On 26th April, an information-sharing meeting with the CSOs on „Geneva International Discussions and the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda“ was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, and supported by the UN Women Georgia.
In the first part of the meeting, the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Tea Akhvlediani, addressed the representatives of the civil society and spoke about the importance of enhancing women's involvement in peace processes and shared the future plans of state minister in this matter. Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia discussed in detail the dynamics and challenges of the Geneva international discussions and focused on the politicization of humanitarian, security, and human rights issues by the representatives of Russia. UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia Ms. Sabine Machl spoke about the role of the UN in promoting the peace process and the work of UN agencies and their programs in resolving the humanitarian problems of the conflict-affected population.
It's spring, and the renewed team of the forum - theater has an interesting April - it meets the audience in the open air.
The performances were shown in the central parks of Kutaisi and on the stage of the amphitheater of Terjola Youth Center.
Soon, together with the forum-theater and the shadow theater of the Fund "Sukhumi", a puppet theater will begin to show its performances.
The first performance of the puppet theater is based on the Georgian folk tale "Gvriti" (turtledove). Samples of dolls are already created, young actors study to “manage” the dolls and are actively involved in the rehearsal process.
On April 21, the Head of the Tbilisi Representation - Ekaterine Gamakharia participated in the Public Defender’s - Nino Lomjaria presentation about a special report on Impact of Closure of So-called Checkpoints in 2019-2020 on Rights Situation of Population of Occupied Territories.
According to the Public Defender of Georgia, the formal regime established by the de facto authorities for movement across the occupation line and the establishment of various barriers, such as the unpredictable closures of the so-called checkpoints, illegal arrests, problems with de facto documentation required for movement and other obstacles restrict the freedom of movement of the residents of occupied regions and create unjustified barriers to their access to livelihoods.
In her speech, Ekaterine Gamakharia focused on the possibility of free movement of Georgian citizens in the occupied territories, which this time implies the problem of obtaining the relevant document (residence permit). It still poses a risk that thousands of undocumented people will once again take the risky way of life and health to relocate to Georgian-controlled territory.
Presentation of the project “Strengthening the Women’s Rights in Western Georgia” was held in Tkibuli. The Fund "Sukhumi" starts active work in this direction in Tkibuli municipality for the first time. The presentation was attended by representatives of local government, civil activists, teachers, parents. The emphasis was placed on the problem of domestic violence and the prospect of cooperation with local structures.
According to the meeting participants, identification of the problem will be possible through and the degree of their solution and prevention will be increased.
The third monitoring envisaged by the project, which reflects the progress of public administration reform in municipalities, has been completed. Monitoring in Lanchkhuti was carried out by partner organizations - Lanchkhuti Informational Center and Georgian Rural Hall. During the ordinary meeting of the working group, representatives of these organizations made a presentation of the monitoring results. They also talked about the results of the implemented small projects and the goals and objectives of the recently financed small projects.
The work is carried out in the framework of the project “A common forum for CSOs from Guria, Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi for PAR Roadmap monitoring”.
An online workshop regarding introduction of an electronic petition in Khoni Municipality was conducted. The workshop was attended by the administrator of the website of Khoni Municipality, IT specialist, facilitators, who will be actively involved in the planned informational meetings in twelve administrative units of the municipality. Workshop participants were provided with information about the e-petition system: its registration, e-voting procedures, etc. The second part of the workshop was devoted to the issues of system administration.
Two organizations work with us in Lanchkhuti in the framework of the project “A common forum for CSOs from Guria, Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi for PAR Roadmap monitoring”.
Lanchkhuti Information Center and Georgian Rural Hall - these two civil society organizations are actively involved in the work process. They were the ones who received the first grants for the implementation of small projects in the municipality.
On April 20, representatives of Imereti Scientists’ Union "Spectri" held a consultation meeting with members of these organizations. The stages of implementation of the funded projects and other important issues were discussed.
The Fund "Sukhumi" started intensive work with Chokhatauri municipality for the first time. The first meeting - presentation of the project - was attended by representatives of local government and civil society activists. The conversation concerned the issues that are envisaged in the project: protecting women's rights, strengthening families, preventing domestic violence, supporting the victim, responding to gender problems.
Representatives of the municipality believe that three-year cooperation will contribute to the strengthening of local gender policy and will give positive results.
One of the Women's Support Centers of the Fund "Sukhumi" has been actively working in Kobuleti during a year. The center will be even more actively involved in the new project "Strengthening the Women's Rights in Western Georgia". On April 19, the presentation of the project was held in Kobuleti. The project is carried out in 10 municipalities of Western Georgia and aims to identify the problems of violence against women and prevent, strengthen families, and establish a non-violent culture in society.
The meeting was attended by members of the gender council of the municipality, representatives of the social service, the department for children’s rights protection and support, civil activists, as well as the members of the Supreme Council of Ajara Pati Khalvashi and Tsotne Ananidze.
