A minority mainstreaming manual
A minority-mainstreaming manual, designed to train employees of governmental and non-governmental organizations on minority issues,
and how minority issues can be mainstreamed in emergency and development programme design. The English-language manual focuses on
minority issues in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. A Georgian-language manual covering Georgia only, will be published in early 2012.
Photo exhibition: “The UnPromised Land: The Meskhetians’ Long Journey Home”
The Meskhetians are a Muslim population originally settled in Georgia’s
southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. Under thoughts of being a potential “fifth column” of neighboring Turkey they were collectively deported in
1944 from Georgia by the Stalin regime. It is estimated that the number
of people, who were deported to the Central Asian republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan reached above 100,000 persons. After Stalin’s
death some restrictions imposed upon the Meskhetians were lifted and it became possible for a few families to return. Currently, there are about
130 Meskhetian families living in Georgia, while large Meskhetian communities exist in Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, USA and the three
Central Asian states.
The Deported Meskhetians
The Meskhetians are a Muslim population originally settled in Georgia’s
southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. Under thoughts of being a potential “fifth column” of neighboring Turkey they were collectively deported in
1944 from Georgia by the Stalin regime. It is estimated that the number
of people, who were deported to the Central Asian republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan reached above 100,000 persons. After Stalin’s
death some restrictions imposed upon the Meskhetians were lifted and it became possible for a few families to return. Currently, there are about
130 Meskhetian families living in Georgia, while large Meskhetian communities exist in Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, USA and the three
Central Asian states.
In 1999, Georgia committed to provide for the repatriation of the deported Meskhetians, and finally in 2007 a law on repatriation was adopted.
In 2011, the repatriation process entered into an active phase and 333 Meskhetian families out of 5,841 applications have so far been granted
permission to repatriate. It is expected that several thousand will receive repatriation status in 2012 and that the physical repatriation will
also begin soon.
Facilitating the Return of Deported People
In the past year, ECMI Caucasus has implemented a large scale EU funded programme “Supporting the Repatriation of Persons Deported from Georgia
in the 1940s and their Descendants”– working in partnership with Spanish NGO Action Against Hunger to support the repatriation of people deported
from Georgia by the Soviet authorities, mainly the indigenous Turkish speaking population of Samtskhe-Javakheti called the Meskhetians.
Since the government of Georgia has no experience in managing repatriation of deported people, the support of ECMI is playing an important role in
the overall facilitation of the process. An international expert seconded by the ECMI to the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the
Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia
(MRA) ensures that the repatriation process is being implemented in greater accordance with the established international standards. In order to
coordinate the repatriation process between a range of governmental agencies the government of Georgia has, with the support of the programme,
created an “Interagency Governmental Council on the Repatriation of Forcefully Deported Persons from the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia
During the 40s of XX Century by Former USSR” and a Working Group. ECMI is closely cooperating with both bodies especially with regard to the
drafting of a repatriation strategy, which is currently being drawn up. Additionally, ECMI is supporting the creation, maintenance and updating
of a database of repatriate-seekers at the MRA.
Apart from supporting the government structures in advancing the repatriation process, ECMI implements various activities to prepare Georgian
society for the return of Meskhetian repatriates. These activities include trainings for regional authorities on diversity management, implemented
in partnership with the Georgian ALPE Foundation, public lectures and seminars, winter schools for university students, photo exhibitions, cultural
festivals, publication of information material and the launch of an informational website.
New website on repatriation -
www.repatriation.ge
For the purpose of raising awareness in Georgian society regarding the deported populations and their repatriation and to provide Meskhetians
with an important source of information on the repatriation process, ECMI on 15 December launched a new website. The website is maintained in
three languages: English, Georgian and Russian. It contains a legal section, where all relevant legislative acts can be found as well as
information on procedures for repatriation. Information on Meskhetian organizations is also provided, as well as a collection of informative
articles and useful links. Additionally, the site holds many interesting sections about the Meskhetians, their history and current being.
The website’s photo gallery is a useful tool allowing the reader to get a clear visual image of the Meskhetian people. Besides, the news and
announcement sections of the website constantly keeps visitors updated on the latest developments regarding repatriation issues and programme
development. The content of the website is enriched with the publications of ECMI concerning Meskhetian issues including a new book:
“Meskhetians: Homeward Bound...”, written by three leading experts in the field: Tom Trier, George Tarkhan-Mouravi and Forrest Kilimnik.
The book is accessible for free download in three languages.
Media cooperation and Peace Journalism in the South Caucasus
In partnership with the Georgian NGO, International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN) and funded by the EU supported
UNDP mechanism Confidence Building Early Response Mechanism, ECMI Caucasus has initiated a media coorporation project.
The project has so far succeeded in creating a mechanism for systematic exchange of information for media representatives
in Abkhazia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. About 25 media representatives were trained
in peace journalism in Famagusta, northern Cyprus on 12-17 September 2011. Through a grant provided by the German Marshall
Foundation a preparatory meeting was also held in Ankara on 14-15 April. It is envisaged that the project can be continued
in 2012.
The International Visegrad Fund
Empowering National Minorities through Developing Civil Society in Minority-Populated Regions of Georgia
Based on the experiences of the Visegrad countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary), this project has aimed
at developing civil society in minority inhabited regions of Georgia. The project has focused especially on southern Georgia,
where large numbers of Armenians and Azeris live, but it has also succeeded in initiating activities addressing other groups,
notably national minority community groups in eastern Georgia and in Adjara on the Black Sea coast. Both regions are rich in
cultural and ethnic diversity though very little interest has been seen among national and international actors in supporting
the needs of these minority groups (Kurds, Jews, Roms, Chechens, Avars, Ossetians, Abkhazians and others). Through civil
society development and community mobilization in areas settled by persons belonging to national minorities, the project
through trainings and provision of small grants helped to build the capacities of NGOs and CSO in the minority regions.
State Inter Agency Commission implements the Annual Work Plan for 2011
The State Inter-Agency Commission (SIAC) for coordination of issues relating to civic integration, which functions under
the auspices of the Office of the State Minister for Reintegration, continues its mandate to implement the National Concept
for Tolerance and Civic Integration and its five-year Action Plan. The members of the Commission consist of representatives
of ministries and other governmental bodies working in areas of relevance for national minority issues.
SIAC collaborates actively with bodies of local self-government (municipal administrations and elected councils), the Office
of the Public Defender (including its Council of National Minorities), and civil society and international organizations.
A recent example of such cooperation is the monitoring of the implementation of the annual State Report on the implementation
of the National Concept, which came as a result of joint efforts of all parties, including state bodies and civil society
organizations. ECMI has played a key role in establishing the Inter-Agency Commission in July 2009 and in supporting the
efficient functioning of the body under previous and current programmes.
The Roms: ECMI continues efforts to reduce marginalization in Georgia
Vocational Education
In the past year, around 50 community members from Romani settlements in Kakheti and Adjara regions were able to go through
a vocational education program launched by ECMI Caucasus with the financial support of the Open Society Foundation in Georgia.
Courses in driving, sewing and tailoring were offered, and the interest in the Romani communities was immense. The training
courses were specially designed based on the needs in the different communities, and with the newly acquired skills many Roms
have greatly improved their chances for employment or making an income. In this way, the vocational training has contributed
to the social and economic integration of the marginalized group.
Empowerment
One of ECMI’s strategic aims is to empower minority communities, in order for minorities to build capacities to help themselves
and address their own concerns. ECMI Caucasus seeks to facilitate also the development of community based organizations and NGO
for the Romani communities. These efforts have resulted in the establishment of a Romani NGO in eastern Georgia, the Kakheti
Romani Union “Roma” and in western Georgia the Adjara Romani Union “Roma”, both established in July 2009. A third NGO, the
Gachiani Romani Union “Roma,” has been established in November 2011 and is expected to cover activities both in the southern
Kvemo Kartli region and in the capital Tbilisi. To further support the political participation of the
community, the Kakheti Romani Union “Roma” in March 2011 became a member of the Council of National Minorities (CNM) -
the Georgian Public Defender’s mechanism for dialogue with the national minorities. The CNM membership of the Romani
organization is an important step forward in the process of including the community in consultative and decision-making
processes. Thanks to capacity building efforts, the Kakheti Romani Union “Roma” has also demonstrated success in receiving
small grants on its own, including funding for a project to empower Romani women.
Public Awareness
In May 2011, a Romani Festival was held in Tbilisi, a joint initiative of ECMI Caucasus, the Innovations and Reforms Centre,
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Georgian National Museum. The festival helped both to raise
public awareness on the situation of the Romani community in Georgia, and to raise awareness within the Romani community on
their rich cultural life. At the same time, the event was used as an occasion to offer Roms consultancy on their legal
rights and to inform the community members of the need to obtain formal identity documents. At the festival, ECMI - with
its close relations to Romani communities - presented features of the Georgian Romani culture to the broader Georgian
public and over 400 guests visited the one-day event. At the opening ceremony, Georgian Deputy Minister of Justice,
Giorgi Vashadze, issued Roms with ID cards and birth certificates. The festival also featured a photo exhibition, a
video slideshow, a bazaar with Romani handicrafts, and Romani music and dance, all of which highlighted the cultural
richness of the Romani communities from across Georgia.
Government Working Group
As a result of awareness raising activities conducted by ECMI and other organizations starting from 2008, the Government
of Georgia in November 2011 has taken a significant step to address the problems of the Romani community: a government
working group was established in November 2011 under the aegis of the National Security Council, with representatives of
the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the State Minister for Reintegration and the Civil Registry, as well as national
and international organizations working in the field. ECMI is a permanent member of the Working Group.
