Kutaisi Gender Advisory Council (GAC) started a new project "Strengthening of the gender aspects for active inclusion in the formation of local gender policies." The project is co-financing by Kutaisi City Hall and the fund "Sukhumi".

On April 21 in frames of the project a regional conference was held in "Grand Palace", on "Gender component in the local budget - the current reality, the positive developments, the prospects for the future."

The conference was attended by representatives of local self-government 17 municipalities of Western Georgia - Kutaisi, Batumi, Ozurgeti, Senaki, Zugdidi, Poti, Tskhaltubo, Khoni, Vani, Samtredia, Kharagauli, Zestafoni, Terjola, Tkibuli, Kobuleti, Chokhatauri, Lanchkhuti, as well as members of the GAC, rectors of universities, professors, students, representatives of NGOs and the media.

In the first part of the conference members of GAC of Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, Batumi and Senaki told about the results in terms of gender, achieved in cooperation with local governments.

In the second part the speakers discussed the topic of equality in different contexts. The conference was concluded with the report "Gender needs of students and their integration into the formation of the local budget."

The first phase of the project was completed. Discussions on the issues discussed at the conference will continue in Kutaisi universities.

Batumi Public Library hosted a presentation of the book of writer and public figure, Professor Ramaz Surmanidze "Fundamentals of the age-sex education of children and adolescents." The book was published with the financial support of the Fund "Sukhumi". The event was opened by the Director of the library Gennady Makharadze, who congratulated Mr. Ramaz with the publication of the 71st book.

Opinions about the book were expressed by: Professor Akaki Beridze, reviewers - Professor Shorena Vashadze and Doctor of Education Marina Gurgenidze, representative of the Fund "Sukhumi" Natia Kikvadze, chairman of the Supreme Council of Adjara Autonomous Republic Avtandil Beridze, member of the City Council of Batumi Nato Zoidze poet Tsisana Antadze, writer Anna Dundua. Female vocal ensemble "Batumi" performed songs in the Batumi center of culture.

At the end of the meeting Ramaz Surmanidze responded to questions.

Ozurgeti Gender Advisory Council (GAC) begins to study gender needs. There were chosen target group for the inquiry as well as the respondents for the in=depth interview.

GAC members covered the groups whose needs are less reflected in the budget.

The inquiries  will be conducted with socially unprotected women, young people, ethnic minorities and women, engaged in small business. During the focus groups there will be fixed needs of IDPs, teachers, health workers, single mothers and mothers with many children. It was also decided to hold a focus group with community leaders to identify more problems. There will be selected experts in health, education, agriculture sphere and people with disabilities.

The ordinary meeting of GAC was devoted to the definition of the target groups of the research of local gender needs, discussion of research methods. The research will be completed in May and on the basis of the analysis of the results, Gender Council will make recommendations to the budget in 2017.

At the meeting, there were planned activities in frames of the new project, financed by the local government and the Fund "Sukhumi", aimed at prevention of domestic violence in rural areas.

The first organizational meeting with the representatives of Gamgebeli and majoritarian parliament members will be held April 25, after which in 14 territorial units of Senaki municipality there will be established gender action groups. The main objective of the project is to strengthen the role of women and youth in the processes of prevention of domestic violence.