"Strengthening cooperation and coordination between municipalities and state agencies is crucial for an effective fight against violence against women.
Since 2009, the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" has consistently worked towards activating cooperation and coordination between municipalities and the entities involved in the referral mechanism, as well as sectoral state agencies. The conference held in Kutaisi on February 23, which brought together Women Fund “Sukhumi” partners, representatives from 17 municipalities in Western Georgia, and the central government, marked another significant step in strengthening this process.
"We are working together to create a non-violent and safe environment in our country," said Ekaterine Gamakharia, the head of the Tbilisi representative office of the Fund "Sukhumi."
Yana Koshelets is 37 years old and lives in Kutaisi with her husband and 15-year-old son. They fled the war from Mariupol. At first they lived in Germany, but the boy could not get used to studying and decided to come to Georgia...
Yana is one of those who benefit from consultations of a psychologist of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”. Psychologist Manana Gotsiridze held 4 meetings with families from Ukraine in February. She met with 13 refugees for the first time and planned further therapy, an individual psycho-rehabilitation continues with 6 beneficiaries.
The work of the psychologist with children is of particular importance. The mothers note with satisfaction that after the sessions their children have noticeably changed for the better...
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
An ordinary meeting of the municipal Interdepartmental Commission was held in Bagdati. Members of the commission discussed the plan of activities that will be held in frames of the civil initiative. These activities will increase the awareness of the commission, which is necessary for its targeted work – for reviewing cases and responding to them in a timely manner.
The planned activities include increasing the involvement of representatives of the Mayor of the municipality, managers of preschool educational institutions and youth. All this is important for the effective functioning of the commission, for the timely identification and prevention of domestic violence.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The Women Fund “Sukhumi” held a round table meeting in Bagdati municipality with the participation of local referral entities.
The meeting was attended by members of the Gender Equality Council of the City Council, representatives of the City Hall and the police department. The participants talked about the prevention of domestic violence, protection of victims, and social partnership. Particular attention was paid to the problem of violence and effective cooperation with local structures.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Ukrainians who are associated with us receive various types of assistance. Their total number now is 398 (20 people have been added since the beginning of the year).
In February, 55 food vouchers were issued to 37 families. Our organization helped two families with paying utility bills and 6 families with renting an apartment. As in previous months, expenses for telephone calls, medicines and medical procedures were reimbursed. In connection with all this, people who came from Ukraine express gratitude to the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
“Creating a network, defining the principles of the network and prospects for the future” - an online meeting of the network was held on this topic. It was attended by active leaders of women and girls from the IDP communities of Kutaisi, Khoni and Tskaltubo.
Project assistants assessed the work done and talked about the challenges. The speeches included information about the need to support women and strengthen partnerships.
During the next panel, the women who participated in the meeting emphasized the importance of the skills acquired during the trainings. They believe that participation in the project is a new opportunity for them to advocate for issues identified in their communities.
The work is carried out in partnership with the Center “Abkhazeti” within the framework of the project “Support of the conflict transformation in the South Caucasus and Moldova”.
Informing more than 150 beneficiaries about preventive mechanisms and support services for victims of violence, identifying ten new crisis families and preparing individual plans to work with them, two rehabilitated families, stories of five women who improved their condition after the work with a psychologist, new gender needs identified in different communities - such indicators appeared in the reports of Women Support Centers for February.
Mobilizers of the Centers actively continue to cooperate with families in crisis situations so that they receive all the necessary services and improve their situation. In response to the challenges identified in different communities, an advocacy process has already begun and will continue with the participation of community activists.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A meeting was held at the Women Fund “Sukhumi”. The meeting was attended by women and girls living in compact IDP settlements of Kutaisi. The problems of various IDP communities were identified and prioritized during the working group meeting
The participants discussed pressing issues in the format of a general discussion. As a result, two high-priority problems were selected, advocacy for which will be carried out using various mechanisms for involving citizens.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
The next meeting was held with members of the “Municipal Interdepartmental Commission on the Prevention of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence, Protection and Assistance to Victims of Violence” of Vani City Hall. Participants got acquainted with the civil initiative that will be implemented under the topic “Break the silence - stop the violence!”
In frames of the initiative, representatives of the Mayor and employees of rural outpatient clinics will be informed about issues of violence. They will be provided with information about services available at the central and local levels. The importance of the Interdepartmental Commission as a response mechanism will be particularly emphasized.
These meetings will help the Commission move its work into a more active phase - in terms of considering specific cases and responding to them.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
