A meeting organized by the Women Fund "Sukhumi" was held in the conference hall of Chokhatauri Educational Resource Center. Representatives of the department for the protection of children's rights and the education sector of the City Hall exchanged important information that will contribute to social protection and strengthening of children and their families.
Representatives of schools also received information about the interdepartmental commission of the City Hall on the issues protection from domestic violence and violence against women.
Participants identified a number of acute problems requiring immediate response. The plans for future cooperation were also outlined.
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)
The women initiative group of the village Pakhulani - Tsalenjikha municipality held another meeting. The topic of their research was the assessment of the quality of human security and gender needs of the population in Zugdidi municipality. The results will be the basis of the next work process, which includes the development of an advocacy plan. During the meeting, they also talked about the topic: "Local cooperation for a social environment focused on children and families". The representatives of the Social and Children's Department of the City Hall informed the participants of the meeting about social and health care programs and the specifics of the work of the Children's Department.
“Local cooperation for social environment focused on children and families” - a meeting on this topic was held in the village Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality).
Representatives of the Social Department and the Children's Department of the City Hall provided the meeting participants with information about social and health programs and the specifics of the work of the Children's Department. They also got acquainted with the results of the activities of the departments for the protection of children's rights and their support, which were identified as a result of the monitoring conducted by the Women Fund "Sukhumi". During the meeting, there were identified the recommendations that will increase the efficiency of work in this direction.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The second month of the training course at the Youth Empowerment Centers continues successfully. The first meetings were held in Samtredia, Terjola, Senaki, Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi municipalities.
The trainings were attended by teachers, representatives of the youth services. And, of course, the main thing is active youth, who not only join the training with interest, but also carry out the initiated events in their schools with responsibility. It is gratifying that the support of the school administration and the teachers of civic education is felt everywhere.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
During the information meeting, members of Zugdidi Women Initiative Group recalled the general meeting held in April, spoke about advocacy issues. They noted that the result of their work is obvious: they already use a preferential tariff for municipal transport. They are also waiting for the solution of the second issue - a new kindergarten will be built soon.
Resolved problems are great motivation for group members. They know that their efforts will lead to positive change. That is why they continue to work to prioritize issues and solve them.
The meeting also discussed organizational issues and plans for future.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Informational meetings with various target groups were held in the Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Tsalenjikha, Chokhatauri, Vani and Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality). The participants got acquainted with the activities of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the main results that exist in different areas. They talked about victim assistance services and economic empowerment programs.
Through the active discussion, the participants outlined their positions: they believe that, in order to fight against domestic violence, it is necessary to improve preventive measures, and this includes informing young people and improving services for victims.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Everyone should take their own responsibility - plant a tree, green the environment, take care of nature - this was the aim of the campaign dedicated to the week of the Day of Earth. Kutaisi Youth Club of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", in cooperation with Kutaisi Public Schools #32 named after Avtandil Dekanoidze and Public Schools #6 of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia named after Zhiuli Shartava, organized a greening campaign. Pupils, together with the teacher Lela Bregadze, planted Georgian walnut seedlings in the school yard and in the yard of the rehabilitation center of the Fund “Sukhumi”. Families residing in the rehabilitation center also participated in the event.
"Evidence-based advocacy process" - training on this topic was conducted with the members of Senaki women initiative group. What does the process of problem advocacy mean and how important is it to be based on evidence - the participants heard information about these issues. On the same day, a meeting with members of the youth group was held in Senaki. The participants worked on the plan of project activities. The persons responsible for the organizational issues were determined and the functions and duties were distributed.
A project supported by the Equality Fund (Canada) continues.
The main goal of the project is to provide access for women victims/potential victims of violence and other stakeholders to a wide range of information related to domestic violence (legal mechanisms for domestic violence/ violence against women, victim support services, referral entities, etc.) for the prevention and appropriate response to violence against women.
The project will be implemented during 3 years in 10 municipalities of Western Georgia (Vani, Bagdati, Samtredia, Terjola, Tkibuli, Tsalenjikha, Senaki, Zugdidi, Kobuleti, Chokhatauri).
Within the framework of the project, the website “Digital Resource Center for the Services of Violence Victims” will continue to function https://sosfsokhumi.ge/
Systematic assessment of the risks of domestic violence and violence against women will be carried out in the above mentioned municipalities.
