Mainstreaming Gender into Mainstreaming Gender into Economic Policy- Economic Policy-

Shifting to Practical levelShifting to Practical level

Dr. Charita Jashi Dr. Charita Jashi Gender economic expert Gender economic expert

1 April, 20081 April, 2008Tbilisi Tbilisi

Georgia Georgia

Gender Mainstreaming and The Gender Mainstreaming and The Role of the State Role of the State

The role of the state has become especially The role of the state has become especially important for providing gender mainstreaming important for providing gender mainstreaming into economic policy. This in its turn will facilitate into economic policy. This in its turn will facilitate the increase of human potential, as well as the increase of human potential, as well as stimulate economic activity. stimulate economic activity.

Government has a central role in the removing Government has a central role in the removing the barriers, which prevent the equal the barriers, which prevent the equal participation of women and men in political and participation of women and men in political and economic processes.economic processes.

National Institutional Mechanisms National Institutional Mechanisms in Georgia in Georgia

Gender Advisory Council under the Chair of the Gender Advisory Council under the Chair of the Parliament of Georgia. The Board brings together Parliament of Georgia. The Board brings together MPs as well as the representatives from MPs as well as the representatives from government structures and NGOs working on government structures and NGOs working on gender issues gender issues

Governmental Commission on Gender Equality Governmental Commission on Gender Equality (GCGE) includes representatives from different (GCGE) includes representatives from different government agencies. The mandate of the GCGE government agencies. The mandate of the GCGE is to facilitate the development and adoption of is to facilitate the development and adoption of relevant monitoring mechanisms to plan and relevant monitoring mechanisms to plan and review implementation of government obligations review implementation of government obligations to gender equality. to gender equality.

Collaboration Collaboration

Gender Advisory Council and Women NGO Gender Advisory Council and Women NGO Coalition were involved in the preparation of Coalition were involved in the preparation of following law:following law:

New labor Law /expresses the interests of New labor Law /expresses the interests of employers more than those of employees/.employers more than those of employees/.

Domestic Violence Law Domestic Violence Law Combating Human TraffickingCombating Human Trafficking Concept on Gender equality /recognize Concept on Gender equality /recognize

importance of gender mainstreaming into importance of gender mainstreaming into economic and social spheres/ economic and social spheres/

Plan of Action for Implementation of Plan of Action for Implementation of Gender Policy in GeorgiaGender Policy in Georgia

2007 – 2009 2007 – 2009 Government adopted reduced version of the Government adopted reduced version of the

NAP with only three (surviving) objectives:NAP with only three (surviving) objectives: to create an inter-ministerial commission to to create an inter-ministerial commission to

share information and knowledge about the share information and knowledge about the implementation of the plan,implementation of the plan,

To create a legal framework for gender equalityTo create a legal framework for gender equality To rise public awareness on gender equality by To rise public awareness on gender equality by

popularizing gender issues and information popularizing gender issues and information spreadingspreading

To identify activities and resource funding of To identify activities and resource funding of State Budget State Budget

National Plan of Action National Plan of Action

Economic institutions moving to a Economic institutions moving to a dual earner models in the world dual earner models in the world

Social and economic components Social and economic components were not considered on this stage in were not considered on this stage in the National Plan of Actionthe National Plan of Action

Political Participation Political Participation

Women in Georgia still have limited access to Women in Georgia still have limited access to managerial positions both in civil service and private managerial positions both in civil service and private sector, they are under-represented in local and central sector, they are under-represented in local and central elected bodies. elected bodies.

Less than 10 percent of women in the national Less than 10 percent of women in the national parliament;parliament;

The only one female ministerThe only one female minister No women among governors No women among governors Among 1750 local self-government bodies staffed Among 1750 local self-government bodies staffed

after 2006 elections, only 195 women (11 percent) after 2006 elections, only 195 women (11 percent) were electedwere elected

Attempts of Gender MainstreamingAttempts of Gender Mainstreaming

Focal points on gender equality in the ministries 2001-Focal points on gender equality in the ministries 2001-2002 /2002 /failed/failed/

Focal points on gender equality in 6 regions 2006-Focal points on gender equality in 6 regions 2006-2007 /failed/.2007 /failed/.

AAmendmendment of ment of the Organic Law “On Political Unions the Organic Law “On Political Unions of Citizens,” in order to balance number of women and of Citizens,” in order to balance number of women and men in pre-elections party lists. The initiative proposes men in pre-elections party lists. The initiative proposes introduction of a new norm: both genders should be introduction of a new norm: both genders should be presented in each two of candidates. presented in each two of candidates. 32 000 32 000 signatures should be collected./ongoing/ signatures should be collected./ongoing/

Consequences of Neo-liberal Consequences of Neo-liberal Economic Policy Economic Policy

Focus on reducing budget deficits and inflation ; Focus on reducing budget deficits and inflation ; Myth that high growth will automatically reduce Myth that high growth will automatically reduce

poverty and income disparities over time; poverty and income disparities over time; Lack of social protection ;Lack of social protection ; Gender inequality is most evident Gender inequality is most evident in private in private

sectors; sectors; Impact of trade liberalization , lack of protection Impact of trade liberalization , lack of protection

of domestic production; of domestic production;

Economic growth in GeorgiaEconomic growth in Georgia Source: State Department of Statistic of

Georgia, 2005 2005 Percent

Sector women men Industry 18.6 81.4

Communication 22.9 77.1

Construction 6,0 94,0

Bank 25.0 75.0

Education 81.4 18.6

Healthcare 81,8 19,2

Agriculture 50.6 49,4

Gender Budgeting Gender Budgeting

Gender budget is one of the maGender budget is one of the main tool of in tool of gender mainstreaming gender mainstreaming an important financial an important financial instrument in terms of implementation of instrument in terms of implementation of international commitments taken by the country-international commitments taken by the country-CEDAW, ILO and millennium goals calling for CEDAW, ILO and millennium goals calling for gender equalitygender equality-initiatives only from NGOs -initiatives only from NGOs side side . .

GRB requires not just desegregation by sex, but GRB requires not just desegregation by sex, but extending understanding of the economy unpaid extending understanding of the economy unpaid – lack of awareness in this field – lack of awareness in this field

Changing Changing Employment structureEmployment structure    

Difficulties of Difficulties of combin combinig ig professional carrier with family professional carrier with family obligations. obligations.

There are no conducive factors that would help women There are no conducive factors that would help women to find job and enjoy professional success.to find job and enjoy professional success.

Unpaid work (bring up children, taking care of family Unpaid work (bring up children, taking care of family members, reproduction etc.) done by individuals in their members, reproduction etc.) done by individuals in their families reflect the gender inequalityfamilies reflect the gender inequality, , Care Economy Care Economy

Trade liberalization does not work in in favour of social Trade liberalization does not work in in favour of social and economic development, hampering women’s social-and economic development, hampering women’s social-economic status economic status

Labour Code needs amendment Labour Code needs amendment

Mechanisms of Gender mainstreamingMechanisms of Gender mainstreaming

Increasing awareness among politicians Increasing awareness among politicians representatives of appropriate government structures representatives of appropriate government structures Political willPolitical will

More gender statistic and indicatorsMore gender statistic and indicators Use of new indicators for monitoring implementationUse of new indicators for monitoring implementation Making available tools, such as gender responsive Making available tools, such as gender responsive

budgetingbudgeting ResearchResearch lobbinglobbing Creation of gender units and gender focal Creation of gender units and gender focal

points/representatives from all government points/representatives from all government departments/departments/

State Employment programs:State Employment programs:Gender Sensitive? Gender Sensitive?

Beneficiaries of programs are small size Beneficiaries of programs are small size entrepreneurs operating in tourism and entrepreneurs operating in tourism and related fields related fields

Soft loan program Soft loan program Free training and consultancy Free training and consultancy Lack of effective communication strategyLack of effective communication strategy Programs evaluation and monitoring Programs evaluation and monitoring

elements (largely missing)elements (largely missing)

Faced to peopleFaced to people

1/3 of the budget will be directed towards the social 1/3 of the budget will be directed towards the social programsprograms – This indicator will be firmly maintained – This indicator will be firmly maintained during the next 5 years. during the next 5 years.

Employment will increase Employment will increase - 200 thousand new jobs. - 200 thousand new jobs. Poverty will Poverty will decrease to 25%. decrease to 25%. The pension package will reach 100 dollarsThe pension package will reach 100 dollars 100 hospitals, constructed and equipped in compliance 100 hospitals, constructed and equipped in compliance

with modern standardswith modern standards Accessibility of medical care in rural areasAccessibility of medical care in rural areas Members of each family graded below the poverty line Members of each family graded below the poverty line

will be able to benefit from the insurance packagewill be able to benefit from the insurance package

Without Stimulation Without Stimulation

Unemployment Unemployment allowancesallowances Assistance to mother with many childrenAssistance to mother with many children Assistance to Assistance to Single mother /father Single mother /father Young FamiliesYoung Families

Above mentioned components are highly Above mentioned components are highly gender sensitivegender sensitive

New program of the government should New program of the government should be considered as a step forward for be considered as a step forward for achieving the social justice   in the country achieving the social justice   in the country and gender equality as well. and gender equality as well.