Empowerment of Socially Excluded Women in Georgia

Empowerment of Socially Excluded Women in Georgia

On April 16, 2004, the Human Rights Information and Documentation Center organized a presentation of the project “Empowerment of Socially Excluded Women in Georgia” in the office of Public Defender. The project has been ongoing since February of this year in co-operation with the Center of Research and Action on Peace. Invited guests and the representatives of mass-media attended the presentation. Ucha Nanuashvili, the executive director of HRIDC, Konstantina Vardaramatou, the director of the Center of Research and Action on Peace, and project co-coordinator Maria Zanni discussed the project.

In February, the Human Rights Information and Documentation Center, in cooperation with the Center of Research and Action on Peace, launched the project “Empowerment of Socially Excluded Women in Georgia”. 14 women were selected to participate in the project, including single mothers, IDPs, victims of the trafficking, and other women suffering from social exclusion.

The study course lasts for five months and includes English lessons and computer classes. The selected candidates are divided into two groups, with seven women per group. Different training is provided, including sections on women’s rights, trafficking, the situation on the labor market in Georgia, etc.  The sessions are aimed empowering  the participants and raising their awareness of their rights. In addition to the trainings they are provided with the legal and psychological consultations. Overall, 28 women will be trained during the course of the project. Application procedures for the next courses will be announced in July, 2004.

At the presentation, Ucha Nanuashvili talked about the goals and purposes of the project, that is to empower women and to reintroduce excluded women back into the social strata. The director of the partner organization Konstantina Vardaramatou, and project coordinator Maria Zanni, also gave brief speeches.

Vardaramatou discussed the history of their organization, and the projects they are implementing now besides the aforementioned. The General Secretariat for International Economic Relations and Development co-operation (YDAS), Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs finances the project in Georgia. Vardaramatou also discussed high-priority issues such as human trafficking and public health. YDAS plans to conduct projects on some of those issues in Georgia. She asked everyone in the audience for their cooperation, and for any suggestions they might have.

Maria Zanni discussed the general philosophy of their organization, and the importance of this particular project.