85 deputies supported the abolition of the gender quota in the Electoral Code in April 2024. They did not present legitimate, research-based arguments for the necessity of abolishing gender quotas. The discussions clearly revealed the hostile, sexist, and discriminatory environment in which women must participate in public spaces and political life. In the 10th convocation of Parliament, violence and discrimination against women politicians became systematic. The Parliament of Georgia became a place where hatred and discrimination against women were accepted forms of communication, while the work of the permanent parliamentary Gender Equality and Ethics Councils remained ineffective.
Through these legislative changes, the ruling party violated the will of Georgia’s voters. According to research, 61% of voters in Georgia support equal representation of women and men in Parliament (NDI, 2023). Society believes that equal representation of women will positively impact the country’s development (UNDP, UNFPA, 2020). Additionally, 65% of the population believes that the more women in Georgia’s Parliament, the more influence they will have on political priorities and public policy. 63% of Georgia’s population believes that increasing women’s involvement in politics will benefit the country (CRRC, UN WOMEN, 2024).
The change contradicts the 2017 constitutional reform and the definition of the principle of substantive equality, which establishes the state’s positive obligation to take special measures to ensure substantive equality between men and women and eliminate inequality. It also conflicts with recommendations presented within the European perspective. Specifically, gender equality was one of the 12 conditions defined by the European Commission for Georgia. Instead of progress (one of the three fulfilled recommendations concerned gender equality and women’s participation in politics).
The mandatory gender quota had a positive effect on the 2020 parliamentary elections. After the February 2023 amendment to the Electoral Code regarding mandatory gender quotas, its implementation was not practiced, and the effectiveness of the gender quota as a temporary special mechanism was not evaluated – whether its duration was sufficient for women’s political participation. However, on April 4, 2024, without consultation with civil society and relevant stakeholders, the Parliament of Georgia hastily abolished mechanisms supporting women in politics and internal party democracy.
Meanwhile, according to international institutions OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission, the abolition of mandatory gender quotas without alternative measures to increase women’s political representation is a step backward in gender equality in the country and inconsistent with international standards.
In the 2024 Georgian parliamentary elections, according to the Central Election Commission data, only 29% of 1,185 registered candidates in political union lists were women, nominated in non-passing positions, which represents a significant regression compared to 44.3% female candidates in the previous parliamentary elections. In 2020, women’s representation in Parliament was 20%; in 2024, considering the lists submitted by political unions, the number of female deputies decreased. The reduction in women’s representation undermines the progress achieved in recent years and further distances us from the critical mass necessary for women’s political participation, which is defined as 30%, while CEDAW’s latest recommendation supports parity.
Regarding the distribution of mandates and women’s participation according to the 2024 election results, it should be noted that against the background of massive election fraud and the developed crisis, opposition parties withdrew their proportional lists and addressed Parliament regarding the cancellation of mandates.
Irma Pavliashvili
