On November 11, 2021, the Interagency Human Rights Council held an online meeting of the Inter-Agency Commission of Gender Equality, Violence against Women, and Domestic Violence. The session was attended by representatives of relevant agencies of the central government, and representatives of international and local civil society organizations. The meeting was chaired by Niko Tatulashvili, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Human Rights.
Participants shared the key individual achievements and challenges that accompany the process of working against gender equality, women, and domestic violence.
Representatives of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" Tbilisi office also attended the commission. Ekaterine Gamakharia shared the experience of the Fund "Sukhumi" with the participants during the discussion and, despite the short time, focused on urgent needs. In particular:
Members of Tskaltubo Women Initiative Group are preparing for the next research. During the meeting, they once again discussed the technical side of the focus group and interviews. The risks associated with online researches were identified.
Group members have a practice of conducting research. In addition, they received thematic training on skills of conducting the focus group and in-depth interview. This experience will help them to plan and manage the process properly.
Members of Tskaltubo youth clubs discussed the activities to be carried out within the framework of the campaign. According to them, the 16-day campaign is a good opportunity to protest against violence, both youth clubs will join the international campaign with several activities.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
On November 5, 2021, in cooperation with the UN Resident Coordinator and representatives of various UN agencies the UN Women in Georgia held an Open Day on Women, Peace, and Security. Open Day promotes dialogue between representatives of the UN system and civil society, women, and young people displaced and affected by the conflict.
The representative of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" Tbilisi office was allowed to address the meeting and Marika Megrelidze (Pakhulani-Tskhoushi) and Nona Bukia (Khurcha), leaders of the initiative groups operating in the villages of the dividing line in Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha municipalities, and Marie Narmania (Zugdidi), a young activist.
Representatives of the Fund "Sukhumi" spoke about the challenges in the lives of women and young people in the villages near the border, including economic empowerment and limited employment opportunities; Infrastructure problems of schools and outpatient clinics and lack of appropriate technical equipment; Acute problems of water supply in the villages, IDPs in the dilapidated buildings of the IDP accommodation centers, the lack of proper spaces for the development of youth in the villages, etc.
A working meeting of the members of the Women Peacekeeping Coalition organized by the Fund "Sukhumi" was held. Once again, the findings of the research of the women, girls, IDPs and victims‘ needs of Zugdidi municipality were discussed. Specific problems were selected that will be advocated durin monthly campaigns.
The advocacy campaign will be carried out by 7 groups: organizations - members of the coalition and Women Initiative Groups.
The list of issues, advocacy of which begins, is the following: creation of youth space in the community on the conflict separation line, social infrastructure in the new place of IDP resettlement, the availability of water supply and high-quality service in the clinics, issues of municipal activities to protect victims of domestic violence.
Advocacy groups have already started preparatory work and the search for the necessary information.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
On November 3, 2021, the representative of the Tbilisi office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - Ekaterine Gamakharia participated in a Gender Theme Group (GTG) - Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Task Force Meeting. The Gender Theme Group unites international organizations and embassies accredited in Georgia, as well as civil society organizations. Its purpose is to promote the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda in Georgia and respond effectively to challenges identified by individual group members, develop and plan appropriate actions and interventions.
At the meeting, the representative of the Fund "Sukhumi" together with her colleagues spoke about Resolution 1325, the results of monitoring the implementation of the three-year National Action Plan, and the main findings, where she stressed the challenges and the need to respond to them, such as - the development and implementation of a gender-sensitive early warning system;
On September 27, 2021, the representative of the Tbilisi office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - Ekaterine Gamakharia participated in an Information Exchange Meeting organized by the Human Security Group of the EUMM Field Office of Zugdidi.
The topics of the meeting were the ongoing "Russification process" in the Gali district, possible prohibition of learning Georgian language in the 11th graders in the lower zone of Gali district and the effectiveness of Georgian language programs initiated by the Georgian government to promote higher education for young people living in uncontrolled areas.
Ekaterine Gamakharia underlined the need to introduce free courses to help pupils to learn Georgian language and prepare students for national exams in the Gali district and the need finance these programs from the side of the Government. During the meeting, the representative of the Fund "Sukhumi" also highlighted the ineffective practice of enrolling students in the higher education system in the Gali district, which needs to change the approach.
“Practice of needs research using the GREWS” - trainings for women's initiative groups in Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni and Senaki were held on this topic.
Participants received competent knowledge: how to plan and conduct interviews, focus groups, how to put questions to the respondent and obtain the necessary information. They became familiar with the risks and challenges that may arise during the research. During the training, group exercises and simulated interviews were applied. After the training, the participants will be involved in the process of needs research and will use the obtained information in practice.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
The Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality organized a joint meeting of the “Advisory Council for Experts on Reconciliation and Involvement Policy” and “Women, Peace, and Security - Advisory Platform on Enhancing Women's Effective Participation in Peacebuilding”. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the reconciliation and engagement policy strategy and its first evaluation and monitoring phase. The civil society representatives noted the significant progress that is evident in the implementation of the reconciliation policy from 2011 to the present.
Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" Tbilisi office, together with her colleagues, emphasized the need to take appropriate actions in response to the current challenges and to reflect them in the new strategy and action plan. Also, the need to increase financial and human resources to make existing reconciliation and confidence-building mechanisms more effective.
The members of the Council and the Platform reaffirmed their readiness to continue working closely with the Office of the State Minister on these and other issues and their willingness to engage in thematic groups in the process of developing a new Action Plan.
Requirement: to carry out installation of external lighting and benches on sports grounds. Koki Women Initiative Group works to address the problems identified in the community. The group members discussed what changes need to be made to the advocacy plan and what resources to include.
Zugdidi Women Initiative Group also continues the advocacy process - the members of the group are trying to clear the area near the IDP settlement from thorns and are acting according to the prescribed plan.
At a regular meeting, members of Koki youth initiative group spoke about the project "Healthy Environment for a Better Future" - how the work was conducted, what results were achieved. This was their project debut and they are very pleased.
“Success of young people begins with such projects”, mentioned one of the group members.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
