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:
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.
The international conference on preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) during the war and in post-war settings took place in Tbilisi, Georgia. It was organised by the WAVE Network and the OSCE Gender Issues Programme/WIN Project. The Women's Fund "Sukhumi" was selected as one of the partners of the project supported by the OSCE and was involved in the process of developing a toolkit, in which we described the strategies and experience implemented by the organization in the direction of prevention and response to violence against conflict-affected and displaced women in the conditions of protracted conflicts. 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. The first half of the conference started with opening remarks from Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, and Stephanie Futter-Orel, Executive Manager of the WAVE Network. Keynote speeches were provided by representatives of international institutions and national stakeholders of the Government of Georgia: Chair of the Gender Equality Council, Nino Tsilosani and member – Teona Akubardia, and Head of the Human Rights Secretariat of the Government of Georgia – Maka Peradze.
UN Women in cooperation with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UN system representatives convened the Open Day on Women, Peace and Security in Georgia.
The meeting was chaired and opened by the representative of UN Women in Georgia - Kaori Ishikawa.
This meeting serviced as a venue for exchange between the UN system representatives and CSOs, grassroots IDP and conflict-affected women and youth around the issues and priorities related to the women, peace and security agenda.
Among the 9 community leaders, three community leaders mobilized by the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" also spoke about the urgent challenges faced by the IDPs and the conflict-affected population, where Ekaterine Gamakharia, the head of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" Tbilisi representative office, and three community leaders mobilized by the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" also participated.
What was October like for the psychologists of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", who work with Ukrainian refugees?
We asked them to briefly describe their work.
Marina Stepanenko: “In October, the number of people who addressed for psychological assisstance increased. Basically, these are people who face the stress of separation from the family, loneliness, confusion, a sense of vulnerability. In such situation, it is extremely important to find and get support, also, to find a way to understand and help yourself.”
Manana Gotsiridze: “In October, initial meetings were held with Ukrainian families in Kutaisi. Everyone noted that our organization is the only one that has felt their pain and tragedy, which knows how to empathize and are grateful for free psychological support and first aid humanitarian assistance.”
Anya Shalimova: “Every month I continue to meet new families who have come from Ukraine. A lot of people come from my native Kherson. Often, going to work, I meet Ukrainian families who take their children to school. We greet and exchange smiles. At the given moment, the number of my meetings with Ukrainians includes more than 30 families from different parts of our beautiful Ukraine. I also continue consultative work and offer my services to children and adults. I help to reduce anxiety, improve relations between parents and children, get rid of phobias and panic. My work involves the constant improvement of my knowledge and skills, and that is why I never forget to pay attention to my education and training.
An online meeting on the topic “The process and stages of advocacy of problems at the local level” was held using the Zoom platform.
The meeting was attended by members of the women's network established in the municipalities of Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo, Zugdidi and Senaki, as well as representatives of donor and partner organizations.
The members of the network discussed in detail the dynamics of the problems taken for advocacy by the "one window" method - at what stage they are and what results they receive. They also spoke about the problems identified within the research, which were presented to local governments for consideration in the budgets.
The meeting turned out to be the best platform for participants to exchange information, share their experiences and talk about existing challenges.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
The Interagency Human Rights Council held another work meeting. It was hosted by Niko Tatulashvili, the Prime Minister's Advisor on Human Rights and Gender Equality. Tbilisi representative office of Women's Fund "Sukhumi" took part at the meeting along with representatives of other locan and international CSOs.
It was noted at the meeting that on October 25 by the resolution of the Government of Georgia, the 2022-2024 Georgian National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security and the 2022-2024 Action Plan for Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence and Protecting Victims were approved. One of the main issues of the commission session was the promotion and monitoring of the implementation of the mentioned governmental action plans.
