March 29-31, 2021. Municipalities of Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti. Through the joint efforts of the Human Rights Secretariat of the Administration of the Government of Georgia, the UNFPA Georgia Country Office and the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, Women’s History Month was celebrated in the municipalities of Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti, in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Guria, with the support of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia and the European Union. Within the framework of the events, there was a meeting held between Giorgi Sakhokia, Governor of Guria, and Lela Bakradze, Head of the UNFPA Georgia Country Office, to discuss future cooperation in the field of human rights, promotion of gender equality and youth empowerment.

“Guria remains to be a priority region for us, within the framework of the Joint Programme: EU 4 Gender Equality: Together Against Gender Stereotypes and Gender-Based Violence, implemented by UNFPA and UN Women with the financial support of the European Union. “We hope that in cooperation with the Human Rights Secretariat, local authorities and partner organizations, we will be able to take important steps towards achieving gender equality,” said Lela Bakradze, head of the UNFPA Georgia Country Office.

The exhibition “Girls from the Future” by the photographer Dina Oganova was opened at Ozurgeti Public School #1. The same project was displayed at Public School #1 of Chokhatauri, also at the public school of the village Chochkhati, Lanchkhuti Municipality. The photo project tells the stories of girls aged 10 to 16 living in different cities and villages of Georgia through photos as well as texts. The project aims at emphasizing to the public that unlocking the full potential of girls, creating equal conditions and equitable environment for them and providing access to education and health is crucial for the progress and development of every country, that every girl should have an opportunity to complete education and make informed decisions about their life and health. The photo project was initiated by the UNFPA Georgia Country Office and it is a part of the large-scale advocacy work undertaken by UNFPA to address harmful practices of early marriages and to respect the reproductive health and rights of adolescents and youth.

Within the framework of the event, the Equality Corners were opened at libraries of the same schools in partnership with the publishing house Palitra L and Silknet. Opening the Equality Corners at schools and libraries in various regions of Georgia is an initiative of UNFPA, which has been implemented since 2018 together with partner organizations. The Equality Corners enable the adolescents and youth to learn more about the idea of ​​equality through contemporary fiction.

The Equality Corners were opened by Giorgi Kekelidze, writer and director of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, and a friend of UNFPA’s. He spoke to students about the idea and importance of gender equality.

Together with its partner organizations, UNFPA Georgia Country Office plans to open Equality Corners in various regions of Georgia in the future.