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.
Women from Ukraine - a new blog has appeared on the website of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" since March.
The main characters are women - from Kherson, Chuguev, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Berdyansk, Vinnytsia...
These are sad and hopeful stories.
A few phrases from different stories:
"When I was a child, I remember that grandmothers and grandfathers repeated one and the same thing - let there be peace and we don't want anything else. We had peace and laughed at what they said. They had experienced a war and knew the value of peace. Now I understand the meaning of these words very well", - Katerina Mirnaya.
"Mother has a family farm: chickens, eggs, vegetables. She has sown potatoes in three vegetable gardens... she is waiting for us and prepares everything for us", - Alina Dziubinskaya.
"I have two mothers in Kherson - mine and my husband’s, everything is there - house, apartment, friends, relatives, I miss them and I am afraid of losing them. All I want is to go to my country soon", - Tatyana Khodakovskaya.
https://blogofwomanfundsukhumi.tilda.ws/
The blog has already told the stories of 15 women. Stories that are similar to each other and are different at the same time...
This blog must be read by everyone, in order to feel the cruelty of war and do everything for peace...
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
"Before arriving to the rehabilitation center, I suffered a lot. Firstly, I didn't know how I would leave everyday problems and at the same time, how I would be accepted here. I have never been away from my family for all my 48 years. In one word, I was worried.
I felt a warm environment at the first meeting.
Then I met a psychologist. I felt amazing attention. I my surprise I told her many things about me.
I have a good memory, I remember everything. When the father got drunk, he often quarreled with the mother. That's why I didn't love him. In the age of 5-6 I was like an old woman. I had a lack of many things. My mother often said that she was doing everything for you, and I blamed myself, I asked myself why did I appear in this world...
I still have many problems. But I forgot everything in the rehabilitation center. I found new acquaintances, common problems and the feeling that you are not alone. That is why I am full of hope and energy. We need such relationships, compassion, listening to each other. My little boy is also happy, he likes to be here...
Now I understand how I should have lived as a mother, as a woman. I am coming out of the closed circle in which I was. Thanks to everyone who helped me"...
One of the women from Ukraine is undergoing treatment for oncology, and we actively help her, we pay for medical procedures. Our organization is the only one that supports her in this difficult period of life. After the medical tests, we heard good news, the 4th stage of cancer was not confirmed and she continues to fight...
There are 337 refugees from Ukraine in our database. In October, we added 16 people to the database. Assistance was provided to 31 families and 2 women. We continue to pay rent for three families, another 9 families were added to this category this month.
We continue to look for jobs. One of our beneficiaries managed to get a job in a garment factory. There is currently a vacancy for a man, for the position of a baker.
Everyone who wants to have consultations with psychologists, participate in psycho-rehabilitation sessions conducted by Georgian and Ukrainian psychologists. We also offer legal advice. We were addressed by a single mother, upon arrival she was deceived, under the guise of selling her home, they took 1,500 $ from her and disappeared - unfortunately, the scammers were not be found. She addressed a lawyer, he still helps, brought her to us. From our side, she received a package of products, we also helped with paying for housing.
During the meeting of Senaki women initiative group, the participants got acquainted with the results of the research. The research outlined the social profile of the IDP settlements and presented the current issues that cause special discomfort to the population.
Out of the named problems, the participants selected the most urgent problem, which they will try to advocate with the local self-government.
A women's group has already been selected, which will discuss the identified problem with the authorized persons of the city
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
