Roundtable Meeting on “Political Participation of Women and Women’s Leadership in Eastern Europe and CIS Region” Wednesday, 22 October, 2008

In 1994 Georgia acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

September, 1995 – Fourth World Conference on Women’s Issues in Beijing

In 2000, the Coalition of Women’s NGOs was established with nine main working groups: Women and Politics; Women and Politics; Women and Education; Women and Education; Women and Healthcare; Women and Healthcare; Women and Economics; Women and Economics; Women and Peace building; Women and Peace building; Women and Media Women and Media Women and Global Environment; Women and Global Environment; PR and WG; PR and WG; Institutional Machinery and WG Institutional Machinery and WG

October, 2004 – the establishment of the Advisory Council on Gender Equality Issues October, 2004 – the establishment of the Advisory Council on Gender Equality Issues June, 2005 – the establishment of the Governmental Commission on Gender Equality (GCGE) June, 2005 – the establishment of the Governmental Commission on Gender Equality (GCGE)

Gender Equality Strategy of Georgia (GES) The State Concept on Gender Equality; The State Concept on Gender Equality; A three year plan of Action for the implementation of the concept on gender equality; A three year plan of Action for the implementation of the concept on gender equality; Recommendations to the legislative and executive branches of government for the establishment of permanent mechanisms to monitor and coordinate gender equality issues. Recommendations to the legislative and executive branches of government for the establishment of permanent mechanisms to monitor and coordinate gender equality issues.

May, 2006 – - Law of Georgia on Combating Human Trafficking; - Law of Georgia on Elimination of Domestic Violence, Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence and providing them with Assistance July, 2006 July, The Parliament of Georgia adopted the State Concept on Gender Equality (political statement of will that introduces definitions for “gender”, “gender equality”, “direct and indirect discrimination”, “gender mainstreaming”) - The Parliament of Georgia adopted the State Concept on Gender Equality (political statement of will that introduces definitions for “gender”, “gender equality”, “direct and indirect discrimination”, “gender mainstreaming”)

The data of the last four parliamentary elections Elections Number of seats Men (%) Women (%) Total Number of women in Parliament % 10 % % 8 % % 17 % % 5 % 7

Participating parties in the parliamentary elections of 2008: 1. Political Union of Citizens "Georgian Policy” 2. Republican Party of Georgia 3. Electoral Bloc "Alliance of the Rights, Topadze- Industrials” (M.G.S, Unity, E.D.P) 4. "Shalva Natelashvili – Labour Party” 5. "United National Movement – for Victorious Georgia” 6. Political Union "Georgian Sportsmen’s Union” 7. “Electoral Bloc "The Joint Opposition (National Council, The New Rights)” 8. "National Party of Radical-Democrats of the whole Georgia 9. “Political Union "Christian-Democratic Alliance” (CDA) 10. "Giorgi Targamadze – Christian-Democrats” 11. Electoral Bloc "Traditionalists – Our Georgia and Women’s Party 12. Political Party "Our Country”

WOMEN AMONG THE TOP TEN CANDIDATES ON THE POLITICAL PARTY LISTS 1. Political Union of Citizens "Georgian Policy”1 2. Republican Party of Georgia1 3. Electoral Bloc "Alliance of the Rights, Topadze-Industrials” (M.G.S, Unity, E.D.P)0 4. "Shalva Natelashvili – Labour Party”1 5. "United National Movement – for Victorious Georgia”1 6. Political Union "Georgian Sportsmen’s Union”0 7. “Electoral Bloc "The Joint Opposition (National Council, The New Rights)”1 8. "National Party of Radical-Democrats of the whole Georgia1 9. “Political Union "Christian-Democratic Alliance” (CDA)1 10. "Giorgi Targamadze – Christian-Democrats”1 11. Electoral Bloc "Traditionalists – Our Georgia and Women’s Party2 12. Political Party "Our Country”3

The Women Candidates Nominated by the Parties under the Majoritarian System 1. Political Union of Citizens "Georgian Policy”2 2. Republican Party of Georgia13 3. Electoral Bloc "Alliance of the Rights, Topadze-Industrials” (M.G.S, Unity, E.D.P)0 4. "Shalva Natelashvili – Labour Party”11 5. "United National Movement – for Victorious Georgia”1 6. Political Union "Georgian Sportsmen’s Union”0 7. “Electoral Bloc "The Joint Opposition (National Council, The New Rights)”4 8. "National Party of Radical-Democrats of the whole Georgia1 9. “Political Union "Christian-Democratic Alliance” (CDA)5 10. "Giorgi Targamadze – Christian-Democrats”6 11. Electoral Bloc "Traditionalists – Our Georgia and Women’s Party Political Party "Our Country”4

The factors negatively affected on the representation of women in the Parliament Decrease of the total number of the Parliamentary mandates; Decrease of the total number of the Parliamentary mandates; Decrease of the share of the proportional election mandates; Decrease of the share of the proportional election mandates; The single – mandate majoritarian election districts (women are not successful in such types of election districts); The single – mandate majoritarian election districts (women are not successful in such types of election districts); Decrease of the election threshold from 7 % to 5 % Decrease of the election threshold from 7 % to 5 %

Thank you for your attention and time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!