A round table with the participation of members of the Interdepartmental Council of the municipality was held in Senaki. The local referral entities: members of the Gender Equality Council of the City Council, representatives of local government, healthcare, educational resource center and police participated at the meeting.
There was a conversation about the situation in terms of violence and assistance to victims. Important time was devoted to the lawyer, who familiarized the participants with the referencing document, as well as the duties and functions of concrete authorized persons.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
- Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
- Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
- Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Members of Senaki women initiative group heard information about the mixed (Georgian, Ossetian and Abkhazian) meeting held in Istanbul. They discussed the importance of face-to-face meetings and the possibility of exchanging information. In the second part of the meeting, the participants analyzed the problems identified as a result of the research and worked on an advocacy plan. Against the background of an interesting discussion, the meeting with the youth group continued. The participants talked about the progress of the mini-project, the obtained results and the emotions that accompanied the performances of the forum theater.
The members of Tskaltubo women initiative group analyzed the problems that can be advocated with local resources. They also worked on advocacy plans, which increase the possibility of solving problems. The members of the youth clubs existing in Tskaltubo public schools No 1 and No 4 evaluated the progress of the mini-projects. They talked about how the audience received the scenes of violence presented with elements of forum theater. According to their assessment, the audience thought with them, discussed and looked for a solution.
The members of both women initiative groups of Khoni selected current problems and worked on drawing up an advocacy plan. The members of the group defined concrete advocacy activities and responsible persons. The members of Khoni Youth Club are actively working within the framework of mini-project. Through the forum theater method, they talk to the audience about the cruelty of violence and its harmful consequences.
June in youth groups started actively. All planned events are being held. Trainings were held in Tsalenjikha, Bagdati, Zugdidi and Samtredia municipalities. The fifth municipality is Khobi, where the Youth Empowerment Center has been established and will also become active, as in the other 9 municipalities.
All trainings differed from each other. The training in Khobi was special, the trainers met young people for the first time.
102 participants were involved in the work. Most of them have leadership skills, show initiative and already hold interesting events.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Women initiative group of the village Didinedzi - Zugdidi municipality worked on advocacy of the problems identified within the framework of theresearch "Assessment of the quality of human security and gender needs of the population". Didinedzi Youth Forum Theater participants held performances in public schools of Orulu and Koki. The presentations were well received by the audience. Young actors sent the society short and concrete messages against violence. It was shown how a pupils with special needs can be included in various activities together with all other pupils. After the performances, a discussion was held on the issues raised. The youth club held another performance of the Forum Theater in the community of Didinedzi, in front of the village community. The actors presented two scenes on the topic of the conflict.
An information meeting organized by the advocacy group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the Children's Department of the municipality was held in the kindergarten No. 2 in Samtredia.
The participants - the administration and teachers of the kindergarten - got acquainted with the work of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the services that the organization provides to women. They also received information about the program of the City Hall Department for the protection of children's rights.
During the meeting, a number of acute problems were identified that require immediate response. The participants also planned cooperation with the children's department.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Within the framework of the project "Bridging the Gaps -People to - People Initiatives for Conflict Resolution", a training was held with the members of the women initiative group of the village Koki - Zugdidi municipality. The topic of training was "Evidence-based advocacy". The women discussed the factors hindering the proper implementation of the advocacy process at the local level, identified problems, defined target groups and stakeholders; Draft of the advocacy plan was developed. The youth club of the village Koki held a forum-theatre performance on the topic of media literacy within the framework of the project "Verify information". The project is supported by USAID. In the modern era, it is very important for young people to believe that they can change the reality around them. Forum-theatre is aimed at proving this belief.
A two-day training for medical personnel was held at the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi". The training was attended by 15 participants from Tskaltubo, Tkibuli, Vani, Terjola and Samtredia municipalities.
The topic of the training was “The role of medical personnel in violence prevention and victim protection”Following issues were discussed during the training: violence against women and children, the Istanbul Convention, referral mechanisms, victim identification groups.
According to the participants, this work is actual and necessary:
“We talked about what are the resources of doctors for identification of violence and we will definitely use these methods into practice”.
“At first, we discussed the reasons of the problem, when we do the right thing and when we do it wrong. The doctor has a great responsibility in terms of eradicating domestic violence, but many specialists do not know about it”.
