2020-03-10
We have every reason to be proud because women account for 36% of Georgia's senior public servants, including at the decision-making level, the Prime Minister's Human Rights and Gender Equality Adviser Lela Akiashvili stated in her speech at today's presentation of a study on gender equality in the public sector. The event was held at Room Hotel.
According to the Prime Minister's Adviser, 5 of the 11 Cabinet members are women, that is, about 45%, and women make up 31% of Deputy Ministers.
"We have every reason to be proud because women account for 36% of Georgia's senior public servants, including at the decision-making level. Five of the 11 Cabinet Ministers are women, which is 45%, and 31% of Deputy Ministers are also women. That is praiseworthy, indeed, and it goes to show that we are on the right track. Today's study reaffirms that we must further intensify our work toward stronger gender equality in the public sector. Today's study is also important in that, besides rudimentary research, it speaks of those invisible barriers missing from statistics but found in the everyday lives of various public servants. And that stems from public attitude in general and different public views on men and women, on one hand, and often from internal organizational structure, on the other. In the latter case, the public sector shares with the private sector the responsibility to usher in gender equality," Lela Akiashvili said.
Said study on gender equality in the public sector, workplace, career growth, and professional development was carried out by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), with support from UNDP and the British Government, under the initiative for promoting public governance reform in Georgia. The report's presentation echoes Gender Equality Week.
The study uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies involving in-depth interviews with female and male public servants and work with central- and local-level focus groups. The study seeks to support relevant institutions in identifying systemic and cultural preconditions of inequality and in defining correct policies for ensuring gender equality in the public sector.
The even's guests were addressed by UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia Louisa Vinton, Director of the Civil Service Bureau Ekaterine Kardava, Deputy Justice Minister Gocha Lortkipanidze, the British Embassy's Deputy Head of Mission Alexandra Cole, and IDFI Executive Director Giorgi Kldiashvili.
Press Service of the Government Administration