Georgian journalists, who covered the Parallel Campaign. The competition results were announced by the Media Group at December 11 seminar, held in Sheraton Metechi Palace hotel. 8 journalists won first three awards, all others received stimulatory prizes.
Competition winners:
First Place:
Sofo Kvlividze (Resonansi newspaper)
Second Place:
Irma Kakhurashvili (Akhali Versia newspaper)
Nino Modebadze (GINSC web)
Lali Nikolava (Pankisi Info website)
Third Place:
Mzia Sikharulidze (Guria News newspaper)
Paulina Malazonia (Samkhretis Karibche newspaper)
Latavra Jiadze (Akhali Bolnisi newspaper)
Tinatin Mosiashvili (Akhali Versia newspaper)
Advantages and Disatvanges of the “Parallel Campaign”
Galina Petriashvili
text and photo
November, 14, 2006
Coalition Bulletin
integrated project of the Coalition, which we named “Parallel Campaign on promotion of women in local elections 2006”, is coming to an end.
Only final seminars are left to be held, to complete monitoring of group-work, to conclude journalists’ competition covering the project – and we can analyze the project in general. What did we manage to do and what we did not? Undoubtedly, we can not disregard objective circumstances, which played the part of hindrance. One of the most important objectives is sudden cutting of the terms of the pre-elections campaign. Elections were scheduled for December, and were held in October, two months earlier! Even only this circumstance could ruin all plans and not only of the Coalition. Majority of political parties could not manage with the time-trouble. To the honor of the Coalition, we managed to do the main thing in the conditions of the sharp time deficit. Even just from the visual side – according to the evaluation of the regional trainers, there were only posters of the Parallel Campaign with its logo and motto! Other participants of the campaign did not have time to print their production. Our banners, posters and leaflets played its part.
 As it seems to me, the groups have risen its experts’ level, connected with the participation in the elections. First of all, it concerns the group “Women and politics”, which conducted simply selfless work with electorate and political parties, candidates. However, on one hand – not the whole group. From the other hand, with its impulse, it could not always managed to infect other groups. Though this question is not addressed only to ‘politicians “but to all of us: those who wanted, they had been “infected”. As for me, I think that the Coalition could raise its authority among those participants of the election process, who were dealing with our activists. At one of the post-elections meeting, organized by the group of peacemakers you could meet representatives of parties and just elected members of self-governance bodies in Tbilisi. Most interesting is that information voiced by group members, was very interesting both for deputies and politicians, was rather new and sometimes sounded as revelation! It means, that our contacts with the electorate, despite its episodic character – were ore intense and deeper rather than participants of the lections.
As a positive fact, it must be mentioned first attempt to carry out huge joint action of the Coalition on the national level – Day “Peak». That day propagandistic action was held on the whole territory of Georgia. Not evaluating the level of the action, the precedent itself is the most important thing.
Among advantages, there must be marked expert assistance of OSCE/ODIHR And personally Reet Laja, whose experience and consultations were very important and fruitful.
At present the participants of the project began its evaluation stage, and general report will reveal the balance between “plus» and “minus”. Among the last ones I’d like to mark some of them.
The first minus was the low level of interaction between the groups – despite of the fact that we know each other for a long time and have been working together! Nevertheless, it was obvious that behind definite people and events there was not always seen the Coalition in general, the groups and separate activists felt lack of support of the others.
The second is the insufficient level of information. It is quite strange, but the electronic version of the Coalition is not working properly yet, on-line regime is available only for very little number of organizations. So, it was quite problematic to get information promptly and to spread it.
The third is that unfortunately, an absolute majority of the Coalition’s organizations can work only in a standard format, that combines training-seminar-discussions. Day “Peak “displayed, that we quite unwillingly go to informal kind of work. Nothing to say about something bright and memorizing.
The fourth. How can we learn to activate ALL involved in the project. This is the vitally important question for the further activity. Even in the Coordinating council of the Parallel Campaign, not all representatives of groups were active – it is enough to say, that there were such people, who we saw only once or twice during the project.
Patchwork of Gender Problems
a one meeting’s example
Lali NIKOLAVA
photo by Galina Petriashvili
Coalition, information bulletin
November 14, 2006
Local self-governance elections have passed... Discontented opposition exposes the ruling party to unnecessary expenses when planning its pre-elections campaign, and claims that the methods of fight were non-democratic. The ruling party representatives elected as Sakrebulo members get ready to start their new jobs...
On October 19, Ambassador hotel hosted an event organized by the Women and Peacebuilding working group of the Women’s NGOs Coalition in Georgia. The event aimed to bring together the most uncompromising opponents of different political parties in order to discuss gender problems, the topical issue for all politicians, regardless to what party they belong.
Participants
The meeting was moderated by Manana Mebuke, member of the Women’s NGOs Coalition of Georgia. She noted that there are only four women among the newly elected members of Tbilisi Sakrebulo. In contrast to Tbilisi Sakrebulo, there were more women than men at the meeting. Among the participants there were two majoritary MPs of the ruling party, Sofiko Giorgadze and Tamar Nutsubidze, who were elected to the new Tbilisi Sakrebulo; David Usupashvili and Tinatin Khidasheli, leaders of the Republican Party; the Labor Party was represented by Soso Shatberashvili; the meeting was also attended by the representatives of the Way of Georgia political party...
Looking Through Gender Glasses
The society tends to misunderstand gender issue, believing that the latter is applicable to women’s rights protection only. The October 19 meeting demonstrated how wide is the diapason of gender problem, which is spread among almost all parts of the society. Among the problems discussed there were the following:
1. Ethnic problems and the problems of civil consciousness. The members of the NGOs Coalition Neno Maisuradze, Roza Kukhalashvili, Alla Bezhentseva, and Nana Nazarova reported about the main part of the Coalition’s project that envisaged Parallel Campaign on support of women candidates in Georgia. They also informed the audience about the pre-elections situation the Coalition members witnessed in Western Georgia, Samtskhe Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli. The speakers also spoke about the problems in the regions of Georgia, about the low level of civil consciousness of the regional residents, including national minorities. Alla Bezhentseva illustrated her speech with the story about a secondary school teacher living and working in Dmanisi district of Georgia. When asked who was the president of Georgia, she named… the president of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, alike facts appear in different parts of Georgia.
2. Refugees. The problems of the internally displaced persons were also discussed at the meeting. According to Neno Maisuradze, member of the Woman and Peacebuilding, one of the Coalition’s working groups, and an IDP, it seems that this category of Georgian citizens is oftentimes viewed as inferior. “Neither me, nor the refugees living at one of the city hotels appeared in the electorate lists,” Neno Maisuradze said, “and none of the parties considered it necessary to meet the refugees and to learn their problems and concerns during the pre-elections campaign…”
3. Demographic problems. The speech of Soso Shatberashvili, one of the Labor Party leaders, was quite constructive: “It is very good that women try building their political careers,” he said. He noted that gender aspect is especially important today, when there appear budget-related problems. Shatberashvili said that the Labor Party managed to see draft state budget 2007, which foresees allocation of GEL 14 000 000 for administrative costs, GEL 15 000 000 for the construction of presidential residence, while maternity expenses country-wide make GEL 0. 00. “Isn’t this a gender problem?” Shatberashvili said, “I’d like to appeal to those women who have become the members of Sakrebulo, regardless of their party affiliation – they need to unite in order to obtain justice for the sake of our future.”
4. Local problems. Newly-elected member of Tbilisi Sakrebulo Tamar Nutsubidze shared her belief that a Sakrebulo member should be apolitical and aimed at solution of municipal problems. “For many years, there was no street lights around my house; me and my neighbors felt unsafe walking home in the evening. As soon as I became Sakrebulo member, I addressed to corresponding structures of this body, and got help. I am proud that I managed to solve this problem, it might be of a very minor importance, but the life of me and my neighbors has become safer.”
From one hand, it is very good news that one more Tbilisi street is alight; but from the other hand, there are plenty of places in Tbilisi that need to be taken care of.
5. Alleged gap in the state budget 2007. Tina Khidasheli, one of the leaders of the Republican Party, spoke about the expenses allocated for the repair work in Tbilisi. As she explained what exactly irritates the opposition in the repairs. “It is not that the opposition does not like the idea of painting and restoration of the buildings… The problem is that the city budget foresees allocation of GEL 14 000 000, and no one gets interested how was that amount spent, and was it exactly how much the city needed to paint the buildings,” she said noting that 1/3 part of the budget is included in the Other Expenses article, and it is unknown how are these funds being spent...
Summary. As the meeting was completed, the Coalition members and political parties representatives outlined possible ways of cooperation. David Usupashvili, the leader of Republican Party voiced the party’s wish to cooperate with the Coalition: “I am very glad that we managed to bring together people of different political affiliation, united by their common position. Gender issues are beyond party affiliation.”
Dear colleagues!
Media group calls for cooperation and partnership and invites you to participate in the competition for the best journalistic piece that would promote support of women at the upcoming elections. It is up to you to choose the form of your writing, but please make sure that the problem is viewed from the women-friendly positions, and that your piece of work does support women’s political initiative.
All materials should be published (TV- or radio broadcasted) during September and October.
Deadline for submitting materials is November 10.
Award ceremony will follow the competition.
More questions? Contact Lali Nikolava of the media group:
nikolavalali@yahoo.com
899 41 46 01
34 81 04
Media Group publishes its own information products:
NEWS
Coalition Bulletin (elections special issues)
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