Workshop for the Advisors on Gender Issues

The two-day workshop for the advisors on gender issues in the field of defence was opened at the Davit Agmashenebeli National Defence Academy. First Deputy Minister of Defence Gocha Ratiani unveiled the seminar and focused attention on its significance. 

The Vice-Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, the Head of the Parliamentary Council on Gender Equality Manana Kobakhidze and the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security Marriët Schuurman addressed the workshop participants. The NATO representative spoke on the gender equality issues and underlined significance of training advisors prior to the deployment to the peacekeeping operations.

The workshop has been conducted at the NDA for already the third time. The third stage of the training is being held in attendance of Norwegian and Danish experts.

“Working on gender equality issues began years ago and a great progress has been achieved in this regard. This day is the proof of it, though is not sufficient. Therefore it is planned to hold various workshops and retraining of personnel as well as sharing relevant experience with them. The NATO Secretary General`s Special Representative Mrs. Marriët Schuurman together with her team has arrived in Georgia with this aim exactly. We have invited the representatives from other partner nations too”, said Gocha Ratiani. 

The subject matter experts will draw attention to the gender equality principles, gender issues to apply during peacekeeping missions, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, and the convention regarding eradication of any form of violence against women. The military servicemen and civilians from the various structural units of the Armed Forces of Georgia are taking part in the workshop. 

“Georgia is one of the successful examples of implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. This plan has been executed for already three years and, Ministry of Defence is attached a great significance with this regard. The visit of the NATO representative in Georgia is another demonstration of NATO`s support of Georgia to introduce the worldwide standards of gender equality”, said Manana Kobakhidze.