The draft law, which will limit the freedom of non-governmental organizations, will be extremely harmful to the democratic transformation of our society, the elimination of gender discrimination and, in fact, to our European integration path – I have already expressed my strong opposition to this draft law, the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, said regarding the agents’ bills.
Zurabishvili made the above statement during her speech at the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
“Another challenge has emerged recently that concerns the role of civil society, and which, in terms of its truly transformative function, is one of the most important in making women’s voices better heard.
In this regard, the draft law presented by some groups in my country, which will limit the freedom of non-governmental organizations, and in which, it must be said, the majority of the positions are held by female activists, will be extremely harmful to the democratic transformation of our society, the elimination of gender discrimination and, in fact, our European integration path.
Therefore, I have already expressed my strong opposition to this draft law, and I use this opportunity to state my position here as well,” said the President.
Zurabishvili has left for the US to address the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), slated for 6-17 March 2023.
The President will also meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.
She will hold bilateral meetings with New York Mayor, Eric Adams, and the Presidents of the countries participating in the forum.
She will also visit Yale and Harvard Universities to deliver a public lecture at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Starting my working visit to the 🇺🇸 with #CSW67 🇺🇳
Looking forward to addressing the session later this afternoon pic.twitter.com/A3ZLZuSwpt
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) March 6, 2023