Another research conducted by Levan Kakhishvili, a Researcher at the Center of Political Research, was published by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy in Georgia. The research concerns the political participation of national minority women in Georgia.
According to the research, minority women’s involvement in politics is extremely limited and there are two types of impeding factors structural and cultural. Structural factors include the type of electoral system, recruitment practices within political parties, and knowledge of the state language. Cultural factors include perceptions and fear of politics among minority women, and gender prejudice and stereotypes within the minority communities and generally in Georgia.
Based on research conducted in Armenian and Azerbaijani populated towns of Akhalkalaki and Marneuli, a set of recommendations were developed. First, reforming the electoral system and establishing regional proportional representation with closed lists is likely to provide a better institutional framework for minority women’s political participation. Second, institutionalisation of recruitment practices and establishment of women’s councils within political parties will promote minority women’s representation in politics. Third, ensuring that minority women know the state language will be a step forward in this process. Fourth, frustration and fear currently present among minority women should be eliminated in order to ensure that these women are willing to participate more. Finally, gender prejudice and stereotypes that keep minority women under pressure have to be eradicated in order for minority women to enjoy the opportunity of involvement in politics.
For the full policy paper in English please visit the website of the Multiparty Democracy Eastern European Neighborhood Office. The paper is also available in the Georgian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani languages.