The mayors of 4 Georgian municipalities – Rustavi, Kutaisi, Ozurgeti and Lagodekhi signed the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life.

The National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia initiated the abovementioned signing ceremony.

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) created this document in May 2006. It aims to establish gender balance in municipalities and improve equality between men and women within their jurisdiction.

As noted at the event, each signatory party is required to draw up an equality action plan setting out the priorities, actions and resources needed to achieve this objective.

Ms. Tamar Taliashvili, Vice-President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia and Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities noted that for the first time Georgian municipalities join the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life.

 “Over 1600 European cities and local governments are the members of this charter. This is undoubtedly a step forward in terms of gender equality. It is a historic event for the first time Georgian municipalities join the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life.”- stated Ms. Taliashvili.

Before signing the Charter was conducted the project: “Equal Participation of Women and Men in Local Self-Government – Principles of the European Charter”. In the framework of this project and with the initiation of Ms. Tamar Taliashvili conferences were held in the regions of Georgia during 2017. The project was implemented with the financial support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in partnership with the United Nations Development Program Georgia (UNDP Georgia), the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

Signing of the Charter was conducted in the framework of the ceremony which marked the 20th anniversary of Georgia’s membership in the Council of Europe, the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 25th anniversary of the Congress initiated by Mr. Kakha Kaladze

A joint event focusing on the promotion of local democracy in Georgia was organized by the Congress and the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG).

The ceremony brought together representatives of Georgian central and local authorities, Congress and the international organizations. It took place in Tbilisi City Municipal Assembly.