At the invitation of EUMM Georgia, Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of the Tbilisi Office of the Women’s Fund “Sukhumi,” delivered a lecture on: “Women, Peace and Security in Practice; Human Security and Violence Against Women in Conflict-Affected Communities.”
The meeting was held within the framework of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Ekaterine presented the key areas of the organization’s work, recent research findings, and the main security challenges faced by internally displaced and conflict-affected women — including rising social and economic risks, high prevalence of violence, and limited access to support services.
The discussion highlighted the importance of a human-centered approach in designing and implementing security policies, as well as the need to strengthen cooperation between civil society and international security actors.
The project is implemented with the support of Brot für die Welt.
On December 4, at the Kutaisi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Women’s Fund “Sukhumi” held a regional conference within the global “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. The event aimed to summarize long-standing practices in violence prevention and response, as well as the key results from 2025.
Around 70 participants attended from 10 municipalities across Imereti, Guria, Samegrelo, and Adjara, including mobilizers of Women’s Support Centers, para-specialists of social work, youth groups, civil society organizations, and international partners.
Discussions explored violence prevention not only through individual cases but also within broader systemic and structural contexts.
The conference featured three thematic panels:
On-the-ground work with women’s groups
Risk identification, first-line support, trauma response, and strengthening community-based mechanisms.
Youth-led initiatives
Youth representatives presented campaigns and community projects, highlighting the new generation’s motivation and ability to contribute to positive change.
Work with women survivors of violence
Focus areas: psychological support, economic empowerment, rehabilitation services, media literacy, and digital safety.
A key insight from the final discussion was that technology-facilitated abuse is one of the fastest-growing threats in 2025, including online surveillance, cyberbullying, unauthorized account access, and digital manipulation.
The project is implemented with the support of Brot für die Welt.
Women's mutual assistance groups help each other, motivate, and strengthen each other. It's especially interesting when those gathered hear stories of successful women, and the psychologist encourages them to improve their self-esteem.
Kutaisi women's mutual assistance group had a successful guest. This happened at meetings in Tskaltubo and Terjola also. This provided great motivation for the group members.
Productive meetings were held in Khurcha and Kobuleti. Women discussed a variety of issues, including support for the Fund “Sukhumi”. In Terjola, our forum theater held performance for the group participants, and after the performances, a frank and emotional discussion was held.
Meetings were held in all groups in November. Each new meeting is proof that our organization is committed to empowering women living in the regions.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
At women's mutual assistance group meetings, special attention was paid to our organization's website, "Digital Resource Center for Women Survivors of Violence," https://sosfsokhumi.ge/, which provides women with all the necessary information.
All participants were also provided with information about the "16 Day Campaign Against Gender-based Violence".
Participants asked numerous questions about the campaign, municipal programs, and assistance for socially vulnerable families, all of which received comprehensive answers.
All groups will actively participate in the 16-day campaign, as it is being carried out worldwide to support women like them.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The women's mutual assistance group meetings took place in an unusual way. Everyone saw the results and benefits of the work. The winning initiatives, and those that did not receive funding, and future plans were discussed.
An initiative has begun in Senaki – the poultry farm will be further developed. In Khobi, motors for pumps were purchased, needed for the IDP community. In Tsalenjikha, women were given a sewing machine and a freezer – just what they wanted for their business.
In Terjola, two winners were given tools and materials needed for their micro-business. They took part in the festival – City Day – where they presented their creations: bags, brooches, collars, various accessories...
Funding of initiatives is a great incentive for mutual assistance group members. In the second stage, everyone will join because they have seen that women's mutual assistance groups are truly designed to help and strengthen each other.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Our organization carries out a charitable and humanitarian mission and, of course, provides women with various support and assistance. One of these activities is distributing mobile phones to members of women's mutual assistance groups. Today, everyone needs a mobile phone as a means of communication and a source of information.
Therefore, in October, the organization donated new mobile phones to women who had difficulty in using their phones in Senaki, Kutaisi, and Terjola. This means their communication and awareness will improve.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Women's mutual assistance groups have begun implementing initiatives.
The groups presented 18 initiatives, eight of which were funded by our organization.
In early October, the initiative authors received materials and tools, and they will begin their work.
Project Assistant Nino Chabukiani notes: "Implementing the initiatives is a great support for people from vulnerable groups. It contributes to women's economic empowerment and is a significant incentive for them and their families. Therefore, everyone who received funding is grateful to our organization. The groups have become even more motivated to work. Those who did not receive funding are now preparing for the second stage."
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
A dialogue with specialists working in the field of civic education took place in an interesting format. The topic of the online meeting was "Psychosocial, Economic, Legal, and Structural Aspects of Migration and Measures of its Prevention".
We presented the results of the Fund “Sukhumi” research and the digital resource www.sosfsokhumi.ge to the participants. We discussed the main factors of women migration, the psychosocial consequences of uncontrolled migration, and the importance of reducing it.
An interesting discussion was held on migration prevention mechanisms and migration trends. Participants shared their observations regarding the fact that while in previous years migration had primarily affected urban populations, now villages are also becoming empty, as introducing innovations into agriculture is extremely difficult, soils are depleted, and incomes have significantly decreased. Successful local entrepreneurs are less popular. It was noted that it is difficult to reduce uncontrolled migration without a corresponding positive socioeconomic environment, but at the same time, it is essential for society to recognize the negative psycho-emotional consequences of migration for families: alienation, deprivation of parental warmth for children, excessive burden for the elderly, not to mention the "brain drain" and changing demographics. Therefore, they believe public dialogue on migration issues is essential.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Mutual assistance group meetings were held in municipalities of Western Georgia according to planned. Assistant Nino Chabukiani held five meetings in Terjola, Vani, Kutaisi, Tskaltubo and Kobuleti. The remaining five meetings were organized and facilitated by the leaders, who successfully completed their tasks.
During the meetings in Zugdidi, Chokhatauri, Senaki, Tsalenjikha, and Khobi, group participants discussed issues related to the civic initiative competition. Emphasis was placed on feedback, so that they would be better prepared for the next stage.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
