The initiative of the monitoring group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" was first of all supported by Bagdati Municipality - in order to respond to violence in a timely manner, the City Hall established an Interdepartmental Commission to eliminate violence against women / domestic violence, to protect victims of violence and assist them.
The commission is headed by Deputy Mayor Merab Zirakadze. The Commission will cooperate with the Council of Advisors of Bagdati Municipality on the issues of Gender Equality, as well as with the Interdepartmental Commission of the Government of Georgia, working on gender equality, violence against women and domestic violence. It will periodically inform them about the situation on the territory of the municipality, and will provide recommendations on activities to eliminate violence against women/domestic violence, protect victims of violence and provide them with assistance; will coordinate the activities planned by the Interdepartmental Commission of the Government of Georgia and the Gender Equality Council of Bagdati Municipality.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
"Citizens' participation in the implementation of local self-governance" - training with members of Khoni Women Initiative Group.
The training was held on the background of active discussion.
Legal Acts, principles of self-government financing according to the European Charter, self-governmental unit and its powers.
Lawyer Tamuna Pachulia talked about this and many other issues.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Women Fund “Sukhumi” Tbilisi office representative - Ekaterine Gamakharia has participated in first in-person working meeting organized by the WAVE network in Vienna (May 12th, 2022) to kick off the new OSCE-funded project on supporting women survivors of violence in conflict and post-conflict areas. The aim of the project is to develop a toolkit to capture the promising practices of women’s NGOs in preventing and responding to gender-based violence during and after the war. The project participants have exchanged thoughts about importance of the toolkit, devised its goal and the potential target audience, the structure and the practices to be incorporated in the final document.
The WAVE members involved in the project are the Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Women Fund Sukhumi (Kutaisi, Georgia), Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine). More information about the project, available at the following link: https://wave-network.org/new-project-supporting-women-survivors-of-violence-in-conflict-and-post-conflict-areas/
Ekaterine attended the last session of the WAVE Advisory Board Members meeting (May 11th), where she has possibility to share her ideas on how to make the projects implemented by the WAVE and extensive expertise accumulated in the network member organizations more accessible and beneficial for the women’s organizations.
A meeting, organized by the monitoring group and the Women Support Center of the Fund "Sukhumi", was held in Tkibuli. The meeting was attended by representatives of the municipal services and various groups of society.
The series of meetings “Involvement of society in combating domestic violence” aims to increase the role of local governments of partner municipalities in the eradication of violence and assistance to victims.
The meeting presented the conclusions of the researches, conducted by the Women Fund "Sukhumi": the need to implement the programs correcting the rapist’s behavior at an early stage; strengthening the women-childcare services. Presentation of a digital resource center of the services for victims of violence was prepared (http://sosfsokhumi.ge/).
During the direct dialogue, it was noted that the society should think about the measures against violence. Women's economic empowerment programs were recognized as important. A positive assessment was given to the decentralization of social work, the result of which was a department for children's rights. After the reorganization, it was formed into a municipal service and this shows the importance of this direction in the issue of strengthening the family.
It was noted that the cooperation between the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and Tkibuli municipality has positive dynamics, the directions of the future partnership are outlined.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
After the war in Abkhazia, they moved to the village, she graduated from school and became a student of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Sukhumi branch on the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics.
She started working as a computer technology teacher at the school and at the same time at the non-governmental organization "GEA XXI".
Her first project was approved by the “Global Fund for Women”. The aim of the project was to help IDP women from Abkhazia, residing across the river.
It was followed by the competition announced by the Danish Council to support the financial empowerment of the vulnerable population and one more victory. Prefabricated machines for the production of metal-plastic doors and windows, which were purchased in frames of the project, are still one of sources of income for the family, under the constant monitoring and updating.
She gained great experience with the joint project of the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation and the Ministry of Agriculture. The project envisaged the development of honey production and the promotion of small entrepreneurship.
At the same time, Maia Kardava's family cares for 350 roots of Italian walnut and lives with the real life of the village.
The ordinary meeting in Baghdati was held as part of the cycle of information meetings planned by the monitoring and advocacy group. It was attended by representatives of local government, teachers and kindergarten educators. The organizer of the meeting is Bagdati Women Support Center.
In order to assess the problem of combating violence against women / domestic violence and assist the victims, the participants were provided with information about a research that was conducted in Bagdati municipality and related to the promotion of women's employment: what childcare services exist, what needs to be improved for women's economic independence. As noted, the research concretely showed the real barriers for women from vulnerable groups.
Participants also learned about the importance of correcting the rapist’s behavior at an early stage and about existing best practices. It was noted that a strategy needs to be developed as it takes time to receive effective results.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
"Citizen participation in local governance" - this topic was discussed with the members of Kutaisi Women Initiative Group.
Legal acts, principles of self-government financing according to the European Charter, self-governmental unit and its powers. These and many other issues were explained by lawyer Tamuna Fachulia (Tamar Pachulia).
The participants got acquainted with the work of the website of the Digital Resource Center of the services for Victims of Violence (https://sosfsokhumi.ge/).
One of the participants of the Women Club - Natia Jimsheleishvili talked about her success story, the way she passed - how she achieved success.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
The monitoring and advocacy group of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, in cooperation with the Women Support Center, held an information meeting on violence in the hall of the main library of Tsalenjikha The meeting was attended by the officials of Tsalenjikha municipality: deputy Mayor, chairman of the City Council, deputy chairman, employees of the City Hall and City Council, representatives of the society.
The participants of the meeting were provided with information about a research carried out in Tsalenjikha municipality, which concerned the prevention of violence against women/domestic violence and an effective response in terms of facilitating the employment of women - childcare. They also received information about the importance of correcting the rapist’s behavior at an early stage and about existing best practices.
The meeting was held in the mode of questions and answers. The participants spoke about the need to strengthen coordinated work to prevent violence in the municipality.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
During an online meeting with members of Senaki IDP Women Initiative Group, the participants evaluated the trainings that were held in April and talked about the significance of the information received:
“I do not have the opportunity to attend such thematic trainings, so this is a good chance for me to be more informed.”
“The cycle of trainings will help us to be more active and practically get involved in advocacy of problems.”
At the end of the meeting, participants were provided with information about new training topics. According to them, after completing the trainings, they will be even more motivated to be actively involved in solving local problems.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Nona Esebua is the representative of the Mayor of Zugdidi municipality in Tsatskhvi administrative unit. Women representatives of the mayors have an important role at the local level, especially in identifying and supporting the needs of women citizens.
Women's Fund "Sukhumi" continues the campaign to break down gender stereotypes - to provide equality, tolerance, and a non-abusive environment in our society.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)