Nino Burjanadze- Political Empowerment
Nino Burjanadze is a politician and lawyer who served as Chairperson for the Georgian Parliament. She was the leader of the opposition movement against the government of Saakashvilli inb 2008. In 2013, she ran for president and ended third (after two men), with 10 per cent of the vote. She is a strong woman that shows great courage for supporting the political empowerment of women in Georgia and worldwide.
Life and Career
Nino Ansorovna Burjanadze was born on the 16th July 1964 in Kutaisi, Georgia .
In 1980, after completing her education with excellence in the Law Faculty of Tbilisi State University, she enrolled in the graduate department of the International Law Department at the Moscow State University named after Lomonosov. After having defended her thesis in 1991, Burjanadze returned to Tbilisi, where she taught at the University. In 1995, she was elected to the Parliament of Georgia into the “Union of Citizens of Georgia”. From 1999 until November 2001, Burjanadze led the Committee of Legal Affairs and the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations. From the 10th November, 2011 to 2002 she served as chairman of the Georgian Parliament. In spring 2003, she created the “Burjanadze- Democrats”, and in the autumn along with Mikhail Saakashvili and Zurab Zhvania, acted as a leader of the “Rose Revolution”, which resulted in President Sheverdnadze being ousted from power. The conflict originated during the democratic elections, when Saakashvilili claimed that he had won the elections, which was proved by independent organisations. The “official” results were accepted, but Saakashvilli urged Georgians to protest against the current government. Since August 2003 she became chairman of the opposition movement “For a united, strong nation”, supporting Saakashvili. Burjanadze was twice in the interim presidency of Georgia: the first time- from November 2007 and then in January 2008. However, she did not participate in parliamentary elections held in May 2008. Later in June, she was replaced by the speaker David Bakradze. After the war in South Ossetia in August 2008, Burjanadze went into opposition to Saakashvilli.
Nino Burjanadze is the author of twenty research articles and several books, published in Georgian, Russian and English on legal issues of international relations. She is also a proud mother of two sons, married to Badri Bitsadze, who served for the state border of GeorgiaRia News, 07.11.08. Web. 15 Aug 2011. [
Fighting in Opposition as a Woman
Nino Burjanadze is the leader of the “Democratic Movement – United Georgia”, which is a centre-right political party. She stresses the broken promises of the current President Saakashvili that he made during the Rose Revolution. Burjanadze has a strong voice against the non-democratic regime from the inside in her country. She explains her political views on the following ground: “We have no freedom of speech, since all the electronic media is under state control, all the phones of political opponents are tapped without a judicial warrant. Many claim that there is no corruption in Georgia, but elite corruption is so high.”
The high child mortality rates in Georgia are also one major concern of hersAmeljushkin, Konstantin. “Nino Burjanadze: My ambitions- to save Georgia.” Delfi, 17.05.11. Web. 15 Aug 2011. [
She describes the current situation of Georgia with the following words: “All states have ceased to live in a period of “cold war”, and especially the Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the United States of America of America of America and Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the Russian Federationn Federation. But Georgia still lives in a period of “cold war”“Nino Bourjanadze about Saakashvilli.” Yuga News, 07.08.11. Web. 19 Aug 2011. [
Women in Georgia’s Politics
Considering Georgia as one of the transition economies, one examines the decline in the numbers of women in parliament. Since 1992, Georgia embarked six electoral campaigns at the national level, and three at the local level, with a very low percentage of female participants. Those figures have not improved after the Rose Revolution either. According to the results of the parliamentary elections in 2004, only 9.4% of women took seats in the parliament. Since then, numbers have only declined: in 2008, the proportion if women MPs declined to 5%, showing even greater declines in each successive election. Within local elections, women candidates dropped from 14% in 1998 to 12% in 2002, and to none in 2006, when not a single women in 66 men participated in the local administrations. Only 11,4% of all elected governmental representatives were women in 2006“Women Political Participation.” P.13-14 UNDP, 2009. Web. 19 Aug 2011.
The Legislation on Women in Politics in Georgia established the State Concept of Georgia in 2006. The Georgian Law on Domestic Violence was also introduced in 2006. The body charged with looking after issues concerning gender inequality is the Government Commission and Advisory Council on Gender Inequality, pre-chaired by the head of parliament of Georgia“Women Political Participation.” p.15 UNDP, 2009. Web. 19 Aug 2011.
The assessment of the ratio of income from operations of women / men is 33% in Georgia. The standard income is 2044 (PPP U.S. $) for women, and showing a striking difference to 6185 Earnings Estimates from operating activities (U.S. $ PPSV) for men. Those facts together with the underrepresented numbers of women in politics show the strong correlation that if there would be a greater voice of women in politics, their well-being should increase while the wage-gap should start to decrease if effective policies are implemented“Women Political Participation.” p.19 UNDP, 2009. Web. 19 Aug 2011.
According to the NGO “Women’s Information Centre”, Georgia is on the 121st place out of 188 countries concerning women’s participation in politics. The role of Georgia’s Gender in the Media was heavily emphasised as having a “very low interest in positive coverage of women’s issues.” Suggestions of introducing policies like in the EU, of imposing quotas emerged as a solution. However, opponents like Kharatishvili, a correspondent from News Geogia, ask for receiving “financial incentives so that the election lists featured more women”. This means that political parties should receive bonuses in monetary terms if they give places to women within their parties. The Central Election Commission started a new initiative that promises long-term results; the creation of a Georgian Regional Women’s political school that will focus on the development of young women in leadership qualities and international relations“Active participation of Georgian Women in Politcs.” News Georgia, 30.06.2011. Web. 19 Aug 2011. [
References
See Also
- Georgia
- Women's Political Empowerment
- Wage Gaps Between Men and Women