The Women Fund “Sukhumi” opened the international information campaign “16 active days against gender-based violence” a day earlier.

November 24. 19.00.

Kutaisi. Stadium named after Ramaz Shengelia – “Shengelia Arena”.

Match between “Torpedo” Kutaisi and “Dinamo” Tbilisi.

And... the most unusual and special:

The entire “Torpedo” team came out wearing white T-shirts with the slogan of our campaign: “Break the silence! Stop the violence”!

The footballers carried this slogan in the form of a large banner.

“Torpedo” Kutaisi has been the face of the 16-day campaign before - in 2003 and 2013.

In 2003, the action also took place at the stadium before the match with “Dinamo” Tbilisi. Then the players carried a long white ribbon into the stadium with the slogan: “Violence is evil! Let's unite against violence against women”!

This was quite a serious demonstration and an unusual action for that time!

As a result of the efforts of our and other organizations, society has realized that violence goes beyond the problem of one family and has more harmful consequences than we think. Three years later, in 2006, the Georgian parliament adopted a law against domestic violence...

From November 20 to 22, a working meeting was held among the network members at the Ambassador Hotel Kachreti within the framework of GIZ's global program 'Shaping Development-Oriented Migration Policy.

At the meeting, our representative, Linda Chikhladze, shared the experiences of the Women's Fund 'Sukhumi' with the participants.

Raising awareness about the harmfulness of alcohol and drugs addiction among teenagers - Kutaisi women initiative group is working on this topic as part of the advocacy process. How to give correct information to young people - psychotherapist, narcologist Vakhtang Sikharulidze talked about this issue, according to the participants, it is necessary to hold similar meetings in schools. During the meeting of Kutaisi Youth Club, the members received information about the 16-day international campaign against gender-based violence. The participants identified various activities that the club will implement within the campaign.

The women initiative group of the village Pakhulani - Tsalenjikha municipality continues to work on advocacy issues. There is no fast internet in the village, the women plan to solve this issue. The company “Magti” responded to them. Letters signed by the residents were sent to the City Hall and the City Council. The group members are waiting for the response.

During the next meeting, the members of Senaki women initiative group evaluated their activities, reviewed the list of identified problems and discussed ways to solve the problematic issues. According to the participants, teamwork, gender sensitivity, well-written advocacy plan helped them to solve various issues. At the beginning of the meeting, they talked about the 16-day campaign. The women focused on gender stereotypes and increased cases of violence in society. The members of Senaki youth group talked about the problems, reasons and consequences of domestic violence. They received information about a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. Activities to be held within the campaign were planned.

Domestic violence, legislation, prevention of violence and raising awareness - the members of the women initiative group of the village Koki - Zugdidi municipality were trained on these issues. They talked about the forms of violence, protection mechanisms and state services. The meeting held with Koki youth initiative group was dedicated to the topic of promotion of peace and non-violent culture. The young people were informed about the campaign of "16 active days against gender-based violence".

The members of the youth club of the village Didinedzi - Zugdidi municipality attended the screening of short films made by the young volunteers of the Women Fund "Sukhumi". Discussion was held. The teenagers expressed their opinions. The topics of the films were the following: migration, tolerance and domestic violence. Didinedzi women initiative group continues to work on advocacy issues. An important problem is the construction and cleaning of drainage channels in the village. The members of the group have sent letters to Zugdidi City Hall and City Council with a request to resolve the issue and are waiting for the response.

Members of Senaki Women Initiative Group held their next planned meeting. The meeting participants evaluated their activities. They reviewed the list of identified issues and talked about the prospects for unresolved problems.

According to the participants, teamwork, gender sensitivity, and a well-designed advocacy plan contributed to solving various problems. Based on the gained experience, work on long-term problems will be continued in future.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

Members of Zugdidi Women Initiative Group gathered for the next meeting. The problems, resolved with the help of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” were noted with pride.

The problem that was voiced to various Ministries and Departments on behalf of the organization was especially emphasized. This was one of the proposals of the group, and it has already been decided: next to the men police officers on the dividing line of Abkhazia there are female police officers too, and it is they who check the women when crossing the Inguri checkpoint. This eliminated a lot of inconvenience.

Each new solved problem is an incentive for further work of the Women Initiative Group.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

Representatives of the British Embassy visited the Women Fund “Sukhumi”. The meeting discussed the importance of women, peace and security agenda and women's involvement in local government.

Particularly impressive were the results achieved by the Women Initiative Groups of Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Senaki and Zugdidi. The project assistants spoke about the problems already advocated and solved, the network activities, the great power that exists in the form of this network, which can do a lot of good in the future.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization