elections.
They hope that compared with last years number of women in the local self-government will increase and this means that women’s issues will be more priority.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
