Thirty-six judge members of the Women’s Rights Practice Group member judges, representatives of state institutions, practicing attorneys, and civil society representatives gathered to discuss the main challenges confronting the protection of women’s rights in administrative and civil lawsuits.

United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly C. Degnan welcomed the conference participants, stating: “Judges carry the heavy burden and responsibility of upholding the rule of law, protecting democracy and human rights. That's why the United States supports judges by providing them with necessary resources, training, and research, and supports your initiatives to improve the fair implementation of laws that maximize the protection of women. Today's conference is a great example of that support.” 

She continued: “For already thirty years, the U.S. has worked with a range of state and non-state institutions in Georgia to improve gender equality, increase women's access to justice, enhance women's educational entertainment, and increase the number of women in leadership positions in government at the national, regional, and local levels. We truly believe that a fair and effective justice system that treats women equitably and aligns with existing law is critical for ensuring the protection of all human rights.”

The key presenters at the meeting included judges from Tbilisi City Court (Ketevan Mamatsashvili), Tbilisi Court of Appeals (Leila Mamulashvili, Shorena Tsikaridze), and Rustavi City Court (Nata Tedeshvili), all representing administrative and civil law chambers. The judges stressed the importance of promoting a gender-sensitive approach in courts through exchanging best practices among law practitioners, including judges, lawyers and CSOs. They stated that lawsuit participants’ awareness about gender sensitization may heavily impact court practice, and that professional development programs for judges and practicing lawyers are also essential in this regard. 

The civil society, state and legal support provider institutions represented at the conference included: Public Defender’s Office, Georgian Bar Association, Legal Aid Service, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, Partnership for Human Rights, Women’s Initiatives Support Group, Rights Georgia, and Union Sapari. These participants highlighted the need to create a safe space for court hearings involving victims of violence, the importance of increasing both the competency of lawsuit participants and their awareness of the importance of a gender-sensitive approach, and the impact these factors have on court practices. 

The impact of other factors on court practices was also discussed. These included: gender stereotypes and cultural attitudes, such as when only men are considered to have inheritance rights or the right to own real estate in the family, and women’s lack of financial resources, including the means to pay for legal representation, legal fees, transportation to courts. 

To promote a quick resolution of the problems identified, with support from the USAID Rule of Law Program, the judge participants will discuss these problems with the other members of the Women’s Rights Practice Group and plan activities to enhance a gender-sensitive approach in court practice.