The members of the Women Initiative Group of the village Pakhulani – Tsalenjikha municipality held a meeting. They informed each other about the importance of peace initiatives for the women living in the villages of the conflict dividing line. The members of the group have already created a peace strategy and the work will continue according to this strategy. "We feel the value of peace the most, because there is a dividing border in front of us. We must work for peace, it is important. This was the general mood of the group members. In the second part of the meeting, the participants discussed the plan of the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. Pakhulani women group will join the global protest against violence with various activities.
During the meeting held with the women initiative group of the village Didinedzi – Zugdidi municipality, the participants discussed the activities that were developed under the strategy of Resolution 1325. Special emphasis was placed on the involvement of women in peace activities. The second part of the interesting and informative meeting was devoted to the discussion of the plan of the international 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. It is important that Didinedzi women initiative group will join the 16-day campaign with its own activities. At the meeting held with the youth initiative group of the village Didinedzi, the participants discussed the issues of peacekeeping, strengthening the social unity and preventing conflicts. Group members discussed the role and involvement of youth in peace activities.
Women’s involvement and role of in the peace process, 16-day international campaign against gender –based violence and planned activities - Women Initiative Group of the village Koki – Zugdidi municipality held a meeting on these topics. The activities, developed under the strategy of resolution 1325 were discussed at the meeting. The women initiative group of the village Koki joins the campaign and plans to hold its own activity. Koki young initiative group is also going to plan the events within the campaign.
This was one of the issues they discussed at the meeting. They also discussed the role of youth in peacekeeping, strengthening the social unity and preventing conflicts. It was noted that the youth resource and volunteer activities will contribute to the introduction of the culture of peace and its promotion in the next generation. The members of the youth initiative group of the village Koki discussed the plan of peace activities developed with the involvement of young people.
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.
Women Fund “Sukhumi” presents a new monitoring report “The child rights protection and support department’s effectiveness assessment and existing challenges.” The effectiveness of the child rights protection department’s structural unit activities, operating in municipalities, and existing challenges are evaluated in the report. These challenges hinder the provision of effective assistance and services tailored to the needs of vulnerable families. Specific recommendations based on the main findings are outlined in the document, which will contribute to institutional strengthening and improvement of the activities of child rights protection departments.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
“I was given back hope that I was not alone. This support is very important for me at this stage.”
“Now I needed to feel the assistance in order to more boldly continue the difficult independent path.”
This feedback followed the fifth phase of the action under a project supported by the Equality Fund - Canada. The action was held in the Women Support Centers of Terjola, Bagdati, Chokhatauri, Tsalenjikha, Zugdidi and Kobuleti - 8 women from vulnerable groups received mobile phones with SAFE YOU applications and an SOS button as a gift. The action was carried out together with representatives of local governments, so that they could become better acquainted with the social situation of the beneficiaries.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Women representing the local community, teachers, nurses and kindergarten teachers attended the information meeting in the clinic of Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality). The information meeting was also held in Rokhi (Bagdati municipality) in a different format - young people and teachers took part in it.
The website https://sosfsokhumi.ge/ aroused great interest among the participants. It was noted that now, when the facts of femicide have increased, it is necessary to inform people through the website about municipal and other services, which are so important for women victims of violence.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
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
Women's networks organized in 5 municipalities of Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Senaki, Zugdidi) chose topical issues and started the advocacy process on “one window principle”.
This is told by the women participating in the project and representatives of local government who participated in the meeting. They emphasize the importance of the dialogue format for problem solution.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization