This joint statement is issued by the United Nations system in Georgia, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, the Embassies to Georgia of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The world needs gender equality - today and every day. With new and ongoing conflicts, a climate crisis and shrinking democratic space, we are at risk of a major recession globally in gender equality. 

This year, the theme for the United Nations observance of International Women’s Day is “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”. We want to recognize the contribution of women and girls all over the world who are leading the charge towards adaptation, mitigation, and response to climate change, in building a more sustainable future for all.

Women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for effective climate action, participating in sustainability initiatives around the world and their leadership results in more effective climate action. We must expand the opportunities and help remove the constraints to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change. 

In parallel to the global climate emergency, the world and humanity are challenged by conflicts and humanitarian disasters. A full-scale war in Ukraine increased risks to regional and global peace and security. Escalating violence has already resulted in many civilian casualties and deaths including women and children, has produced more than 1.7 million refugees, and has forced hundreds of thousands of others to flee their homes within the country. Civilians always pay the highest price. 

While frontline soldiers and military personnel - both men and women - are risking their lives and families are torn apart, women and girls are impacted differently and disproportionately by war and conflict. That is why, in line with Women, Peace and Security Agenda, it is essential that women are included in the decision-making and peace-making processes. Here as everywhere, women are at the forefront of the humanitarian response. We must ensure that the specific needs and the health, rights and dignity of women and girls are safeguarded now and going forward. 

The UN and the partners are committed to delivering life-saving support to all people affected by conflict, wherever they are, particularly women, children, older persons, those belonging to minorities, and those with disabilities, internally displaced, refugees, and stranded third country nationals at this time of greatest need. Partnerships with civil society, women’s rights activists and peacemakers are crucial.

On this International Women’s Day, we, the international community in Georgia, extend compassion and solidarity to people affected by conflicts, in this difficult time. Solidarity must be extended without any discrimination. We join the UN Secretary General’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. This conflict must stop now. The people in Georgia and the world demand it. We must give peace a chance.