Information about the services for the assistance to victims of violence must reach the person who needs this type of assistance, - such is the opinion of the participants of the information meetings held at the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti, Senaki and Bagdati.
The aim of the Women Support Centers work is to provide the necessary information to the addressee. Accordingly, the number of applications to the Women Fund "Sukhumi" has increased. With the help of mobilizers, some of the beneficiaries are preparing for a meeting with a psychologist. Two women will complete a full course at the rehabilitation center of our organization. Based on the content of the cases, the work is carried out by a multi-team principle.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
“This phone has a quick SOS button, which will give me the strength to call people for help, and they will definitely help me.”
“I was told that our phone has a special function. Thank you for that."
“If I need legal advice, is it on the phone you gave me, if I need psychological advice? It is here too. Thanks for this. Maybe we should learn more and be better prepared against violence.”
Such emotions came from the beneficiaries during the next action.
Representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" together with representatives of the local government distributed phones with SOS buttons to women from vulnerable groups in Kobuleti, Senaki, Samtredia, Bagdati, Terjola and Vani.
It has become a tradition to involve representatives of the City Hall, advisors, members of the gender equality council and specialists dealing with children's issues in our activities. The aim is for local authorities to care more about women victims and help them to solve problems.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The monitoring and advocacy group has completed the field work in the target municipalities. The group studied the effectiveness of preventive measures implemented by local governments to identify the victims of violence against women and / or domestic violence, their protection, assistance and rehabilitation.
The shortcomings that need to be corrected have been identified. With this aim, recommendations will be developed that will help local governments to determine a strategy designed for beneficiaries.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Violence against women continues to be the main topic of information meetings of the Women Support Centres. Problems regarding the identification of cases of violence and the lack of information about victim support services still remain.
In order to overcome these problems, Women Support Centers are actively working in villages, in different communities. They help to identify active, leader women in the field. The necessary information is disseminated.
Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Chokhatauri, Terjola and Khurcha (Zugdidi Municipality) already have results in identifying new cases and providing assistance to 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 of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Another training course of gaining a new profession is being held at the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
During two months (February-March) the beneficiaries of the Day Center will be trained in nail art, gel polish and nail extension.
The women chose this training module according to their will. This is a desirable profession that helps for starting an independent life, for self-realization, for achieving success.
The program is implemented within the framework of the project “Strengthening the Women's Rights in Western Georgia”.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The small grants competition identified 10 winners. They have already started working in their spheres.
At the first stage, the women took courses in working with polymer clay, stylist and accountant in the Day Rehabilitation Centers of Kutaisi and Bagdati.
At the second stage, trainings were held for them, where they studied the formulation of their own goals, the features of writing a grant application and business projects.
Then the competition period began. 20 people participated in the competition - 12 from Kutaisi and 8 from Bagdati. Business projects were written.
10 were projects were selected and financed. With the financial support of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, 8 women from Kutaisi and 2 women from Bagdati were able to start a small business. This is how our beneficiaries' lives change and their success stories are created.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Since the initiation of the Russian draft law, we have launched a social campaign "No Russian law". Representatives of various fields of society and our female leaders actively participated in the campaign as volunteers.
All the Georgian people were united in the aforementioned contradictory process, which called up this draft law.
Our monitoring and advocacy team has started work on a new study - "Evaluation of the effectiveness of prevention tools of violence against women or/and domestic violence at the municipal level".
Monitoring is currently underway in the following target municipalities: Tkibuli, Baghdati, Terjola, Vani, Samtredia, Chokhatauri, Tsalenjikha, Zugdidi, Senak, Kobuleti.
Ukrainian psychologists Marna Stepanenko and Anna Shalimova conducted a training for Ukrainian women on the topic "How to identify violence" in the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi"
The following topics were discussed at the training: the manifestation of violent relationships and skills to combat violence. The trainers spoke about the support of the state and the Fund "Sukhumi" during emergencies.
According to the participants, it was special to conduct the training in their native language. Topics have been chosen correctly and this is a good opportunity to empower women.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
