Women’s Information Center

Contact Information

  • Where – Georgia
  • Website – www.wicge.org
  • Contact Person – Elene Rusetskaia
  • Email – office@ginsc.net
  • Address – 40 Tsinamdzgvrishvili Street, 0102, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Other – www.ginsc.net

Areas of Expertise

The Women’s Information Center has expertise in a range of areas, including:

Main Aims and Objectives

Vision
The Women’s Information Center (WIC) is a non-governmental, non-profit and non-partisan organization, which is specialized in the sphere of protection of women’s rights, promotion of gender equality and provision of relevant information to public.

  • Vision A society with equal rights and opportunities
  • Mission – To contribute to political, economical and social conditions of Georgian women through perfection of legislative basis, raise of women’s awareness of their rights and opportunities and availability of information.

Three main aims of the organization:

  1. Exclusive information as a unique social service
  2. Strong partnership with target groups
  3. Successful advocacy

Upholding the Principles of Conflict Transformation

WIC actively works on women’s human rights issues in the conflict and post-conflict situations. For this purpose, the organization focuses on three levels – policy, national institutions and community.

Policy level – WIC participated in the UNSCR 1325 NAP implementation process, which was adopted on December 27, 2011. It also pays particular attention to monitoring the implementation of international commitments.

The 49th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was held on 11-29 July 2011. The session aimed at general discussion on the protection of women in conflict and post-conflict situations in the context of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The general discussion took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Within the framework of the project “Women for Equality, Peace and Development”, WIC elaborated recommendations based on materials developed during focus group discussions and submitted to CEDAW for further consideration. After the general discussion, the document presented by WIC was placed on the OHCHR website.

National institutions – trainings for representatives of governmental agencies on gender issues and UN Security Council Resolution 1325, 1820, 1960, 1888, 1889. Training aimed at developing the capacity of governmental agencies regarding women’s rights and gender equality.

Community – WIC provides IDPs and conflict affected persons with information and ensures their involvement in the elaboration process of National Action Plan under UN SCR 1325. For this purpose WIC held focus group discussions with self-help groups of IDPs and conflict affected persons. One hundred and seven (107) IDPs and conflict affected persons participated in focus groups discussion.

Where and with Whom?

Geography of activities:

  • Local level – regions of Georgia
  • National level
  • Regional level – South Caucasus
  • International level

Target groups:

  • Women and girls
  • IDPs
  • Women’s NGOs
  • State authorities
  • Mass media
  • Academic circles
  • NGOs and international organizations
  • Political circles
  • Children/youth

Main Activities in the Field of Conflict Transformation

The first steps on the promotion of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which have been made in partnership with nine organizations united within the framework of the project “Women’s Peacemaking Council” in 2002. In 2006, women’s organizations lobbied for the adoption of the National Action Plan on implementation of the Resolution. Unfortunately it did not take place, but some aspects of the prepared document have been included in the National Action Plan on Gender Equality.

In 2009, within the framework of the Campaign 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence, with support of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, an on-line conference “Women, Peace and Security: United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889” was conducted.

This is an effective method of establishing cooperation between civil society, governmental bodies, international organizations and other institutions. Discussion held within the framework of the above mentioned internet-conference allowed for outlining of future steps and measures to be conducted within the country for adoption of the National action plan for implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

In the framework of the project Women for Equality Peace and Development, with close cooperation with the Council of Gender Equality, it has started to implement national action plans of UN Security Council resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889. On the basis of an official appeal to the Council, various representatives of relevant ministries allocated delegates to a working group, which will work during the seven months with the local expert-consultants.

During the action plan preparation process, WIC will provide information and recommendations to representatives of civil society – NGOs, community organizations, IDPs and conflict-affected persons – to ensure their involvement in the development of a national action plan. For this purpose, the head of WIC, Elene Rusetskaia, participated in a governmental working group.

Results achieved by WIC – onNational Action Plan for Implementation of the UN SCR 1325, which has been adopted by the Parliament of Georgia on 27th of December 2011.

  • Five (5) round table meeting (Kutaisi, Gori, Zugdidi, Tbilisi) – in total 94 non-governmental organizations have participated;
  • Four (4) expert groups meeting – in total 30 non-governmental organizations have participated;
  • Seven (7) focus groups meeting (Tirdznisi, Skra, Tsintskaro, Koki, Anaklia, Kutaisi, Tbilisi) – in total one hundred and seven (107) IDPs and conflict effected persons have participated;

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