Meeting with Women and Civil Activists in Pankisi Gorge

On March 15, representatives of Human Rights Center held meeting with the women and civil activists in the Pankisi Gorge in the office of the Pankisi Community Radio.

Executive director of Human Rights Center spoke about the project “Support to the Defense of Rights of Women, Ethnic and Religious Minorities in the Regions of Georgia” during the meeting.

The project aims to promote access of vulnerable groups of society, women, religious and ethnic minorities to the justice in the regions of Georgia namely in Kvemo Kartli and Kakheti regions.

Coordinator of Human Rights Center’s Kakheti branch office Lia Khuroshvili and senior lawyer of the project Tamar Avaliani informed the local population about the legal service they can offer in the frame of the project.

Ethnic Kist people, who participated in the meeting, said that their major problem is unemployment. They said that it is more difficult for women to get a job mostly because of traditions of the local community. It is believed that women shall take care of only family and children.

Duisi village attorney Tamar Margoshvili spoke about her experience. Despite successfully passed test exams of public servants some members of the Council of Elders in the Pankisi Gorge opposed her to become the village attorney.

The locals also complained about their persecution on ethnic grounds by police officers. Gender issues were also discussed, like early marriages, discrimination of women in getting heritage, etc. It was noted that customs based law was strong in the Gorge, which is executed by the Sharia Court and the unwritten norms of the Council of Elders. For example, locals recalled an example when underage girl was stolen for the purpose of marriage but the fact was processed by the Sharia Court and the kidnapper was only fined.

Representatives of the East West Management Institute, Pankisi Community Radio and Civil Activities Center participated in the meeting.

This project is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).