Women Support Center mobilizers took part in the training: "Evidence Based Advocacy", held in 10 target municipalities.
The training was aimed at strengthening the skills necessary for advocacy. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying and ranking the problems. The essence, stages and forms of evidence-based advocacy were discussed in detail.
Using practical examples, the participants discussed the factors hindering the advocacy process, identified target groups and stakeholders.
It was noted that participation in the training is important for representatives of the Women Support Centers, as they are actively involved in the process of forming municipal policy and advocating for local problems.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Empowering and supporting women, identifying cases of violence, advocating for various problems of communities - these are the main directions that determine the activities of the Women Support Centers.
An action was held at Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality) Women Support Center - a group of women were made a free blood test; a socially disadvantaged woman in Samtredia was assisted in preparation of necessary documents; in Kobuleti, with the help of a mobilizer, a woman victim of violence was included in the municipal program and her situation improved. In Baghdati and Tsalenjikha, women had the prospect of economic empowerment, as after being informed they were included in economic programs.
Such results were recorded in the June report of Khurcha/Zugdidi, Samtredia, Tsalenjikha, Kobuleti and Baghdati Women Support Centers.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Mobilizers of the Women Support Center actively work with the activists of women communities to identify priority issues. Infrastructural problems are mostly identified. Women's centers in Senaki and Terjola have chosen the issues of cleaning sewer wells and regulation of street lighting for the advocacy.
In May, monitoring was also carried out at the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti and Bagdati. As a result of the monitoring, it was revealed which direction needs to be improved, what are the most acute necessities. The next meetings will be planned envisaging these needs.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Informational meetings with various target groups were held in the Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Tsalenjikha, Chokhatauri, Vani and Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality). The participants got acquainted with the activities of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the main results that exist in different areas. They talked about victim assistance services and economic empowerment programs.
Through the active discussion, the participants outlined their positions: they believe that, in order to fight against domestic violence, it is necessary to improve preventive measures, and this includes informing young people and improving services for victims.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Monitoring was carried out in the Women's Support Centers of Vani, Tkibuli and Tsalenjikha.
Peacekeeping, gender policy, prevention of domestic violence and protection of victims - after listening to the main results achieved in these areas, the participants voiced their assessments.
According to them, the migration of women, online games have created a lot of problems, so the correct information on these issues is still relevant. They believe that the role of a non-governmental organization is important and call the activities of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" successful.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
7 offline meetings were held by a psychologist in the Women's Support Centers of Terjola, Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality), Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), Senaki, Kobuleti, Tkibuli and Chokhatauri. 4 group and 11 individual consultations, 12 online meetings were held. 11 psychotherapeutic sessions were held in Kutaisi.
Everyone is satisfied with the results of the work, but it can be especially noted that with the help of developing new skills 2 beneficiaries were able to overestimate their own problems and learned to control emotions, and 3 teenagers coped with bullying.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Information about the services for the assistance to victims of violence must reach the person who needs this type of assistance, - such is the opinion of the participants of the information meetings held at the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti, Senaki and Bagdati.
The aim of the Women Support Centers work is to provide the necessary information to the addressee. Accordingly, the number of applications to the Women Fund "Sukhumi" has increased. With the help of mobilizers, some of the beneficiaries are preparing for a meeting with a psychologist. Two women will complete a full course at the rehabilitation center of our organization. Based on the content of the cases, the work is carried out by a multi-team principle.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Violence against women continues to be the main topic of information meetings of the Women Support Centres. Problems regarding the identification of cases of violence and the lack of information about victim support services still remain.
In order to overcome these problems, Women Support Centers are actively working in villages, in different communities. They help to identify active, leader women in the field. The necessary information is disseminated.
Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Chokhatauri, Terjola and Khurcha (Zugdidi Municipality) already have results in identifying new cases and providing assistance to victims.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
- Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
- Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
- Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
- Women who have changed themselves and the world around them. Stories that evoke positive emotions in listeners and increase the level of civic engagement - this is how the mobilizers of the Women Support Centers assessed the meetings held in March.
The participants of the meeting believe that the activities of the Fund "Sukhumi" and the work of the non-governmental sector in general are of particular importance in direction of strengthening the women. They emphasized the necessity of services to support victims of violence.
Five cases were identified in the Women Support Centers of Terjola, Vani, Tkibuli, Chokhatauri and Bagdati. Specialists of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" were involved in the process of the management of these cases.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
- Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
- Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
- Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
