In March, members of the “Interdepartmental Commission for the Prevention of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence, Protection and Assistance to Victims of Violence” of Bagdati Municipality conducted an information campaign to promote the effective functioning of the commission. They held meetings with representatives of the City Hall, managers of preschool institutions and members of the youth council. Participants were informed about the function of the Interdepartmental Commission and the importance of citizen participation in the prevention of domestic violence.

These activities will help to activate the work of the Interdepartmental Commission to identify facts of violence and consider specific cases.

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

The round table in the conference room of Samtredia City Council was attended by local referral entities: members of the Gender Equality Council, representatives of local government, police, social, educational and medical spheres.

During the meeting, the main emphasis was placed on the importance of assisting the victims of domestic violence and cooperation with local structures.

The invited lawyer spoke about national procedures for identifying victims of violence against women and/or domestic violence, their protection, assistance and rehabilitation. She paid special attention to interdepartmental cooperation to promote the prevention of violence.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

“Person faces various biological, psychological and social demands throughout life. They require adequate response. The ability to effectively respond to such demands is known as adaptation. Envisaging psychological processes and social conditions makes it easier to predict human behavior,” - noted the psychologist. The main topic of her meetings was “Human Behavior in a Social Environment.”

The meetings were mainly held in a group format. There were also several individual meetings.

Psychologist Ekaterine Kvachakidze met with school teachers, kindergarten teachers, students, women under the risk group and socially vulnerable women at Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Zugdidi (village Didinedzi), Senaki, Tsalenjikha and Kobuleti.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The last, sixth month has begun at the Youth Empowerment Centers. For the given moment, great preparations for the final meetings are underway. Members of the centers, especially young leaders, prepare presentations demonstrating the knowledge and skills gained as a result of five months of work.

Since the beginning of March, five meetings have been held with the youth of Samtredia, Senaki, Chokhatauri, Zugdidi and Terjola. The performances of the youth and their feedback showed serious results and positive changes to the participants - teachers and parents.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

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)

Representatives of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, together with the Department for the Protection of Children’s Rights of the municipality, held an information meeting in the village Akhalsopeli (Senaki municipality).

The meeting was attended by representatives of the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights, mothers of many children and single mothers, kindergarten teachers and women from vulnerable groups.

The aim of the meeting was to promote a system of coordination and exchange of information between local referral entities on issues of violence against women and domestic violence. A conversation touched the prevention of domestic violence, the needs of vulnerable women and families with children, as well as municipal services and services offered by the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The heads of kindergartens gathered at Samtredia City Council. The Women Fund “Sukhumi” together with the Gender Equality Council held an information meeting for them.

The following issues were discussed at the meeting: prevention of violence against women and domestic violence, coordination of the actions of local referral entities, identifying the needs of vulnerable families and the need for a local social partnership system.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Department for the Protection of Children’s Rights.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

UN Women hosted a two-day workshop on “Monitoring Human Security – a Gender Sensitive Monitoring Tool”.

The workshop is designed for the representatives of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia (PDO) and the representatives of civil society organizations. The seminar is facilitated by an international expert Zara Jarvinen, who is the author of the tailor-made methodological tool - “Manual on Gender Sensitive Monitoring on Human Security” designed specifically for the use of the PDO and CSOs. This workshop aims to build the capacity of the representatives of the PDO and the CSOs to assess, monitor, analyze and report on human security of the conflict-affected and internally displaced population from a gender perspective, including through a joint and cooperative manner.

Ekaterine Gamakharia, head of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" Tbilisi representative office, participated in the seminar.

"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."

With the support of the United Nations Development Program and the Government of Sweden, in cooperation with the Gender Equality Council of the Parliament of Georgia, a political forum for women members of the City Council was held in Tbilisi. The event was attended by over 150 delegates. Women councilors from all municipalities of Georgia actively participated in the forum. Special attention was given to enhancing the political participation of women in the lead-up to parliamentary and local demonstrations.

Linda Chikhladze, representative of the Women’s Fund "Sukhumi", attended the forum.