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Every Fifth Woman Is Victim of Violence (Part II)

May 16, 2007

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The survey carried out by the non-governmental organizations (see part I) showed that the situation regarding the gender balance is worse in regions than in the capital. The population confirms the situation too. Tamar Goginashvili, a member of the Dusheti Municipality said that challenging process for women is too slow in Georgia: “I am particularly worried about the migration of women. If we compare the migration of men and women we will observe that most number of migrants is women. It is very painful that poverty made our women go abroad to keep their families from there. Children remain without mothers and husbands without their wives. Material welfare is not enough for a child to feel himself happy when s/he is deprived from mother’s care. In Dusheti district women have migrated from almost every village. And those who have gone cannot come back.”  

The same problem is in Racha. Nino Sokhadze, member of the Ambrolauri Municipality and head of one of the non-governmental organizations for women, said that “We have worked actively for three years to reintegrate our women into society. Initially, we had little audience and very often husbands accompanied their wives to the meeting. The men wondered what we wanted from their wives. It was too difficult to work with them. Finally, when they understood what we were doing and that the woman must not be a slave, but it would be better if they had educated and erudite wives, the men got used to the situation. The ice started to melt.”

As for the international organizations’ attitude to the problem, Nino Tsikhistavi said that their positions are too critical. “We cooperate with them regularly and exchange information. First of all, they recommend following of those official responsibilities that Georgia has signed recently. These are documents enacted by the OSCE, the Council of European, etc. Georgia received one of the latest recommendations on August 13 2006 when Georgian report on Elimination of the Women’s Discrimination was presented in New York.”

Tsikhistavi said that if years ago a woman was associated with housewife and gender equality was tabooed in Georgia, today, most part of Georgian women are related with hard work. “Most part of Georgian women work in street markets, they work too much and are trading on high-ways. We cannot say that they work in good conditions. Is it modern Georgia?  How can we associate women with housewives then? Women go abroad to send food to their children. We can claim that the women’s rights are violated. Just the opposite, we cannot speak about the gender balance, yet.”

One of the ways out, the respondent recommends to the government, is that the Georgian Authority should start dialogue with Georgian citizens. Tsikhistavi added that “It is the issue of national security. Many countries have included the problems like women’s violence, social conditions of women, lack of women’s involvement in politics and in decision-making positions, etc, among the issues of national security.”

Human Rights Center interviewed thirty-seven-year-old Lela (she asked to keep her surname anonymous) and her conversation proved that the most part of Georgian women have much less rights than men and they do not consider themselves as valuable as men.  

Journalist: Do you think that the gender balance is maintained in Georgia?

Respondent: No I do not think so and it cannot be so either. Georgia is a traditional country and according to its traditions, a man should make decisions in the family and out. I do not agree with the idea of gender equality but I do not think that a woman should be a slave, illiterate etc.

-Why have you mentioned the word “slave”? Do you think that Georgian women face that problem?

- It is natural that gender problems are not openly discussed. However, most women complain about that. I can give you my personal example; I can say that I am a slave of my family. But I have no way out.

- What do you mean, can you speak more precisely?

-I mean, my husband does not let me work; neither lets me go shopping alone. In the past, the family banned me to go on studying. My family members also interfere in my personal life. Shortly speaking, they decide everything instead of me. Though, it is only my problem and not theirs. I am speaking now because you promised me not to make my surname public. Every woman, whom I deal with, complains that their husbands are their masters and they feel themselves slaves. This is Georgian reality and disease. It is everybody’s problem and not only mine or my family’s.”

Legislation

As for legislation, there are several international documents and normative acts that try to maintain gender balance and condemn all kind of harassment. According to the United Nations Human Rights Universal Declaration, Article III, “every person has right to life, to liberty and personal security.”

According to the Article V of the same declaration, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

According to Article VII of the UN Civil and Political Rights International Act “No one shall be subjected to torture or to other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

“Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except the basements and regulations envisaged under the law.” (Article 9.1)

“Participants of the above-mentioned packet conventions are responsible to provide the equal rights to women and men, in order to let them enjoy their civil and political rights envisaged under the conventions.” (Article III).

In addition to that, there are several international acts that protect equality. For example: “European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.” “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Woman” (CEDAW), UN Declaration against the Women’s Violence, etc.

As for the statistics on gender balance, there are not similar figures in Georgia. According to 2005 data, the number of men among economically active population over the age of fifteen was 1461.0 thousand and the number of women was 1699.0 thousand. Among labor force men amounted to1074.0 thousand and women amounted to 945.5 thousand. 915.2 men and 829.4 women were employed.  600.5 men and 542.8 women were self-employed. The percentage of the employment was the following-62. 6 % of men and 48.8% of women were employed by that time.

Eka Gulua

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