The ordinary meeting of the monitoring and advocacy group was held in Kobuleti. The initiators of the meeting, together with the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, were the Gender Equality Council of the Municipality and the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights. The meeting was also attended by heads of administrative units. The conversation concerned the availability of services for victims/potential victims of violence against women and/or domestic violence, the importance of local cooperation and coordination in violence prevention.
Dialogue regarding community needs, periodic exchange of information, pooling of resources to help vulnerable families and issues of cooperation was held among members of the referral entities.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Informational meetings with medical staff on the topic “Violence against women and domestic violence - the role of doctors in violence prevention and victim assistance” were held in Tskaltubo, Terjola, Tsalenjikha, Senaki, Khoni, Kutaisi and Samtredia municipalities. The meetings were attended by: family doctors, emergency doctors, medical staff working in clinics and rural outpatient clinics.
The conversation touched on the law on combating violence against women/domestic violence, as well as referrals and specifically the role of medical personnel in identifying victims of violence and assisting the victims.
The meeting also included a presentation of the publication of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, “Practical Guide to Responding to Gender-Based Violence for Representatives of Medical Institutions.”
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
"Strengthening cooperation and coordination between municipalities and state agencies is crucial for an effective fight against violence against women.
Since 2009, the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" has consistently worked towards activating cooperation and coordination between municipalities and the entities involved in the referral mechanism, as well as sectoral state agencies. The conference held in Kutaisi on February 23, which brought together Women Fund “Sukhumi” partners, representatives from 17 municipalities in Western Georgia, and the central government, marked another significant step in strengthening this process.
"We are working together to create a non-violent and safe environment in our country," said Ekaterine Gamakharia, the head of the Tbilisi representative office of the Fund "Sukhumi."
An ordinary meeting of the municipal Interdepartmental Commission was held in Bagdati. Members of the commission discussed the plan of activities that will be held in frames of the civil initiative. These activities will increase the awareness of the commission, which is necessary for its targeted work – for reviewing cases and responding to them in a timely manner.
The planned activities include increasing the involvement of representatives of the Mayor of the municipality, managers of preschool educational institutions and youth. All this is important for the effective functioning of the commission, for the timely identification and prevention of domestic violence.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The Women Fund “Sukhumi” held a round table meeting in Bagdati municipality with the participation of local referral entities.
The meeting was attended by members of the Gender Equality Council of the City Council, representatives of the City Hall and the police department. The participants talked about the prevention of domestic violence, protection of victims, and social partnership. Particular attention was paid to the problem of violence and effective cooperation with local structures.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Informing more than 150 beneficiaries about preventive mechanisms and support services for victims of violence, identifying ten new crisis families and preparing individual plans to work with them, two rehabilitated families, stories of five women who improved their condition after the work with a psychologist, new gender needs identified in different communities - such indicators appeared in the reports of Women Support Centers for February.
Mobilizers of the Centers actively continue to cooperate with families in crisis situations so that they receive all the necessary services and improve their situation. In response to the challenges identified in different communities, an advocacy process has already begun and will continue with the participation of community activists.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The next meeting was held with members of the “Municipal Interdepartmental Commission on the Prevention of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence, Protection and Assistance to Victims of Violence” of Vani City Hall. Participants got acquainted with the civil initiative that will be implemented under the topic “Break the silence - stop the violence!”
In frames of the initiative, representatives of the Mayor and employees of rural outpatient clinics will be informed about issues of violence. They will be provided with information about services available at the central and local levels. The importance of the Interdepartmental Commission as a response mechanism will be particularly emphasized.
These meetings will help the Commission move its work into a more active phase - in terms of considering specific cases and responding to them.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The monitoring group continues a cycle of information meetings with vulnerable groups. The ordinary meeting was held in Vani municipality. The meeting participants were informed about the mechanisms existing in the country to assist and empower victims of violence. Information about local government programs, especially about the family empowerment program was very important for them. The program exists in the department for the protection of children’s rights and their assistance.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The monitoring group held an information meeting in the village Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality).
The meeting participants were informed about the mechanisms existing in the country, to support and empower the victims of violence, as well as about local government programs.
The lawyer of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” presented to the audience an important document for teachers and medical personnel - on the approval of national referral procedures for identifying, protecting, assisting and rehabilitating victims of gender-based violence and/or domestic violence.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
