Two years ago Women against Violence Europe (WAVE) published a guide, "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs". (See the following): https://www.fsokhumi.ge/index.php/en/publications/gender-mainstreaming/item/13406-experiences-of-woman-s-ngos).
The publication is still relevant today, as it presents best practices, and one of the organizations is the Women Fund "Sukhumi". Our organization organized information meetings in municipalities in frames of the project "Organization of campaigns in society and social networks to form the importance of the CSOs work". The meeting was also held in Terjola, where the Fund “Sukhumi” has been working for many years.
The meeting participants were interested in learning about the successful experience of women's organizations, including the Fund “Sukhumi”, and noted that the organization is doing very important work for women and their families.
The project is implemented with the support of the Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
A round table with women was held in Terjola. A lawyer of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” spoke about identifying victims of violence against women and/or domestic violence, national referral procedures for their protection, assistance and rehabilitation, as well as the services of our organization.
The participants focused on early marriages, the rights and responsibilities of minors, and the role of society. They received information about the importance of non-governmental organizations and especially noted the positive influence of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
В Кутаисском Госуниверситете Акакия Церетели Женский фонд «Сухуми» организовал конференцию на тему: «Роль журналистов в искоренении гендерной дезинформации и этично-ответственном освещении вопросов гендерного насилия в отношении женщин». Целью конференции было повышение осведомленности студентов, особенно представителей факультета журналистики, по вопросам выявления гендерной дезинформации и этического освещения вопросов насилия в отношении женщин. Мероприятие способствовало привлечению молодежи, где внимание было сосредоточено на роли журналистов в создании ненасильственной и здоровой среды в обществе.
«Спасибо большое, что донесли до нас эту тему. Мне бы хотелось, чтобы такое мероприятие имело более широкую аудиторию и не только для студентов факультета журналистики, а чтобы об этих вопросах услышали все. Я надеюсь, что мое поколение сможет искоренить насилие в отношении женщин и добиться гендерного равенства в нашей стране», - выразил свое мнение один из студентов-участник конференции.
Women support centers actively work in different communities to ensure that there are as many informed women in society as possible. Awareness of victim support services contributes to the empowerment of women and the prevention of domestic violence.
Along with identifying problems and assisting victims, mobilizers are actively working to study the needs of women in order to continue the process of advocacy for existing problems.
In September, more than 150 women were informed in all ten centers (Khoni, Tskaltubo, Terjola, Vani, Samtredia, Zugdidi, Khobi, Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Chokhatauri), and eight people used the services of the rehabilitation center.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The monitoring group of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” works on a new research aimed at studying the effectiveness of existing services for victims of violence against women/domestic violence and developing recommendations to identify strategies and new approaches to improve effectiveness.
Information on existing (and/or planned) services has been collected. In order to find best practices, we studied the work of service providers, studied the attitudes, moods and expectations of service recipients/beneficiaries.
In September, 10 in-depth interviews with beneficiaries were conducted, which allowed us to study the current situation in this regard based on specific cases.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The monitoring group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" continued the cycle of information meetings with vulnerable groups of the population. The meetings were held in Khoni and Tsalenjikha municipalities.
The participants of the meeting were familiarized with the mechanisms of assistance to the victims of violence existing in the country.
It was important for them to learn about the programs available at the municipal and central levels, especially about the family empowerment program, as well as about the services for victims of violence offered by non-governmental organizations.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Training with mobilizers of Women Support Centers was held in Kutaisi, in the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi". The format of the work included the development of a strategy for the work of the centers.
- Supporting women, monitoring cases of domestic violence, identifying problems and advocacy - the participants discussed what innovations can be introduced, how to increase productivity in this area so that as many women as possible can use existing services.
According to the participants, an important innovation in the activities of Women Support Centers will be the support for civil initiatives and advocacy for community problems. The involvement of a psychologist and a lawyer will help prevent violence and increase the effectiveness of victim assistance
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
New members have appeared in Kobuleti women's mutual support group. During the first meeting, they talked about the needs and various problems of women. The group in Vani was also updated, and in Terjola, women who were able to change their lives as a result of the work of the mutual support group, gathered at the meeting.
In each group created in 10 municipalities, new members have appeared and, accordingly, there are new challenges. At the meetings, women discuss problems related to violence and try to solve them together.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Psychologist Ekaterine Kvachakidze talks about the work carried out in August:
I held group and individual meetings in Women Support Centers of Koki (Zugdidi Municipality), Tskaltubo, Khobi, Vani and Terjola. The topic of the meeting was again summer, because during hot days the mind is focused on rest.
The women talked about the problems that prevent them from relaxing with their family members. For the others, this has become an incredible luxury. Most of them, instead of relaxing, worked with children on nut plantations. During the conversation, the children mentioned that they were looking forward to the nut-picking season to earn money.
The women already think about September, the beginning of school, which is associated with buying clothes for children and school supplies. This is what summer holidays are like for rural women.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
