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)
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)
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)
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)
On October 6-9, the feminist forum "Body and Environment: Feminist Ideas and Practices of Organizing Care, Resistance, and Solidarity" was held.
During four days, together with queer and feminist activists, researchers, and forum participants, Representatives of Women's Fund "Sukhumi" - Nino Korinteli and Linda Chikhladze were involved in a process to created a safe space for the exchange and discussion of interdisciplinary, local, and regional knowledge and experiences.
Together with the WISG team, we also hope that these inspiring days will certainly lay the foundation for new opportunities for thinking, working, and collaborating. Among them, is to continue the forum's tradition of creating and transforming new spaces for queer feminist imagination, knowledge, and practice.
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).
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.
From September 19 until the end of the month, a comprehensive rehabilitation work was carried out with three women victims of domestic violence. They were placed in the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" with their children - there were 6 beneficiaries in total. A teacher, a social worker, a lawyer and a psychologist were included in the daily active work.
At the end of the rehabilitation course, one of the beneficiaries (she is 26 years old) said that she felt great support, she already knows that she is not alone. The days spent here gave her and other women more strength and they know how to work on their weaknesses. They received a lot of necessary information, positive, useful advice and decided to open a new page of their life with new power.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
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)
