158 people joined the mobilization meetings organized by the Women Support Centers in August. Issues of domestic violence, responses and effective mechanisms of victim assistance have become the basis for active discussions. Participants analyzed the facts of femicide. They noted: “We should not be indifferent when cases of femicide have become so frequent. This is an alarming indicator and requires a greater response from both the state and society”.
The meetings showed the necessity to strengthen the role of the Women Support Centers in terms of informing the population so that as many people as possible know that violence is punishable and the victim is not alone.
The Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Terjola, Tkibuli, Vani, Bagdati, Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Zugdidi, Chokhatauri and Kobuleti, along with informing the population, revealed eight new cases of violence during the month. The response has already begun, the beneficiaries are actively using the services of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - this increases the guarantees of the victim's safety.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
On August 12, the world celebrates International Day the Youth.
This day was founded by the resolution of the United Nations Assembly on December 17, 1999 and on August 12, 2000 the civilized world celebrated the International Day of Youth for the first time. The United Nations called on the international community to recognize the intergenerational relationship and solve the problems of people of different ages jointly, to raise the awareness of young people about existing problems, risks and ways to solve them.
This date is specially celebrated by the Fund "Sukhumi", which has been working with young people for a long time and gives great importance to this direction.
The members of the youth initiative groups held information meetings, made presentations, provided their peers with comprehensive information about this important day, showed short films and at the end of the meetings organized a discussion on what challenges the new generation sees in today's reality.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Zaza Gochelashvili is a child and family social worker in Tkibuli municipality. He is also actively involved in the civil sector as a volunteer. He has a lot of experience working with minors.
"Mostly social workers are women, and I am one of the exceptional men, especially at the self-governing level, although I have male colleagues as well. Therefore, it is very important that two social workers in the municipality are a woman and a man,"- based on his own experience, he tells us in the column "Gender and Society".
A network meeting on the ZOOM platform was held within the framework of the project "Women and youth for the implementation of the women's peace and security agenda at the local level". During the meeting, the foundation was laid for the creation of a regional network, which united the women initiative groups created in Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo, Zugdidi and Senaki municipalities.
The meeting was attended by the heads of partner organizations and members of the women initiative group from Eastern Georgia.
The participants were provided with information about the activities performed by the women initiative groups, the current situation was assessed and the challenges encountered in individual municipalities in the process of implementation of 1325 UN Resolution were highlighted.
- Why is it important to create a network? What will the use of this tool change in the activities of the initiative groups and what are the expected results? - The discussion mainly continued in this direction.
The Permanent Parliamentary Council for Gender Equality and the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee held a working meeting with representatives of international and local non-governmental organizations regarding the implementation of the 9th recommendation out of 12 recommendations of the European Union, which is related to gender equality issues.
The meeting highlighted several key issues in the direction of gender equality: the reaffirmation of the state's commitment to gender equality, the launch of the idea of women's economic empowerment, and the implementation of legislative measures that will be in line with the Istanbul Convention.
In her speech, Eka Gamakharia, head of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" Tbilisi office, emphasized the importance of women's economic empowerment for the prevention of violence against women and effective response. According to the promise of the Permanent Parliamentary Council for Gender Equality, a personal working meeting will be dedicated to the detailed discussion of the mentioned issue.
In July, informational meetings with women initiative groups were held in the target municipalities of Tskaltubo, Senaki, Khoni, Kutaisi, Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi.
The main issue that was discussed at the meetings was the promotion of women's economic empowerment.
The women were provided with information about the programs are presented in their municipalities, how to get involved in these programs and what are the opportunities for cooperation.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Lizi Tkabladze - member of Khoni youth initiative group
This is her success story...
"Within the framework of this project, I got acquainted with the issues that are interesting to me and gained new skills that will be used in other events and activities in the future.
Filling out a project proposal and drawing up a budget was a new experience for me.
Among the activities carried out within the project, I would highlight wall painting, which was very interesting and fun for the participants. Children were given the opportunity to express their creativity and we received the desired result...
By participating in this project, I became more independent and self-confident. I think that similar events contribute to the development and growth of young people in many directions".
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Three psychologists work with Ukrainian refugees in the Women Fund "Sukhumi" now.
Manana Gotsiridze, who has a lot of work in 10 Women Support Centers and a rehabilitation center, also cares about psycho-emotional condition of Ukrainians.
The second psychologist, Marina Stepanenko, is from Kyiv. And now there is also a third psychologist, Anna Shalimova from Kherson.
From the side of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" it is a good gesture to employ women in a foreign city so that they have an income and help their fellow countrymen.
There is enough work for everyone: there are 197 people in our information base and everyone needs help, competent advice from a psychologist...
Manana Gotsiridze: I met with families who came from Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkov and Kherson. You name these cities and it’s clear what they suffered, what they feel ... We conduct primary psychological consultation, collect anamnesis and plan the next meetings. When we go to them, we also bring the necessary products. I think this is also good support.
"I was lucky that I was connected to the Fund Sukhumi”. The day when I was presented with the phone, will follow me for the rest of my life. Thanks to these amazing people I got my faith back".
The Women Fund "Sukhumi” has a tradition of telling people: 'You are not alone. It's a motivation for me to continue life with hope."
This was the feedback of the action, within the framework of which 10 women from vulnerable groups were given mobile phones equipped with the SAFE YOU application and a SOS button as a gift. The action covered 7 municipalities: Terjola, Bagdati, Tkibuli, Samtredia, Senaki, Zugdidi and Kobuleti. Local self-government representatives also participated in the action. All this helps to better understand the social situation of the beneficiaries.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
