The first network working meeting was held in Kutaisi within the framework of the project "Women and Youth Localizing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda".
Three organizations participating in the coalition project - the Association of IDP Women "Consent", the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the Women Information Center - from different regions gathered women activists – conflict - affected women and IDP women living in settlements and presented them the fourth action plan for the implementation of the UN Resolutions "Women, Peace, Security".
During the meeting, the need to involve women in the peace process was emphasized and the possibilities of solving the existing challenges in this direction were discussed.
Women were informed about the importance and goals of networks and coalitions. They discussed what an effective and sustainable women's network should look like. The participants of the meeting decided to continue cooperation both face-to-face and online.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Together with OSCE – The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the WAVE Network in collaboration with four WAVE members: Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Women Fund Sukhumi (Kutaisi and Tbilisi, Georgia), Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine).
Based on the specific knowledge and experiences of women’s CSOs throughout war settings, the toolkit not only presents the harm and challenges posed by conflicts but also documents promising first-hand practices with concrete examples and recommendations.
PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE DURING THE WAR AND IN POST-WAR SETTINGS EXPERIENCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF WOMEN’S NGOS The authors of the toolkit presented their strategies related to different conflict stages:
- Why it was necessary to develop UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security? What does this mean and what issues are regulated?
- The National Action Plan, which is a government tool for necessary, consolidated and coordinated actions to implement the global agenda.
- Why is it important to localize the National Action Plan at the local level? Inclusion of local government officials and other leading local actors in these processes to integrate Resolution 1325 into community development plans.
- How should local problems be reflected in the municipal budget? What resources and capabilities are needed for this?
These issues were discussed at the workshop, which was attended by representatives of local governments and women leaders from Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Senaki and Zugdidi municipalities.
The members of the Women Initiative Group of the village Pakhulani – Tsalenjikha municipality held a meeting. They informed each other about the importance of peace initiatives for the women living in the villages of the conflict dividing line. The members of the group have already created a peace strategy and the work will continue according to this strategy. "We feel the value of peace the most, because there is a dividing border in front of us. We must work for peace, it is important. This was the general mood of the group members. In the second part of the meeting, the participants discussed the plan of the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. Pakhulani women group will join the global protest against violence with various activities.
Women’s involvement and role of in the peace process, 16-day international campaign against gender –based violence and planned activities - Women Initiative Group of the village Koki – Zugdidi municipality held a meeting on these topics. The activities, developed under the strategy of resolution 1325 were discussed at the meeting. The women initiative group of the village Koki joins the campaign and plans to hold its own activity. Koki young initiative group is also going to plan the events within the campaign.
This was one of the issues they discussed at the meeting. They also discussed the role of youth in peacekeeping, strengthening the social unity and preventing conflicts. It was noted that the youth resource and volunteer activities will contribute to the introduction of the culture of peace and its promotion in the next generation. The members of the youth initiative group of the village Koki discussed the plan of peace activities developed with the involvement of young people.
Together with OSCE – The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the WAVE Network in collaboration with four WAVE members: Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Women Fund Sukhumi (Kutaisi and Tbilisi, Georgia), Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine). Based on the specific knowledge and experiences of women’s CSOs throughout war settings, the toolkit not only presents the harm and challenges posed by conflicts but also documents promising first-hand practices with concrete examples and recommendations. Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence during the War and in Post-War Settings Concept note Experiences and Recommendations of Women’s NGOS The authors of the toolkit presented their strategies related to different conflict stages:
Women Fund “Sukhumi” presents a new monitoring report “The child rights protection and support department’s effectiveness assessment and existing challenges.” The effectiveness of the child rights protection department’s structural unit activities, operating in municipalities, and existing challenges are evaluated in the report. These challenges hinder the provision of effective assistance and services tailored to the needs of vulnerable families. Specific recommendations based on the main findings are outlined in the document, which will contribute to institutional strengthening and improvement of the activities of child rights protection departments.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A meeting organized by the advocacy and monitoring group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and Kobuleti Gender Equality Council on the topic "Local cooperation for a social environment focused on the child and family" was held at the educational resource center of Kobuleti.
The participants got acquainted with the monitoring results conducted by the Fund “Sukhumi” regarding the activities of the Department for the Children's Rights Protection and Support. The conversation concerned the main activities of Kobuleti Department for the Children's Rights Protection and Support and the prospect for cooperation with local partners. There was a dialogue about the issues related to services and existing challenges.
Participants believe that multi-sectoral cooperation is important for holding local activities that are socially oriented towards children and families.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
During the meeting held with the women initiative group of the village Didinedzi – Zugdidi municipality, the participants discussed the activities that were developed under the strategy of Resolution 1325. Special emphasis was placed on the involvement of women in peace activities. The second part of the interesting and informative meeting was devoted to the discussion of the plan of the international 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. It is important that Didinedzi women initiative group will join the 16-day campaign with its own activities. At the meeting held with the youth initiative group of the village Didinedzi, the participants discussed the issues of peacekeeping, strengthening the social unity and preventing conflicts. Group members discussed the role and involvement of youth in peace activities.
