Last year, I had the privilege of meeting some extraordinary Georgian women of faith. Their diverse religious backgrounds enriched our discussions, and it was a truly inspiring experience. As we gathered again this year, it felt like a reunion with dear friends.
According to the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security, Georgia is making significant strides in women’s inclusion, justice, and security. Among the countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Georgia is leading in areas like women’s education and financial inclusion. There has also been notable progress in women’s representation in parliament from 2017 to 2023.
While these metrics don’t directly describe the lives of women of faith in Georgia, they highlight the importance of women’s engagement in society. This time, our discussions focused on how women of faith can practically engage in LYNC projects that promote religious freedom and social cohesion.
Many of the women who participated in the event are deeply involved in charitable activities, extending their support to the elderly, the incarcerated, and those struggling with addiction. While each faith community is aware of the others’ charitable work, there is potential for multi-faith cooperation.
Some participants shared that since the collapse of the Soviet Union, social hostility towards religion, including new religions, has significantly decreased. People no longer feel the need to hide their religious identity while engaging in public or humanitarian work.
Almost everyone agreed that real impact in activities such as multi-faith relationship-building, cross-cultural religious literacy, and public square engagement will occur when women are equally involved as men. To understand this better, we conducted a survey. The results were clear: 100% of the women expressed interest in participating in multi-faith relationship-building and cross-cultural religious literacy events. However, only two women felt they engaged well in these discussions, indicating low to moderate participation of women of faith in public discussions.
My goal was to listen, learn, and understand what women’s leadership looks like in Georgia. I was delighted to see the diverse ministries that women lead for their communities on a voluntary basis and the immense love and care they provide through their faith. The voices of women of faith can bring much-needed balance to society and greatly benefit public discussions. I look forward to continuing our friendship and achieving even more together.
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