On December 25, 2014, the Public Defender of Georgia awarded winners of the competition for journalists -“Journalists for Women’s Rights”.

By the decision of the panel of judges the first place was given to radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty journalist Eka Kevanishvili for the article “Violence as part of the culture”; the second place was awarded to Ia Merkviladze for a blog “With no money and no room” – netgazeti; and joint winners of the third place were journalists of the Liberal Newspaper Sopho Aptsiauri and Tatia Khaliani for the article “Women in continuous cycle of violence”.

“The main function of media sources is dissemination of information and delivering principles of equality to each citizen correctly, to explain what is gender equality and women’s’ rights; where is inequality in the society and in what forms, and to inform about great damage that it can bring to all of us.

I retain hope that interest of media sources towards elimination of all forms of discrimination towards women will deepen even more since it is with dissemination of such information that important changes start. The media meanwhile can attract public attention to those subjects resolution of which will ensure wellbeing of many people, said Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili at the opening of the event.

Objectives of the competition were establishment of gender equality principles in the Georgian media; encouragement of journalists in reporting on gender issues; promoting establishment of ethical standards when preparing/writing reports on gender issues.

“I would like to specifically thank all those journalists that took part in the competition; those who value the idea of equality and who try to bring this idea closer to the public in their everyday work”, - said the Public Defender and presented certificates to 28 journalists participating in the competition.

The event was organized with the support of the EU-funded project “Support to the Public Defedner’s Office”.