The Women's Fund 'Sukhumi' organized practical training for representatives of women's civil society organizations in Western Georgia. The training, led by Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of the Tbilisi office of the Women's Fund 'Sukhumi,' focused on the theme 'Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in War and Post-War Settings.
During the training, participants acquired knowledge about common forms of gender-based violence in times of war and conflict. The session also involved discussions on the direct and indirect impacts of armed or violent conflicts on women, girls, and other vulnerable groups. Throughout the training, participants actively shared their personal experiences during the post-war period and engaged in discussions about strategies crucial for the effective protection of women from violence.
The training was organized by the WAVE network, including the 'Crisis Center for Victims of Sexual Violence' in Yerevan, Armenia; the Women's Fund “Sukhumi” in Kutaisi and Tbilisi, Georgia; and the 'United Women's Foundation Banja Luka' in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. They utilized a training module based on the 2022 toolkit “Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings: experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs.”
The guide is available at the following link: https://wave-network.org/toolkit-prevention-response-gbv-war/?fbclid=IwAR03LQ8QeKi3hM6de-O3nugIL8RdShWbYQ76tAA48o2YRefI4PY65ZVwwxg
UN Women and the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat), with the support of the European Union (EU), presented the most recent results of the National Study on Violence against Women at Radisson Blue Iveria Hotel.
The purpose of the event was to share information with key national partners and stakeholders regarding the study findings. The data and evidence generated from the study aimed to inform legislation and policymaking on ways to combat violence against women and domestic violence in Georgia.
Linda Chikhladze, our representative, attended the presentation.
Women Support Centers actively participated in the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence.
At the initiative of the mobilizers, active discussions were held on topical issues: gender stereotypes, gender-based violence, early marriages and their negative consequences, services for the assistance of violence victims, family conflicts and ways to prevent them...
Information leaflets and posters were distributed to all ten Women Support Centers. Activities were carried out with the involvement of local structures.
Film screenings, discussions, master classes, information meetings, debates in clubs, exhibitions of paintings, 34 events of various formats were held in frames of the campaign. The 16-day campaign covered more than 40 towns and villages and involved more than 300 people.
Women Support Centers once again reminded the public that domestic violence is a universal problem and that joint efforts and integrated approaches are cessary to solve this problem.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The advocacy group held a meeting with the beneficiaries of the organization in the Youth Empowerment Center of Terjola Municipality, They were informed about the news planned in the budget of the municipality in 2024.
Particular emphasis was placed on the programs of the Department for the Protection of Children's Rights of the City Hall and those programs that are intended for victims of violence - this is single assistance and rent for the apartment. It was noted that it is very important that the public knows more about these programs so that this information can be used and local government can clearly see its feasibility.
Representative of the Gender Equality Council shared good news with the meeting participants - in 2024 the Council will have its own budget, which will include many targeted services that are important for women.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
War is the most brutal violence against women - women IDPs from Abkhazia and refugees from Ukraine know this well. That is why our Ukrainian guests joined the campaign of “16 active days against gender-based violence”.
They attended the final event of the campaign, heard information about the events held by the Women Fund “Sukhumi” in the municipalities of Western Georgia.
The Ukrainians expressed their gratitude. They noted that the support of the Fund “Sukhumi” to their families is immeasurable. The support is expressed by humanitarian assistance, psychological consultation or retraining - for example, some of them passed the courses of polymer clay at a day rehabilitation center.
The day spent with the Fund “Sukhumi” staff and the representatives of various municipalities ended with pleasant impressions for the Ukrainian guests.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
In the framework of the campaign of 16 active days against gender-based violence, the performance of puppet theater was held along with scheduled forum theater performances.
The meeting took place at Kutaisi, Public School No. 2. The pupils of the primary classes attended the performances. Young actors showed the children the play “Turtledove”. The children watched the performance with great interest. The play was dedicated to friendship, support, and equality. The school leaders expressed gratitude to the representatives of the Fund “Sukhumi” and asked the puppet theatre staff to conduct the performances for the other classes at the end of January.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
This year, like previous one, Tsalenjikha municipality has actively participated in the international campaign against gender-based violence.
The Women Fund “Sukhumi”, in collaboration with the Gender Equality Council of the municipality, conducted four trainings for kindergarten staff on the topic “Gender, gender stereotypes, gender-based violence.”
The essence of gender, stereotypes that we hear from an early age, gender imbalance that causes violence and ways to eradicate violence - these issues were discussed with the participants by the trainers: Larisa Shengelia, Khatuna Gogua, Anzhela Chikhladze and Lali Shengelia.
The training cycle was active, interesting and productive.
In the framework of the 16-day campaign, a meeting on the topic “Gender mainstreaming - gender impacts” was held with decision-makers from 8 municipalities of Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti in the conference room of Khobi City Council. The topic was presented by the Parliament Member of Georgia Nino Tsilosani and the invited trainer of the Permanent Parliamentary Council on Gender Equality Elene Beriashvili.
After the meeting, performances of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” forum theater were held in the small hall of the House of Culture.
The events were attended by members of the Parliament of Georgia: Giorgi Khakhubia, Irakli (Dachi) Beraia, Greta Tsitsava, State Commissioner of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Giorgi Guguchia with his deputies, Chairman of the City Council of Khobi municipality Levan Kavtaradze and Mayor David Bukia.
The performances at the forum theater made a great impression on the participants. They received information about the work of the Fund “Sukhumi”, about active participation in the 16-day campaign and the format of work with youth, which raised interest among the meeting participants.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Forum-theater performances in Zugdidi were dedicated to the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence against women.
The young actors played five scenes and each scene was followed by an interesting discussion. The audience mentioned that this is a very difficult topic and people can be better informed in this way.
Women noted:
"We obviously saw the mistakes we make in raising our children".
"We were brought up more strictly and we have already changed our attitude towards our children."
The scenes of the Forum Theater aim to raise awareness about the issues of gender-based violence in the IDP community.
The campaign is supported by the European Union and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in frames of the EU4Dialogue project.
Attending the performance “Liv Stein” at Kutaisi Lado Meskhishvili Theater became one of the important activities for representatives of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” in frames of the global campaign. Meeting with Endi Dzidzava – the leading actress was held after the performance in a specially equipped space an “Art Cafe Martini”.
Actress Andy Dzizawa, who played “Liv Stein” on her own anniversary, dedicated her play to the international campaign “16 active days against gender-based violence”. The slogan of the campaign is: “Break the silence, stop the violence.”
The dialogue “With Tea” was attended by actors of Meskhishvili Theater: Nino Choladze, Magda Geradze and Irina Gubeladze, members of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” and activists from different municipalities.
Chairperson of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” Alla Gamakharia thanked the actors and spoke about the importance of theater for popularizing main values.
The meeting participants expressed the desire for further meetings and cooperation.
The campaign is supported by the European Union and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in frames of the EU4Dialogue project.