"The importance of inter-agency cooperation and coordination on the issues of domestic violence/violence against women at the local level" was the topic of the training held in Borjomi.
The training was attended by the representatives of local self-government from 15 municipalities of Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Samtredia, Terjola, Bagdati, Tkibuli, Senaki, Zugdidi, Poti, Tsalenjikha, Lanchkhuti, Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti, Kobuleti).
On the first day, together with getting acquainted with each other, many things were interesting and important:
- Presentations of the research conducted by the Women Fund "Sukhumi" on: ”The importance of correction of the rapist’s behavior at an early stage” and the rapid assessment of the needs of the Mayor's representatives in 10 municipalities of western Georgia;
- Information about the website “Digital Resource Center of the Services for Victims of Violence” - http://sosfsokhumi.ge;
- Presentations and discussion of programs implemented by municipalities against violence towards the women.
Members of IDP Women Initiative Groups of Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo, Senaki and Zugdidi hosted the fifth online training on the topic “Self-governance and Forms of Civic Engagement”.
The participants got acquainted with the structure of local self-government, authority, responsibility, forms of civic engagement”. They had the opportunity, to work in groups on the following issues: what is the obstacle for civic engagement at the local level; how to increase the motivation of citizens so that they are more involved in the formation of local politics. During the discussion, the participants shared their own experiences with each other. According to them, the topics of training were important:
“I got acquainted with the forms of civic engagement. A lot of people should have such information."
“I will definitely use this knowledge in practice. I felt responsible to get involved in the processes that take place in the municipality.”
Проект осуществляется при поддержке
Женской организации ООН
An online information meeting was held with members of IDP Women Zugdidi Initiative Group. The participants talked about the trainings that were held in April. Despite the fact that the members of the group are women of different ages, professions and have different experience, the questions discussed at the trainings turned out to be equally interesting for everyone. They received information about the continuation of the training cycle. As it was mentioned, trainings will be also held in May - with the participation of 50 women - active representatives of target municipalities.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Members of the IDP Women Initiative Group from Khoni, Tskaltubo, Kutaisi, Senaki and Zugdidi met online on April 28-29. A two-day training on "Local Budget, Civic Budgeting" was conducted for them.
Discussion of the training topic was continued in an interactive mode. Group work and discussions provided participants with the opportunity to share experiences with each other. Feedback showed that the participants will practically use the information received and will be actively involved in the ongoing budget processes of the municipality.
This training finished the one-month training cycle (4 trainings), which trained the members of the Women Initiative Group with appropriate skills. They will actively work with the target municipalities to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 action plan at the local level.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Trainings on various actual topics are planned In May. Information about it was provided to the members of Khoni IDP Women Initiative Group. The information meeting was held online.
The project assistant familiarized the group with the topics of the trainings, the time of the training was determined. Members of the group noted that they attended four trainings held in April with great interest. The new cycle will also be interesting and practical and they will be actively involved in the process of training.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
"Stereotypes and Tolerance" - training on these issues was conducted with the youth group of the village Didinedzi.
These are the topics that we often face in everyday life, however the true meaning of the terms and the history of their origin is not known for everyone, this topic was discussed by the trainers of the Fund "Sukhumi" Lali Shengelia and Anzhela Chikhladze.
The involvement of children was very high, they were actively involved in the discussion and expressed their positions.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Women Fund "Sukhumi" presents a new rapid assessment report - "Identifying the Needs of the Mayor's Representatives in Target Municipalities”.
The main objective of the study was to identify the needs of the Mayor's representatives in target municipalities of the Fund "Sukhumi" and to develop relevant recommendations to strengthen their role in promoting gender equality and identifying cases of violence against women and/or domestic violence, assisting victims and informing the citizens on existing local and central services in terms of participating in referral system.
The current rapid assessment highlighted the need for scheduling clear commitments to strengthen the digital skills of the Mayor's representatives, better inform them, improve their skills to promote gender equality in job descriptions, and to include domestic violence prevention and protection measures.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Gender-based violence takes on many forms during conflicts, as we are witnessing in Ukraine. Rape and sexual violence are used as tools of war, and women and girls face higher risks of trafficking, as well as domestic violence and exploitation. Women’s specialist support services (WSSS) play a vital role in supporting survivors of violence, both during the conflict, as well as in the medium and long-term in post-conflict areas.
WAVE, with the support of the OSCE, started a new project to address capacity building and exchange of promising practices between women’s specialist support services to better support women survivors of violence in conflict and post-conflict areas. The WAVE members involved in the project are the Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Women Fund Sukhumi (Kutaisi, Georgia), Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine).
24.02.22 - the day that shocked the whole world and all of us, the women of the Fund "Sukhumi" - the war in Ukraine!
25.02.22 - we wrote an Appeal in support of the Ukrainian women and sent it everywhere!
26.02.22 – fundraising to support people in Ukraine began. 54 employees of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" transferred money to various funds to help Ukraine.
28.02.22 - we collected an additional 1500 GEL and bought baby food, diapers, hygiene products and took 12 boxes to Tbilisi, to the point of receiving aid for Ukraine.
We sent letters of support to all familiar and unfamiliar women organizations in Ukraine - with the question: how can we help, what can we do for them?
08.03.22 - organized the action "Solidarity of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - to the women of Ukraine!" The action was attended by women from Western Georgia.
10.03.22 - started to provide assistance to Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Kutaisi.
They are interested in: when the next training will be held? Because they liked the work. Their feedback is following:
- It is interesting and necessary to conduct trainings on the topic of conflicts and violence.
- Live training is completely different!
- It is very good to play small scenes, the topic is better understood, and they got amused...
- They learned a lot about new and useful things.
The trainings in Tkibuli, Terjola and Kobuleti Youth Empowerment Centers were live, with role-playing games, exercises and discussions.
Also interesting were online trainings conducted with youth from the municipalities of Chokhatauri and Bagdati.
The participants were active, joined the discussions, frankly shared their views and experiences with each other.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)