In September, online meetings of women’s mutual support groups were held in 4 municipalities (Terjola, Vani, Kobuleti, Chokhatauri). Participants were familiarized with the guide "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs" (published by the WAVE European Women's Network).
Members of mutual support groups listened to the stories about how women's organizations work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Armenia, and Georgia. They especially liked the recognition of the successful experience of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, reflected in the guide.
The project is implemented with the support of the Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
On August 27, an online information meeting was held with a group of young people, and the participants of the meeting held on September 5 in Zugdidi were women.
The meeting participants got acquainted with the guide developed by the European network WAVE "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs"- https://wave-network. org/wp.../uploads/Toolkit-Georgian.pdf
They received information about the countries represented in the guide and the work of women's organizations. Particular attention was paid to the successful practice of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, which occupies an important place in the publication.
Participants noted that the Fund “Sukhumi” carries out significant work to strengthen youth and women, and it is valuable that the organization has received international recognition.
The project is implemented with the support of the Urgent Action Fund for
Women's Human Rights
Two online information meetings were held with youth and women (August 26 – with youth group; August 29 – with women’s group). totally 40 participants attended the meetings.
The meeting participants were familiarized with the publication "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs", published by the WAVE network.
During the meetings, information was disseminated about the promising practices of women's organizations, which was presented in the guide, also about the strategies they used during the war and post-war period. The main emphasis was placed on the successful practice of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, which occupies an important place in the guide.
This innovation raised interest among the participants. They noted that the international recognition of the Fund “Sukhumi” is gratifying, since the organization carries out large-scale and useful work in society.
The project is implemented with the support of the Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
During the information meeting in Vani City Council was attended by the heads of the kindergarten association, the administration, city kindergarten managers, teachers, psychologists, methodologists, members of the Gender Council and representatives of the City Hall – totally 25 participants.
The participants got acquainted with the guide "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs"- https://wave-network. org/wp.../uploads/Toolkit-Georgian.pdf
This guide has been prepared by the European Women's Network WAVE and represents the successful practice of women's organizations. One of these practices is the result of the successful work of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
The project is implemented with the support of the Urgent Action Fund for Women's
Members of the Women Initiative Group of Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Zugdidi - totally 45 people - attended the information meeting, which was held online.
The meeting participants got acquainted with the guide prepared by the network of European women WAVE: "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs"- https://wave-network. org/wp.../uploads/Toolkit-Georgian.pdf
Participants were provided with information about the perspective practices of the women’s organizations presented in the guide, about the strategies that they used in war and post-war period. Attention was focused on the practice of the Fund “Sukhumi”, which occupies an important place in the guide.
According to the meeting participants, the manual will significantly help the main actors responsible for creating security guarantees for women.
The project is implemented with the support of the Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
Chokhatauri a meeting with local referral entities (services of the City Hall: department for the protection of children's rights, interdepartmental commission, gender equality council of the municipality, representatives of the City Hall in administrative units, as well as kindergarten and school teachers, family doctors). The participants of the meeting were introduced to the guide "Prevention and response to gender-based violence in war and post-war conditions - experience and recommendations of women’s NGOs", which describes the experience of 6 partner organizations of the WAVE network.
Attention was focused on the experience of the Fund “Sukhumi”, which tells that in condition of prolonged conflict, “no war, no peace”, an environment of violent behavior appears when family conflicts and violence against women increase.
Fund "Sukhumi" has successful practices that have received international recognition: public awareness regarding the problem of violence and the introduction of a gender responsive early warning system (GREWS), identification of cases and provision of services, strengthening the rights of women and girls and promoting coordinated actions of local referral entities, launching a digital resource center platform on existing support/assistance services, strengthening institutional mechanisms of gender equality at the municipal level.
The meeting participants noted that the prolonged conflict left its mark on various spheres of public life. According to them, governmental structures, public institutions and civil society organizations are the main actors responsible for the protection of women and girls during and after the war.
Opinions were exchanged regarding the most acute challenges in terms of prevention and effective response to violence against women/domestic violence.
For detailed information about the guide, the participants were given the link: https://wave-network.org/wp.../uploads/Toolkit-Georgian.pdf
Any of us may face the need for emergency medical assistance. Proper first aid can save a person's life or relieve pain. It is desirable that everyone knows how to behave in such a situation.
This was the aim of the training, conducted by Gvantsa Kikaleishvili (Master Instructor of the Georgian Red Cross) and Irina Lataria (volunteer) at Tskaltubo Plaza Hotel. The training was about the correct and quick response in emergency situation, also about providing adequate first aid to the victim. The training was useful for all participants.
The project is implemented with the support of the WAVE Network
Together with OSCE – The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the WAVE Network in collaboration with four WAVE members: Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Women Fund Sukhumi (Kutaisi and Tbilisi, Georgia), Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine).
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.
PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE DURING THE WAR AND IN POST-WAR SETTINGS EXPERIENCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF WOMEN’S NGOS The authors of the toolkit presented their strategies related to different conflict stages:
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.
Gender-based violence takes on many forms during conflicts, as we are witnessing in Ukraine. Rape and sexual violence are used as tools of war, and women and girls face higher risks of trafficking, as well as domestic violence and exploitation. Women’s specialist support services (WSSS) play a vital role in supporting survivors of violence, both during the conflict, as well as in the medium and long-term in post-conflict areas.
WAVE, with the support of the OSCE, started a new project to address capacity building and exchange of promising practices between women’s specialist support services to better support women survivors of violence in conflict and post-conflict areas. 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).