The presentation of the research “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Preventive Measures Implemented By Municipalities Addressing Domestic Violence Against Women” was held in Tsalenjikha with the participation of the City Hall and City Council services.

The report assesses the effectiveness of the implementation of preventive measures by target municipalities (including Tsalenjikha municipality) regarding the issues of violence against women and/or domestic violence and the quality of their cooperation with local referral entities.

The research reflects the challenges and recommendations for both central and local agencies to carry out preventive work more effectively.

The results of the research was interesting for the participants, and the recommendations are very important for planning the future work of the Gender Equality Council.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs held the final event of the campaign against child marriage, titled "Don't Deprive of childhood." During the meeting, the Department of Human Rights Protection and Investigation Quality Monitoring of the Ministry of Internal Affairs delivered a presentation. The presentation aimed to inform the invited representatives from governmental and non-governmental sectors, as well as local and international organizations, about the measures undertaken within the campaign. Our representatives, Linda Chikhladze and Nino Korinteli, were present at the meeting.

The presentation of the monitoring tool on the evaluation of measures for the prevention of violence against women and in the family was held, organized by the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia and the Council of Europe.

The monitoring tool is based on the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. Its purpose is to assess the impact of the state's prevention mechanism on issues of violence against women and domestic violence, as well as to identify specific achievements and challenges. The document will assist state agencies in planning and implementing future steps.

The meeting was attended by our representatives, Linda Chikhladze and Nino Korinteli.

Fund "Sukhumi" organized a round table in Terjola, which brought together local referral entities: members of the City Hall Gender Equality Council, representatives of local government, police, health and education.

The invited lawyer acquainted the meeting participants with the referral document, with the duties and functions of specific authorized persons.

The meeting also discussed the situation in terms of facts. Problem identification and victim assistance.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Medical staff - for violence prevention

  • Saturday, 08 July 2023
  • 160 times

“The training format allowed us to talk about the reasons of the problem, when we behave correctly or incorrectly. It is necessary that everyone understands their direct responsibility.

“I would focus on the information received, interesting methods and a good environment during the training”...

This is part of feedback from the training for medical personnel.

The training in Kutaisi was attended by 15 participants from Khoni, Tsalenjikha, Senaki, Chokhatauri and Zugdidi municipalities.

“The role of medical staff in violence prevention and victims protection” - this was the topic of the training, and together with the trainers, the participants actively discussed issues related to violence against women and children...

The training was held within the framework of the project "Digital Resource Center of Services for Violence Victims”.

At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.

  • Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
  • Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
  • Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)

(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)

The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)

Psychologist Manana Gotsiridze worked in three directions in June:

- She met 5 beneficiaries of a day rehabilitation center who are learning how to work with polymer clay. She did some work with them to get rid of negative emotions, to reassess priorities and increase self-esteem.

She had daily interaction with the women in the rehabilitation  center. Intensive work was carried out with traumas using various methods: art therapy, elements of cognitive-correctional psychology, psychological exercises and associative cards.

- 12 individual psychotherapy sessions were held online and 15 sessions with women living in Kutaisi. Three of them were new, and with the others, the previously started work continued.

35-year-old Khatuna passed psycho-rehabilitation for more than 6 months. After the death of her husband, she did not want to live, even her daughter irritated her, nothing pleased her, she did not believe that after the sessions of the psychologist there would be any positive changes. But working with different methods gave results: fear and irritation gradually disappeared, new priorities, new goals appeared. She thanks the psychologist for her humanity and professionalism, patience and invaluable assistance.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Women Support Center mobilizers took part in the training: "Evidence Based Advocacy", held in 10 target municipalities.

The training was aimed at strengthening the skills necessary for advocacy. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying and ranking the problems. The essence, stages and forms of evidence-based advocacy were discussed in detail.

Using practical examples, the participants discussed the factors hindering the advocacy process, identified target groups and stakeholders.

It was noted that participation in the training is important for representatives of the Women Support Centers, as they are actively involved in the process of forming municipal policy and advocating for local problems.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Training for teachers in Kutaisi

  • Saturday, 24 June 2023
  • 229 times

Gender, gender-based violence, identification of violence, communication with a child and referral stages, legal mechanisms and the role of teachers in the prevention of violence, international documents - these issues were discussed at the training for teachers held in Kutaisi. The participants represented 5 municipalities: Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Terjola, Samtredia, Kobuleti.

At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.

  • Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
  • Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
  • Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)

(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)

Participants were actively involved in the training process, in discussions, sharing their experience with each other. According to them, the training will contribute to the destruction of gender stereotypes and the prevention of violence - the mechanisms of early identification and intervention.

It was noted that after the training they will introduce gender approaches in schools and will actively participate in the process of identifying cases of violence.

The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)

The groups were updated with new members and are already staffed with women who are ready for active work. They got acquainted with the municipal programs for social protection and health care. During the meetings, they talked about existing services and  they used. All groups have identified issues that they will start advocating.

There are already first results: one woman was assisted with medicines, another - in resolving the housing issue.

Each result is a motivation to the next success.

Project Assistant Nino Chabukiani met with women self-assistance groups established in Vani and Senaki, also in Chokhatauri, Terjola, Kobuleti and Samtredia municipalities. Meetings were held by group leaders, representatives of our organization.

The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)

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