The members of the Fund "Sukhumi" and Batumi Gender Advisory Council (GAC) met the members of the Council for Gender Equality of the Supreme Council of Adjarian Autonomous Republic. Representatives of Fund "Sukhumi" told about the activities of the organization in terms of gender perspectives, the projects that were implemented by the GAC with the help of the fund "Sukhumi" and the local government.

During the meeting there were named the results that speak about the effectiveness of the GAC work. Attention was paid to the research, work with the youth, action plan that the GAC will present to self-government as a recommendation document.

What is the strategy of Adjarian Supreme Council on the implementation of the gender policy, how importance is the cooperation with NGOs - Medea Vasadze - deputy chairman of the Council for Gender Equality spoke about it.

It was said that it would be useful to design a memorandum on joint activities. The meeting was by TV company "Adjara".

On December 13 and 15 there were held ordinary meetings of women initiative groups of Kutaisi and Tskaltubo. In the first part of the meeting there was summarized the work, conducted in frames of the campaign and talked about results.

According to the group members, level of informing the population was increased. Support and inclusion of the government was underlined.

In the second part there were analyzed plans of advocating the problem. The problem of re-naming the part of the street of Zurab Chavchavadze has already passed the first phase and soon will be discussed on special commission. Decision will be known after a month.

In Tskaltubo, advocacy, of the problem regarding the transport on Rustaveli Street moved to the next phase.

Members of the women’s initiative group regularly meet the population and in parallel work on advocacy of other problems.

The mobilizers of the Women's Support Centers held information meetings in the municipalities of Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Senaki, Poti and Zugdidi for a month. They also met with representatives of rural territorial units, employees of the health service and social issues. The purpose of the meetings is, to familiarize representatives of government structures with innovations in the fund and through cooperation to solve local problems.

Mobilizers and activists of the Women Support Centers of Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Senaki, Poti and Zugdidi met the representatives of local government during a month. Information meetings were held: in Kutaisi - with the head of the Infrastructure Affairs Service, in Tskaltubo - with the lawyer and social worker of the Social Service, in Khoni with the chairman of the Social Commission of Sakrebulo, in Poti with the head of the Social, Health and Gender Service, In Senaki - with the village attorneys. A special meeting was held in Zugdidi - mobilizers of the Women Support Center and representatives of the Community Union met with the head (Governor) of the municipality.

All meetings were important in their essence and results.

Members of women initiative groups of Tskaltubo summarized the results of the work in previous year and discussed the strategy for the next year. During the discussion it became obvious that despite the small period, the process of advocacy was effective. The members of initiatives groups were especially active during 16 day campaign, gained experience in organization of different activities, familiarized with the problems of population. They had permanent communication with representatives of local self-government.

There was discussed the phases of advocacy and the corrections were made in the action plan. It was decided to more actively continue cooperation with local government.

The Fund “Sukhumi” actively collects information in the framework of monitoring the implementation of the Georgian law on the elimination of domestic violence, protection and assistance to victims of domestic violence. In October, focus groups were held with doctors and mobilizers of Women's Support Centers, as well as in-depth interviews with a member of the victim status group and with the head of Kutaisi Legal Aid Center. At the meetings, emphasis was made on changes in the law, on its positive and negative sides.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)