On June 4, a meeting of Kutaisi NGOs, working on IDPs, with a delegation from Eastern Ukraine was held in Kutaisi, in the College “Iberia”. A delegation of 24 people, representatives of governmental structures and NGOs of Ukraine working in various cities of the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, got acquainted with the work of Kutaisi NGOs.
The meeting was organized and held by the Fund "Sukhumi" and the Fund of Women-Entrepreneurs.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Czech NGO PIN, Georgian Young Lawyers Association, Abkhazintercont, College Iberia, the Center for Education, Development and Employment and other organizations.During the meeting, participants shared their experience on IDPs in Georgia and Ukraine.
In May, informational meetings were held with teachers and representatives of the medical sphere in the municipalities of Terjola, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Samtredia, Bagdati and Vani.
The participants were provided with information about the new project of the Fund “Sukhumi” - “Reinforcing the Domestic Violence Prevention System, Victims Support and Perpetrators Therapy System”.
In frames of the project, the Fund “Sukhumi” will train 50 teachers, 40 health workers and 50 police officers on the issues of violence against women / domestic violence, response and referring.
Teachers and medical staff filled out questionnaires to participate in the training and expressed willingness to cooperate.
A partner project: “Reinforcing the Domestic Violence Prevention System, Victims Support and Perpetrators Therapy System” is being implemented in the Fund “Sukhumi” with the support of HumanDoc foundation (Poland).
In May, professional courses in three directions started in Kutaisi - the producing the polymer clay products, training in sewing and accounting. Women and girls learn new professions - this will help them to improve the economic situation in the family.
The working group on the localization of Resolution 1325 completed informational meetings in Tsalenjikha municipality. The target groups were: women and IDP girls, young people and citizens affected by the conflict. In addition to Tsalenjikha, a cycle of meetings was held in the villages: Lia, Jgali, Pakhulani, Tskoushi.
Participants received information about the project, which serves to identify the needs of target groups and automate initiatives based on these needs; talked about their problems.
At the initiative of the Working Group, educational, sport and cultural events for young people were carried out - this contributes to their informational and social integration. Productive dialogues were held with the local government, and meetings with the purpose of advocacy.
The project is supported by US State Department and UN Women Organization
Fund “Sukhumi”s representative Ekaterine Gamakharia has participated in Europe & Eurasia Regional Implementers’ Meeting held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina from May 14th – 17th. The meeting was organized and conducted by the representatives of the US Department of State, Vital Voice Global Partnership and GuideHouse. The implementing partners of The US Department of States from different countries have shared their working experiences, achievements and challenges. Participants had opportunity to get information and discuss the issues related to Regional Trends on Gender Based Violence: Challenges and Opportunities in Post-Conflict Settings, Engagement of Marginalized Communities to Promote Economic Empowerment, Best Practices in Proposal Development and Innovative Approaches to Fundraising, introduction of digital security and practical applications etc. The workshop created a space and opportunity for networking, self-reflection, cross-border information exchange and cooperation between the participants.
In frames of monitoring the “Law of Georgia on the Elimination of Domestic Violence/Violence Against Women, Protection and Assistance to the Victims”, in May, the target groups were 6 women victims of violence. An in-depth interview with them was aimed at information collection: how much women trust law protecting structures, is it safe to cooperate with them in terms of security, whether the gender aspects are observed in the survey process, what is the level of cooperation with referral subjects.
It turns out that in case of violence, women victims mostly address law protecting structures. They note their professionalism, but they also talk about the need for female investigators in the process of interrogation.
The research on the views of representatives of law enforcement agencies in frames of monitoring the “Law of Georgia on the Elimination of Domestic Violence/Violence Against Women, Protection and Assistance to the Victims”. The locations in April were the following: Zugdidi, Ozurgeti, Khoni, Tskaltubo. The standard questions were as follows: is there any specialization on violence, how effectively does the law work in practice, what are the challenges in this area.
On April 18th, Fund “Sukhumi” Representative Office in Tbilisi, hosted the representatives of Israeli civil society organizations, partnering with Sweden International NGO Kvinna till Kvinna. Fund “Sukhumi’”s representative has in detail shared with Israeli colleagues the working directions and experience of organization, all successes and challenges on its path. The guests from Israel have also talked about their work and activities on gender equality, women’s political and economic empowerment, peacebuilding and gender based violence. The organizations found many similarities in the approaches and activities undertaking by Fund “Sukhumi” and expressed wish to meet again and cooperate in the future.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
On April 17, the Fund "Sukhumi" organized a civil forum in Kutaisi. Representatives of the Coalition "Woman and Peace" actively participated in the forum.
The Coalition “Woman and Peace” was created last year by the Fund “Sukhumi”. The Coalition included 10 women's NGOs from 4 regions of Western Georgia (Imereti, Samegrelo, Guria, Adjara): Fund “Sukhumi” (Kutaisi), Teachers’ Union “Education and the Universe (Kutaisi), Fund of Women-Entrepreneurs (Kutaisi), Women Club (Khoni ), Women Association “Imedi” (Zugdidi), Association “Mercury” (Zugdidi), Center of Education and Development “Toliskuri” (Khobi), Women Public Association (Ozurgeti), Center for Education and Equality (Ozurgeti), Center for Education, Development and Employment (Batumi).
The first part of the forum was devoted to the consideration of the gender concept of early warning of conflicts in theoretical and practical aspects.
In the second part, participants worked in 5 groups to analyze the conflict in the areas of ecology, health care, domestic violence and religion - they identified the reasons, defined the influence and responsible actors.
Coalition is going to work actively in the future
Informational meetings began in Tskaltubo municipality in frames of the project “Strengthening the capacity of regional and local administrations in processes of localization of the National Action Plan 1325 Resolution The UN Security Council and activation of dialogue and the participation of women, including the most marginalized ones, in these processes”.
Assistant of Sakrebulo Chairperson of Tskaltubo municipality, Secretary of the Gender Equality Council - Mzia Kikalishvili and member of the Council, Senior Specialist of Sakrebulo - Lela Berdzenishvili, met the IDP parents and teachers in School No. 1 and presented them information about UN Resolution 1325. A representative of the Ministry of Health, who was invited to the meeting, provided information on existing services. At the end of the meeting a discussion took place.
The project is supported by US State Department and UN Women Organization