On June 21, 2012 all party MDG Group at the Parliament of Georgia, the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) , and Center “Tanadgoma” organized the seminar on Reproductive and Health Rights for the members and staffers of the Parliament of Georgia.
The seminar was opened by Mr. Giorgi Tsereteli, Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Ms. Rusudan Kervalishvili, Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia, Chairperson of the Gender Equality Council at the Parliament of Georgia, Mr. Otar Toidze, Chairman of the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee of The Parliament of Georgia, and Ms. Tamar Khomasuridze, Assistant Representative UNFPA Country Office, Georgia. Among other important related topics, the participants and speakers of the seminar discussed reproductive health of the population of Georgia, sexual and reproductive rights and international conventions. High level officials underlined the importance and effectiveness of support of UNFPA to Georgia and the impact of Fund’s support on RH status of pupation.
During the final session of the seminar, Mrs. Sandra Elisabeth Roelofs, First Lady of Georgia, Chairperson of the National Reproductive Health Council joined the discusses concerning the priorities of reproductive health. Mrs. Roelofs highlighted the importance of reproductive health and shared her suggestions and recommendations concerning further improvements to be achieved in this field.
Mr. Giorgi Tsereteli, Mr. Otar Toidze, and Ms. Rusudan Kervalishvili, along with the invited experts, discussed and evaluated sexual and reproductive health policy and the role of the Parliament of Georgia in advancing reproductive health of the population. “Universal access to reproductive health services has high priority for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals and ICPD Targets in Georgia”, Mr. Giorgi Tsereteli. Updated the participants on outcomes of the International Conference for Parliamentarians (ICPI) held in Istanbul in May, 2012. MS. Kervalishvili underlined the importance of RH programmes for implementation of the Gender Equality NAP and for the adoption of the Istanbul Convention by te country. Mr. Toidze shifted out the importance of lifespan approach to SRH/Rs and made clear linkages with Madrid PoA on ageing.
During the seminar, Ms. Tamar Khomasuridze, UNFPA Assistant Representative in Georgia gave general overview of the main tendencies in reproductive health and rights. The reference have been made with global and national level events and publications, including ICPD+20 review, a new study, conducted by Guttmacher Institute and UNFPA and cost-benefits study, conducted by UNFPA in Georgia.
The participants of the seminar received related materials, documents, and certificates.
The seminar was conducted within the scope of the UN Joint Program “To Enhance Gender Equality in Georgia”, administered by United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Women’s Fund (UNWomen), and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) through generous support of Swedish International Agency for Development (Sida).
One of the aims of The UN Joint Program – To Enhance Gender Equality in Georgia is advancing gender equality by creating enabling environment to realize Sexual and Reproductive Rights of population.