The Thematic Inquiry Group of the Gender Equality Council set up on the Access of Women to Financial Resources held a verbal hearing of the international and local organizations, thematic inquiry experts and civil activists expressing their positions on the issue and answering the questions of the main rapporteur of the inquiry.

Ekaterine Gamakharia – Representative of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” took part in the meeting of thematic inquiry group. In her speech, she focused on displaced and conflict-affected women and emphasized that ensuring women's access to financial resources is not only the most important factor in the country's development, the fight against poverty and violence against women, but it also has a great impact on peace building and restoring trust in the country.

"Today, it is not time for talks, it's for specific actions! Because while we talk about problems and complain, a large number of women are directly confronted with inequality, violence, outdated stereotypes and all the bitterness of economic dependence... Many of them have to fight to survive... Only economically strong women can take care of public welfare, contribute to the development of the country, fight against violence, and build sustainable and long-lasting peace"... - said Ekaterine Gamakharia.

During the meeting, the participants discussed specific ways to overcome the problems and shared their findings and recommendations to each other.

Violence against women, femicide, referral mechanisms and entities, authority of the child rights protection and support department in this process - these issues were discussed at information meetings initiated by the women support centers.

The main focus was on the work of children's departments operating in municipalities. It was mentioned that information on the work of the new department is not available to everyone. It was noted that it is necessary for teachers of kindergartens and schools to cooperate with this department, which will help to identify cases of violence and respond effectively.

The meetings were held in the women support centers of Senaki, Kobuleti, Bagdati, Zugdidi and Tkibuli.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

A meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Elimination of Violence against Women was held in Senaki City Hall meeting room. The meeting was attended by members of the commission, as well as representatives of the City Council, schools and the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.

After reviewing specific cases, the participants of the meeting discussed the issues of violence prevention, protection of victims and cooperation with local government agencies.

The interdepartmental commission decided to join the annual 16-day information campaign against gender-based violence.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The round table in Senaki City Hall of was attended by responsible officials of the City Hall, representatives of the health and social protection service, the department for the protection of children's rights and their support, the social service agency and the educational sector.

During the meeting, the participants talked about the alarming growth of the facts of femicide. The emphasis was placed on the problem of domestic violence and the prospect of cooperation with local structures.

It was noted that the local government is the unit of a referral mechanism for protection against violence - it has the authority and duty to be involved in the process of violence prevention, identification of cases and assistance to victims - to which the municipality responds with appropriate programs.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Protection of children's rights and local cooperation in terms of improving social services” - an information exchange meeting on this topic was held this time with the staff of preschool institutions of Kobuleti municipality. The event was attended by the head of the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights, the Chairman of the Gender Equality Council of the municipality, representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi".

The participants were familiarized with the specifics of the work of the new structure of the municipality - the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights, as well as with local programs. Information was provided on the monitoring carried out by the Fund "Sukhumi", which revealed positive practices and challenges that exist in different municipalities.

It was noted that some representatives of preschool institutions still do not understand their responsibility according to the law in terms of protecting children from violence. There were issues when communication with the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights is necessary.

Teachers of preschool institutions touched upon the painful issues of children with specific needs. There was an agreement on the topics of future cooperation.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Hello, I am Eleonora Kukava, a volunteer of the Fund "Sukhumi" and I would like to tell you about my "success formula".

I want to share with you the emotions and impressions that directly connect me with this project and the Fund "Sukhumi". First of all, which is very important, I would like to thank my trainers for giving me the opportunity to get information on very interesting issues. This project was a kind of challenge for me, which I think I successfully completed. I gained experience in writing projects and I was given the opportunity to implement a project written by our initiative group with the title: "A healthy lifestyle is our choice."  

I participated in various activities, group work, attended trainings on various topics: "How to eliminate conflict," "Stereotypes and tolerance" and others, which I think turned out to be quite fruitful and successful. In the course of the trainings, we were visited by the "Forum Theater" of the Fund “Sukhumi”. In addition, we attended a civil forum in Kutaisi on the topic: "Promotion of peacebuilding by women and youth - to establish sustainable peace and security."

Marina prepared a beautiful and sweet Ukrainian dessert - Lviv syrnik and Anya - Kiev cutlets. Marina and Anya are Ukrainian psychologists who work in our organization and together with other women, they participated in the preparation of the Day of Ukrainian Cuisine at the Women Fund " Sukhumi on September 15. They believe that it turned out to be an interesting, pleasant and rehabilitative event.

Psychologists from Ukraine actively worked in September professional direction.

Anya Shalimova says that she met with members of four new families and with one family again. She conducted 12 individual consultations. Both regular clients and new ones were among them. There were also consultations with children and their parents.

 “Ukrainians respond positively to the fact that I am also from Ukraine,” Anya says. - They are interested in what city I am from and how I survived the war. If the Ukrainians are from my hometown, then we are interested in concrete area we lived” (that is why two Ukrainian psychologists were invited to work with Ukrainian refugees).

According to the participants, the information exchange meeting (Topic - "Protection of children's rights in Tkibuli Municipality and local cooperation in terms of improving social services") was very interesting and important. It was held on the initiative of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and Tkibuli Children's Rights Protection and Support Service.

The participants were introduced to the findings of the research conducted by the Fund "Sukhumi", the activities of the Children's Rights Protection and Support Service and the existing challenges.

The heads of the municipality, providers of municipal services and citizens exchanged their opinions. The main challenge was identified - lack of resources for the improvement of services; The need for more flexible legal regulations.

Close cooperation with the civil sector and unification of resources for the assistance of the beneficiaries was highly appreciated.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Discussion of the problem of Abkhazeti Street in the IDP settlement was held using the "one window" principle in Tskaltubo Municipality.

As a result of the needs research of the problem of the damaged roof of residential buildings VII-VIII was chosen for advocacy.

IDPs from Abkhazia, representatives of the Government of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic in Imereti region, representatives of Tskalutbo City Hall, the Gender Equality Council and all departments whose competence includes effective influence on the problem, were the participants of this format.

During the meeting, ways to resolve the issue were shown. Other problems were also identified: there is no kindergarten, the basements are flooded, the yard is polluted – in the near future, representatives of various departments will take responsibility to solve these problems.

The participants of the meeting noted the effectiveness of the meeting held by the "one window" principle.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

Marina is 28. She was depressed after the death of her husband: “Life stopped, I didn’t know how to live. My mother cried with me. In this condition we were caught by my mother's friend, who advised us to address the psychologist of the Fund "Sukhumi". For almost 8 months, I learned to look at myself in a new way. Step by step, I was filled with hope. I don’t know how to express my gratitude not only for the return of a smile on my face, but also for the light in my mother’s eyes”...

Marina is one of the grateful beneficiaries of the psychologist. There are many of them in different municipalities of Western Georgia.

In September, the meetings of psychologist were held in the Women Support Centers of Vani, Chokhatauri, Senaki and Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), also in Kobuleti - online. 23 beneficiaries took part in the group and individual meetings.