Political Party Funding and Women’s Participation in Political Life were the main topics of discussion of the roundtable, held on June 29-30, 2011. The Central Election Commission of Georgia (CEC) and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) in cooperation with “Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy” (NIMD) and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) have organized a two-day roundtable on the abovementioned issues. Representatives from the CEC, Georgian Parliament, various political parties, international and local NGOs, international experts and civil society representatives from Tbilisi as well as from the regions participated in the roundtable at Courtyard Marriot Hotel. The roundtable was opened by the CEC Chairperson.

Funding of Political Parties was discussed on the first day of the roundtable. The meeting participants examined the issues on how far should state subsidies increase and means of monitoring on political party funding process.

At the second day of the meeting, participants examined the issues concerning the gender balance. On June 30, opening remarks were made by Parliament member, Mrs. Rusudan Kervalishvili. Women’s participation in elections, international standards and good practice to increase women’s participation during pre-election, election and post election period, as well as women’ s role in managing election processes in civil society organization have been discussed at the conference.

The meeting participants agreed that various projects and programs should be implemented in order to support the improvement of the criteria and the funding system of political parties, as well as women’s involvement in political life.

“I believe that both issues, discussed within the framework of the Round Table, will contribute to improving the election environment in Georgia,” - declared Mr. Thomas Vennen, head of Democratization Department of the OSCE/ODIHR.

As the CEC Chairperson stated to the journalists, the commission realizes the importance of appropriately implemented funding process that makes influence on the transparency of elections and quality of democracy. “We have discussed various opinions and shared experience of different countries on the political party funding and women’s participation in political life. Our goal is to consolidate all comments and recommendations provided from the meeting participants, we will analyze them and submit to the political parties and all interested stakeholders,”- said the CEC Chairperson.

OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Transparency International- Georgia, Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Central Election Commission of Georgia, Women’s Information Centre, CEE network for gender issues made presentations concerning the political party funding and women’s participation in political life.

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