The Women Initiative Group of the Fund "Sukhumi" is working on an advocacy plan in Senaki. Participants discussed the priority of the problems and finally stopped at the topical problem.

According to the content of the problem, group members will try to advocate the problem at local as well as at central levels.

Senaki Youth Initiative Group is involved in the working process, the participants are working on a grant project. Each item in the working versions of the projects was discussed together and the details were clarified. The working process will continue until the project is submitted.

The forum-theater is especially active in the hot days of July.

The first visit was held in Zugdidi, where young audience actively participated in the scenes and solved the raised problem without violence. The discussion was also interesting. Young people expressed the desire to invite teachers and parents to the performances of the forum-theatre.

The arrival of young actors in Kobuleti was especially impressive. The performances of the forum - theater were shown there for the first time and the audience could not hide their surprise because of this unusual format. It was mentioned that speaking this language is interesting and will make people think...

Ordinary meeting was held with women of different ages in the community of Koki (Zugdidi municipality) in order to familiarize themselves with the "Vote-O-Meter - Voters’ Advise Application".

The participants got acquainted with the essence of the "Vote-O-Meter", as well as with the instructions for filling out the questionnaire. They were particularly interested in the issues of environmental protection, food security and women's participation in budget processes.

Voters have a great interest towards the positions recorded by local political entities on the "Vote-O-Meter" platform.

“Sometimes a person does not realize that demonstration of aggression against a family member is a form of violence. In this regard, informing the population is very important”.

"We don't even realize that sometimes we can become not victims, but rapists."

“Often, when I hear cases of violence at meetings, I see a way out, I know what I can do against violence. Discussions on these issues help to inform people. "

These were the opinions the participants of informational meetings held in Senaki, Terjola and Kobuleti municipalities. The meetings are held by representatives of the Fund “Sukhumi” and they discuss the issues of identifying violence and responding to the problem.

The day rehabilitation center resumed its active work. At the end of May, new groups were composed - one part of women is studying the work with polymer clay, and the second will pass accounting courses.

The experience of the day center has shown its effectiveness. Occupational therapy is very important for women who are the victims of violence. It increases employment prospects. Along with studying the new profession, the beneficiaries have the opportunity to receive psychological and legal consultations and rehabilitation.

The meeting of khoni working group was held actively. During the meeting, the participants listened to a report on what was done and what they achieved in the municipality: launching a hotline, updating a web page, introducing an electronic petition system, assessing needs, three monitoring of the process of public administration reform. However, there is still much to be done.

Now the working group is working to ensure that the City Council members adopt a document based on the code of ethics. It is also important to determine the days of citizens’ reception in the City Council.

The confidence towards the working group from the side of the representatives of the self-government is worth noting. This is felt at all meetings where members of the City Hall and City Council are actively involved in the discussion of all issues.

Population is going to plant hornbeam trees in Gubi. In Dedalauri it is planned to asphalt the central road, the residents of Dzedzileti and Gocha-Jikhaishi have a problem with transport.

These are the problems of the villages of Khoni municipality. And the solution was found...

Electronic petition!

This is a modern, convenient mechanism.

A petition (lat. "Petitio") is a collective request to the authorities in written form.

The Internet has significantly increased and simplified signatures to the petition, improved the dialogue of citizens with government structures. Our project “A common forum for CSOs from Guria, Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi for PAR Roadmap monitoring” also serves to activate Internet resources.

At the initiative of the Fund "Sukhumi" representatives of local referral entities:  members of Gender Equality Council, representatives of local self-government and the police gathered at the round table in Senaki. There was a presentation of a research on monitoring of services for victims of violence, conducted by the Fund "Sukhumi".

At the meeting, there was a conversation regarding the situation in the municipality in terms of violence, prevention of violence against women / domestic violence and victims’ protection. The emphasis was placed on cooperation with local structures.

“My husband violates me almost every day, it’s impossible to stay with him, but I have nowhere to go. Is there any place, where I will be sheltered and saved from this hell? " asks one woman.

The second woman is worried about her neighbor: “Screaming and crying is often heared from the neighbor's house. The husband is a rapist, the wife is unprotected. Can I intervene? What to do? I can't listen to such scenes every day".

All questions - how to be, where to look for a way out, will be really answered here and necessary advice will be given without leaving home.

All this happens online - on the newsite: “Digital Resource Center of the Services for Violence Victims”.

The place of meeting - Zugdidi.

The topic of the training - "Evidence-Based Advocacy Practice."

Members of women initiative groups from Zugdidi, Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Kutaisi, Khoni and Tskaltubo gathered here. They discussed the advocacy process through practical examples and statements.

The participants worked in groups: they defined the actual problem identified as a result of the research, and also formed advocacy tasks and plan. The acquired information and skills will help them to prepare an advocacy plan for the municipalities and correctly plan the advocacy process.