“Peace is not just the absence of war”

Speech by Ana, a young Georgian from Session 3. She spoke at the conference on the role of women, which took place in Chania during the closing festival of this session on April 7. 

Untranslated text

The Role of Women in Politics – The Case of Georgia

“Good afternoon everyone,

It's an honor to be here today and to speak about peace.

In a country like Georgia, maintaining a balance between peace and independence is not easy. These two ideals are deeply connected, but often, one comes at the cost of the other. Georgia, a small nation with a long history of fighting for independence and peace. 

In this journey, women have played a powerful and often underrecognized role.

Let me start with a name that echoes through centuries: king Tamar – the first female ruler of Georgia and one of the most successful monarchs in our history. Her leadership in the 12th century brought Georgia into a golden age, combining strength with wisdom, diplomacy with vision. She showed us that women don't just support peace – they can lead a nation to it.

Fast forward to modern times, Georgian women continue to be at the heart of our country's political and social movements.

Take Nana Macharashvili, a symbol of resistance and courage during the tragic events of April 9. That day, Soviet troops attacked peaceful demonstrators in Tbilisi who were demanding independence. Among the many who stood on Rustaveli Avenue that night, Nana became a face of our collective pain and strength. She was there not just for political change, but for the dignity of a free and peaceful future.

Then there is Nana Malashkhia – a name not known by everyone, but one that deserves recognition. In a moment of extraordinary bravery, she stood alone in front of a water cannon during a recent protest, facing violence with nothing but her body and her beliefs. This image – one woman standing firm against force – is a powerful reminder of how individual courage fuels collective peace.

And let's not forget the many Georgian women in the diaspora – migrant workers and students who fight for peace from abroad. They raise awareness, organize, donate money, and keep our democratic movement alive even when they are far from home.

These women do not act alone. One of the most beautiful aspects of our recent political movements has been the visible support from men when women take the lead. Fathers, brothers, colleagues, and friends stand beside them, understanding that the fight for peace is not a gendered struggle – it is a human one.

Peace is not just the absence of war. It is justice, it is dignity, it is the right to speak and live freely. Georgian women have shown, time and time again, that they are not just part of this process – they are leaders of it.

So, when we talk about building peaceful societies, let us remember the power of women. Not as victims. Not as symbols. But as active builders of peace, independence, and democracy.

Thank you. »