Two online information meetings were held with youth and women (August 26 – with youth group; August 29 – with women’s group). totally 40 participants attended the meetings.
The meeting participants were familiarized with the publication "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs", published by the WAVE network.
During the meetings, information was disseminated about the promising practices of women's organizations, which was presented in the guide, also about the strategies they used during the war and post-war period. The main emphasis was placed on the successful practice of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, which occupies an important place in the guide.
This innovation raised interest among the participants. They noted that the international recognition of the Fund “Sukhumi” is gratifying, since the organization carries out large-scale and useful work in society.
The project is implemented with the support of the Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
Mutual support groups try to identify problems in all municipalities. Groups in Bagdati, Kobuleti, Chokhatauri, Samtredia identified several problems and started to advocate them.
Senaki women's mutual support group is actively working on two cases. The members of the group are women living not only in the city, but also in villages.
The motivated groups of Vani and Terjola, give an example for others on how to solve their own problems.
Tskaltubo mutual support group is the only group composed by IDP women. Members of the group have identified three problems and work with local government to resolve them.
The summer was very active...
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Tsalenjikha mutual support group identified problems, intends to solve them, and started communication with the social agency.
The Zugdidi mutual support group meets in the village Koki, and the group consists mainly of women from this village. From September, vulnerable groups from different villages will join the group. Representative of local government will attend the meetings - this will facilitate cooperation with government agencies and the advocacy process.
In August, online meetings were held with groups from Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi. Psychologist of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” also took part in the meeting with the Zugdidi group.
From September, greater activity is expected in both groups, which means working on problem solution.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
During the information meeting in Vani City Council was attended by the heads of the kindergarten association, the administration, city kindergarten managers, teachers, psychologists, methodologists, members of the Gender Council and representatives of the City Hall – totally 25 participants.
The participants got acquainted with the guide "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs"- https://wave-network. org/wp.../uploads/Toolkit-Georgian.pdf
This guide has been prepared by the European Women's Network WAVE and represents the successful practice of women's organizations. One of these practices is the result of the successful work of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
The project is implemented with the support of the Urgent Action Fund for Women's
Our representative, Linda Chikhladze, was invited to the professional day meeting of the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences, and Probation. During the meeting, the Minister - Rati Bregadze, the Deputy - Buba Lomuashvili, and the head of the agency, Lado Kheladze, summarized the results of their activities and discussed the priorities and main directions for the agency's development. These include the introduction of technological innovations, strengthening crime prevention measures, promoting the development of human resources, infrastructural renewal, and improving services for beneficiaries.
Representatives from legislative, executive, and partner local and international organizations also participated in the meeting.
The Georgian Parliament and the EaP Civil Society Forum Georgian National Platform co-organized a conference dedicated to the EU integration of Georgia. The conference fully addressed the implementation of the 12 recommendations of the European Union. Linda Chikhladze from the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" attended the meeting, along with representatives of other local non-governmental organizations and the opposition parties.
The work of women's mutual assistance groups is gradually becoming more active. Meetings were held in all ten groups. Project Assistant Nino Chabukiani met with members of the group in five municipalities (Tskaltubo, Samtredia, Kobuleti, Terjola, Chokhatauri) - the meetings focused on the needs and problems of women, advocacy and cooperation with local government.
Women know that they need to study more to advocate for their interests, so a new component was added to the meetings - digital literacy courses. The courses have already started in the municipalities of Kobuleti, Terola and Chokhatauri. During the meetings, the women learned how to search for the necessary information on the Internet, got acquainted with the unique platform - sosfsokhumi.ge, which contains the necessary materials for victims of violence. This work helps to increase the digital competence of the team members.
A member of one of the mutual assistance groups is currently undergoing psycho-rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" in order to return home stronger and work more actively in the group.
The project also envisages transfer of mobile phones with an SOS application to make it easier for women to protect themselves and their children. In July, telephones were given to women living in Terjola municipality. The Mayor of Terjola Manuchar Robakidze and Deputy Chairman of City Council David Gogberashvili took part in the action of support.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Another information exchange meeting was held at the initiative of the Mandatory Service. During the meeting, the Mandatory Service presented a summary of their half-year results and shared the latest news. The meeting was attended by our representative, Nino Korinteli, who shared the findings and challenges from our new monitoring report titled - "Assessment of Effectiveness of Municipalities' Preventive Measures to Combat Violence Against Women/Domestic Violence."
Chokhatauri a meeting with local referral entities (services of the City Hall: department for the protection of children's rights, interdepartmental commission, gender equality council of the municipality, representatives of the City Hall in administrative units, as well as kindergarten and school teachers, family doctors). The participants of the meeting were introduced to the guide "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs", which describes the experience of 6 partner organizations of the WAVE network.
Attention was focused on the experience of the Fund “Sukhumi”, which tells that in condition of prolonged conflict, “no war, no peace”, an environment of violent behavior appears when family conflicts and violence against women increase.
Fund "Sukhumi" has successful practices that have received international recognition: public awareness regarding the problem of violence and the introduction of a gender responsive early warning system (GREWS), identification of cases and provision of services, strengthening the rights of women and girls and promoting coordinated actions of local referral entities, launching a digital resource center platform on existing support/assistance services, strengthening institutional mechanisms of gender equality at the municipal level.
The meeting participants noted that the prolonged conflict left its mark on various spheres of public life. According to them, governmental structures, public institutions and civil society organizations are the main actors responsible for the protection of women and girls during and after the war.
Opinions were exchanged regarding the most acute challenges in terms of prevention and effective response to violence against women/domestic violence.
For detailed information about the guide, the participants were given the link: https://wave-network.org/wp.../uploads/Toolkit-Georgian.pdf
