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)
“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)
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)
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.
Local referral entities: members of the Gender Equality Council, representatives of local government, the police and the educational resource center, school teachers, medical staff gathered in the conference room of the City Hall of Vani Municipality.
During the meeting, a presentation was made on “National Referral Procedures for the Identification, Protection, Assistance and Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence (National Referral Mechanism)”.
Important issues were raised during the conversation: municipal statistics in terms of arresting orders, identification of problems and assistance to victims.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Monitoring was carried out in the Women's Support Centers of Vani, Tkibuli and Tsalenjikha.
Peacekeeping, gender policy, prevention of domestic violence and protection of victims - after listening to the main results achieved in these areas, the participants voiced their assessments.
According to them, the migration of women, online games have created a lot of problems, so the correct information on these issues is still relevant. They believe that the role of a non-governmental organization is important and call the activities of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" successful.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
7 offline meetings were held by a psychologist in the Women's Support Centers of Terjola, Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality), Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), Senaki, Kobuleti, Tkibuli and Chokhatauri. 4 group and 11 individual consultations, 12 online meetings were held. 11 psychotherapeutic sessions were held in Kutaisi.
Everyone is satisfied with the results of the work, but it can be especially noted that with the help of developing new skills 2 beneficiaries were able to overestimate their own problems and learned to control emotions, and 3 teenagers coped with bullying.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Information about the services for the assistance to victims of violence must reach the person who needs this type of assistance, - such is the opinion of the participants of the information meetings held at the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti, Senaki and Bagdati.
The aim of the Women Support Centers work is to provide the necessary information to the addressee. Accordingly, the number of applications to the Women Fund "Sukhumi" has increased. With the help of mobilizers, some of the beneficiaries are preparing for a meeting with a psychologist. Two women will complete a full course at the rehabilitation center of our organization. Based on the content of the cases, the work is carried out by a multi-team principle.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
“This phone has a quick SOS button, which will give me the strength to call people for help, and they will definitely help me.”
“I was told that our phone has a special function. Thank you for that."
“If I need legal advice, is it on the phone you gave me, if I need psychological advice? It is here too. Thanks for this. Maybe we should learn more and be better prepared against violence.”
Such emotions came from the beneficiaries during the next action.
Representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" together with representatives of the local government distributed phones with SOS buttons to women from vulnerable groups in Kobuleti, Senaki, Samtredia, Bagdati, Terjola and Vani.
It has become a tradition to involve representatives of the City Hall, advisors, members of the gender equality council and specialists dealing with children's issues in our activities. The aim is for local authorities to care more about women victims and help them to solve problems.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
