CCDS board member Shorena Lortkipanidze took part in the workshop "Feminist Security Policy for the Black Sea Region – Opportunities and Limits of a Feminist Approach”. The workshop was held in Istanbul, Turkey on 11 June 2024.

The Black Sea region is home to numerous conflicts and security challenges, chief among them the war in Ukraine, the conflict over Karabakh and the semi-frozen conflicts in Moldova and Georgia. Experts and practitioners in the region overwhelmingly think, prepare, and act according to the realist logic of geopolitical zero-sum competition, which centers on deterrence and hard military power. Breaking the cycle of mutual suspicion and armament to eventually reestablish peaceful regional relations will require novel approaches and long-term preparations. This was the main focus of the meeting.

The CCDS representative was the speaker in the fourth session, titled "Conflicts in the South Caucasus." Speaking about the semi-frozen conflicts in Georgia, Shorena Lortkipanidze emphasized the importance of incorporating feminist perspectives into conflict resolution strategies, arguing that this approach can offer innovative solutions to deeply entrenched issues. She also underlined the need for inclusive dialogue and the empowerment of marginalized groups in the peacebuilding process.