Fund “Sukhumi”s representative Ekaterine Gamakharia has participated in Europe & Eurasia Regional Implementers’ Meeting held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina from May 14th – 17th. The meeting was organized and conducted by the representatives of the US Department of State, Vital Voice Global Partnership and GuideHouse. The implementing partners of The US Department of States from different countries have shared their working experiences, achievements and challenges. Participants had opportunity to get information and discuss the issues related to Regional Trends on Gender Based Violence: Challenges and Opportunities in Post-Conflict Settings, Engagement of Marginalized Communities to Promote Economic Empowerment, Best Practices in Proposal Development and Innovative Approaches to Fundraising, introduction of digital security and practical applications etc. The workshop created a space and opportunity for networking, self-reflection, cross-border information exchange and cooperation between the participants.
In frames of monitoring the “Law of Georgia on the Elimination of Domestic Violence/Violence Against Women, Protection and Assistance to the Victims”, in May, the target groups were 6 women victims of violence. An in-depth interview with them was aimed at information collection: how much women trust law protecting structures, is it safe to cooperate with them in terms of security, whether the gender aspects are observed in the survey process, what is the level of cooperation with referral subjects.
It turns out that in case of violence, women victims mostly address law protecting structures. They note their professionalism, but they also talk about the need for female investigators in the process of interrogation.
The research on the views of representatives of law enforcement agencies in frames of monitoring the “Law of Georgia on the Elimination of Domestic Violence/Violence Against Women, Protection and Assistance to the Victims”. The locations in April were the following: Zugdidi, Ozurgeti, Khoni, Tskaltubo. The standard questions were as follows: is there any specialization on violence, how effectively does the law work in practice, what are the challenges in this area.
On April 18th, Fund “Sukhumi” Representative Office in Tbilisi, hosted the representatives of Israeli civil society organizations, partnering with Sweden International NGO Kvinna till Kvinna. Fund “Sukhumi’”s representative has in detail shared with Israeli colleagues the working directions and experience of organization, all successes and challenges on its path. The guests from Israel have also talked about their work and activities on gender equality, women’s political and economic empowerment, peacebuilding and gender based violence. The organizations found many similarities in the approaches and activities undertaking by Fund “Sukhumi” and expressed wish to meet again and cooperate in the future.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
On April 17, the Fund "Sukhumi" organized a civil forum in Kutaisi. Representatives of the Coalition "Woman and Peace" actively participated in the forum.
The Coalition “Woman and Peace” was created last year by the Fund “Sukhumi”. The Coalition included 10 women's NGOs from 4 regions of Western Georgia (Imereti, Samegrelo, Guria, Adjara): Fund “Sukhumi” (Kutaisi), Teachers’ Union “Education and the Universe (Kutaisi), Fund of Women-Entrepreneurs (Kutaisi), Women Club (Khoni ), Women Association “Imedi” (Zugdidi), Association “Mercury” (Zugdidi), Center of Education and Development “Toliskuri” (Khobi), Women Public Association (Ozurgeti), Center for Education and Equality (Ozurgeti), Center for Education, Development and Employment (Batumi).
The first part of the forum was devoted to the consideration of the gender concept of early warning of conflicts in theoretical and practical aspects.
In the second part, participants worked in 5 groups to analyze the conflict in the areas of ecology, health care, domestic violence and religion - they identified the reasons, defined the influence and responsible actors.
Coalition is going to work actively in the future
Informational meetings began in Tskaltubo municipality in frames of the project “Strengthening the capacity of regional and local administrations in processes of localization of the National Action Plan 1325 Resolution The UN Security Council and activation of dialogue and the participation of women, including the most marginalized ones, in these processes”.
Assistant of Sakrebulo Chairperson of Tskaltubo municipality, Secretary of the Gender Equality Council - Mzia Kikalishvili and member of the Council, Senior Specialist of Sakrebulo - Lela Berdzenishvili, met the IDP parents and teachers in School No. 1 and presented them information about UN Resolution 1325. A representative of the Ministry of Health, who was invited to the meeting, provided information on existing services. At the end of the meeting a discussion took place.
The project is supported by US State Department and UN Women Organization
In public center of the village Jgali - Tsalenjikha Municipality an informational meeting was held on the topic “Prevention of bullying and introduction of a tolerant attitude in society”. The organizer of the event is the working group of the project on localization of UN Resolution 1325, in collaboration with the Gender Council.
The meeting was attended by members of the Gender Council and Sakrebulo, young people, representatives of local television and business sphere, women IDPs, teachers from several schools, representatives of the community of the village Jgali.
The meeting was held in the format of discussion. Recommendations were developed. During the reflection there were expressed opinions to intensify such meetings. This will be the basis to raise public awareness, to prevent domestic violence and bullying, and support citizens affected by the conflict, especially young people.
The project is supported by US State Department and UN Women Organization
The members of the Gender Equality Council presented a working version of the “Road Map” / Action Plan for the localization of the National Action Plan of UN Resolution 1325 to Sakrebulo of Zugdidi municipality.
On April 5, the Road Map was approved at the Sakrebulo meeting.
The work is carried out in frames of the project “Strengthening the capacity of regional and local administrations in processes of localization of the National Action Plan 1325 The UN Security Council and activation of dialogue and the participation of women, including the most marginalized ones, in these processes”.
The project is supported by US State Department and UN Women Organization
An informational meeting with IDP women on Resolution 1325 of the UN Security Council was held inTskaltubo Municipality.
The presentation of Resolution 1325 and the Action Plan was presented at the meeting. The meeting participants also got acquainted with the Action Plan developed by the Tskaltuboi working group in frames of the Fund "Sukhumi"project.
The meeting was attended by the Mayor of Tskaltubo Grigol Ioseliani, who noted that the implementation of the project will contribute to reflecting the needs of the IDP community in the local budget. At the initiative of the City Hall, such meetings will be held periodically.
In frames of the project: “Strengthening the capacity of regional and local administrations in processes of localization of the National Action Plan 1325 Resolution The UN Security Council and activation of dialogue and the participation of women, including the most marginalized ones, in these processes”, the meeting of the working group was held in Tskaltubo, the plan, developed by the group was approved and the activities were planned.
The group members also developed a schedule - they will carry out informational meetings with representatives of the IDP community and will provide them with information on the Action Plan of Resolution 1325.