Mainstreaming Gender into Economic Policy- Shifting to Practical level

1. Mainstreaming Gender into Economic Policy- Shifting to Practical level Dr. Charita Jashi Gender economic expert 1 April, 2008 Tbilisi Georgia

2. Gender Mainstreaming and The Role of the State • The role of the state has become especially important for providing gender mainstreaming into economic policy. This in its turn will facilitate the increase of human potential, as well as stimulate economic activity. • Government has a central role in the removing the barriers, which prevent the equal participation of women and men in political and economic processes.

3. National Institutional Mechanisms in Georgia • Gender Advisory Council under the Chair of the Parliament of Georgia. The Board brings together MPs as well as the representatives from government structures and NGOs working on gender issues • Governmental Commission on Gender Equality (GCGE) includes representatives from different government agencies. The mandate of the GCGE is to facilitate the development and adoption of relevant monitoring mechanisms to plan and review implementation of government obligations to gender equality.

4. Collaboration Gender Advisory Council and Women NGO Coalition were involved in the preparation of following law: • New labor Law /expresses the interests of employers more than those of employees/. • Domestic Violence Law • Combating Human Trafficking • Concept on Gender equality /recognize importance of gender mainstreaming into economic and social spheres/

5. Plan of Action for Implementation of Gender Policy in Georgia 2007 – 2009 Government adopted reduced version of the NAP with only three (surviving) objectives: • to create an inter-ministerial commission to share information and knowledge about the implementation of the plan, • To create a legal framework for gender equality • To rise public awareness on gender equality by popularizing gender issues and information spreading To identify activities and resource funding of State Budget

6. National Plan of Action • Economic institutions moving to a dual earner models in the world • Social and economic components were not considered on this stage in the National Plan of Action

7. Political Participation • Women in Georgia still have limited access to managerial positions both in civil service and private sector, they are under-represented in local and central elected bodies. • Less than 10 percent of women in the national parliament; • The only one female minister • No women among governors • Among 1750 local self-government bodies staffed after 2006 elections, only 195 women (11 percent) were elected

8. Attempts of Gender Mainstreaming • Focal points on gender equality in the ministries 2001-2002 /failed/ • Focal points on gender equality in 6 regions 2006-2007 /failed/. • Amendment of the Organic Law “On Political Unions of Citizens,” in order to balance number of women and men in pre-elections party lists. The initiative proposes introduction of a new norm: both genders should be presented in each two of candidates. 32 000 signatures should be collected./ongoing/

9. Consequences of Neo-liberal Economic Policy • Focus on reducing budget deficits and inflation ; • Myth that high growth will automatically reduce poverty and income disparities over time; • Lack of social protection ; • Gender inequality is most evident in private sectors; • Impact of trade liberalization , lack of protection of domestic production;

10. Economic growth in GeorgiaSource: State Department of Statistic of Georgia, 2005 Percent Sector women men Industry18.6 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

11. Gender Budgeting • Gender budget is one of the main tool of gender mainstreaming an important financial instrument in terms of implementation of international commitments taken by the country-CEDAW, ILO and millennium goals calling for gender equality-initiatives only from NGOs side . • GRB requires not just desegregation by sex, but extending understanding of the economy unpaid – lack of awareness in this field

12. Changing Employment structure • Difficulties of combinig professional carrier with family obligations. • There are no conducive factors that would help women to find job and enjoy professional success. • Unpaid work (bring up children, taking care of family members, reproduction etc.) done by individuals in their families reflect the gender inequality, Care Economy • Trade liberalization does not work in in favour of social and economic development, hampering women’s social-economic status • Labour Code needs amendment

13. Mechanisms of Gender mainstreaming • Increasing awareness among politicians representatives of appropriate government structures Political will • More gender statistic and indicators • Use of new indicators for monitoring implementation • Making available tools, such as gender responsive budgeting • Research • lobbing • Creation of gender units and gender focal points/representatives from all government departments/

14. State Employment programs:Gender Sensitive? • Beneficiaries of programs are small size entrepreneurs operating in tourism and related fields • Soft loan program • Free training and consultancy • Lack of effective communication strategy • Programs evaluation and monitoring elements (largely missing)

15. Faced to people • 1/3 of the budget will be directed towards the social programs – This indicator will be firmly maintained during the next 5 years. • Employment will increase - 200 thousand new jobs. • Poverty will decrease to 25%. • The pension package will reach 100 dollars • 100 hospitals, constructed and equipped in compliance with modern standards • Accessibility of medical care in rural areas • Members of each family graded below the poverty line will be able to benefit from the insurance package

16. Without Stimulation • Unemployment allowances • Assistance to mother with many children • Assistance to Single mother /father • Young Families

17. Above mentioned components are highly gender sensitive • New program of the government should be considered as a step forward for achieving the social justice   in the country and gender equality as well.