Representatives of legislative and executive bodies of Tskaltubo municipality, the government structure of Abkhazian autonomous republic, the media, NGOs and civil society activists gathered for a civil forum in conference hall of Sakrebulo.

The meeting was held in frames of the project: “Strengthening the capacity of regional and local administrations in processes of localization of the National Action Plan 1325 The UN Security Council and activation of dialogue and the participation of women, including the most marginalized ones, in these processes”.

The chairman of Tskaltubo Sakrebulo Grigol Ivaneishvili spoke about the importance of cooperation between the non-governmental sector and state, as well as the need to work in the gender direction.

During the group work, the forum participants expressed an opinion of how to implement an Action Plan of UN Resolution 1325 at local level for 2018-2020 in gender equality plan of the municipality.

The project is implemented by the Coalition Union - the Association of Women IDPs “Consent” (Tbilisi), the Women's Information Center (Tbilisi) and the Culture and Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi” (Kutaisi).

  The project is supported by US State Department and UN Women Organization

The civil forum was held in the meeting hall of Zugdidi Municipality City Hall. The forum was attended by representatives of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Province, Zugdidi City Hall and Sakrebulo, also the representatives of non-governmental sector and civil society activists.

“We have created a Gender Equality Council, the goal of which is formation of effective gender policy. Your inclusion in this process is very important, and we are ready for cooperation, ”said the chairman of Sakrebulo - Mamuka Tsotseria.

The forum participants discussed how the implementation of the National Action Plan of UN Resolution 1325 should be done at the local level reflecting the needs of girls and women living with a conflict dividing line. At the end of the forum, a working group of 10 people was created, which will continue to work in this direction.

The forum was held in frames of the project “Strengthening the capacity of regional and local administrations in processes of localization of the National Action Plan 1325 The UN Security Council and activation of dialogue and the participation of women, including the most marginalized ones, in these processes”.

The project is implemented by coalition unity - the Association of IDP Women “Consent” (Tbilisi), the Women's Information Center (Tbilisi) and Cultural - Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi” (Kutaisi)

The project is supported by US State Department and UN Women Organization

The coalition – Unity, the Association of IDP Women “Consent” (Tbilisi), the Women's Information Center (Tbilisi) and Cultural - Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi” (Kutaisi) began working on the project “Strengthening the capacity of regional and local administrations in processes of localization of the National Action Plan 1325 The UN Security Council and activation of dialogue and the participation of women, including the most marginalized ones, in these processes””(with the support of UN Women Organization).

The goal of the project is to popularize the National Action Plan for 2018–20 at local level, to promote gender equality, strengthen women, prevent conflicts and establish peace, and reflect the needs of different groups.

Ion frames of the project, civil forums, trainings, informational meetings, conferences are planned - these activities will contribute to enhancing the dialogue at the local level and the inclusion of different groups of society in this process.

In October, three working meetings were held in target municipalities of Western Georgia: Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Tskaltubo.

The project is supported by US State Department and UN Women Organization

In frames of monitoring, the “Law of Georgia on Elimination of Domestic Violence / violence Against Women, Protection Assistance to the victim”, two focus groups were held in October with teachers from Terjola and Tskaltubo municipalities, an in-depth interview with the head of Lanchkhuti resource center. Information was also requested from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport about the work in this direction.

The aim of monitoring was to determine the level of involvement of the ministry in the implementation of the law. Number of recommendations were recorded at the meetings. The dynamics show that, in comparison with the previous years, the ministry is much more actively involved in identifying the facts.

The project of the fund “Sukhumi”- "Strengthening of medical staff to protect the victims of domestic violence" serves to the inclusion of the medical staff in the process of violence prevention, which began in September.

In frames of the project, informational meetings were held in medical institutions. The health staff welcomed new information and expressed their willingness to be included in the work.

At this stage, materials are prepared for the guide and training module, also active preparation for the training of medical staff is carried out.

Representatives of the Fund "Sukhumi" met the deputy directors of the Clinic named after Leri Khonelidze and the clinic “Bomondi” and familiarized them with the project "Strengthening medical staff to protect victims of domestic violence." These clinics are going to be actively involved in the training program of the Fund “Sukhumi” in order to inform the medical staff on the issues of prevention of domestic violence, identification of violence victims and their assistance.

In frames of the project "Strengthening of medical staff to protect victims of domestic violence", representatives of the Fund “Sukhumi” met Shota Maruashvili, director of the medical clinic "Unical Medi", and acquainted him with the project.

- How high the rate of appeal, how is the violence victim identified and the appropriate response done from the side of medical staff - the conversation took place on these issues.

The director of the clinic expressed readiness, to cooperate actively with the Fund "Sukhumi" and to join the training program in order to inform the medical staff on the issues of preventing domestic violence.

In September the monitoring group of the Fund "Sukhumi" decided to study the rehabilitation of the rapist. In order to collect qualitative information, two in-depth interviews were held in Kutaisi - with the beneficiary of the program: "Management of Violent Behavior" and an officer of the Probation Agency. Focus - groups were held in Poti and Tskaltubo with participation of lawyers, representatives of Social Services, probation agency and society. During the meetings challenges, existing in this direction were identified, the program's effectiveness was emphasized. It was unanimously agreed that it is necessary to work with the families of the risk group and especially to initiate programs that includes working with couples.

Representatives of the Fund "Sukhumi" held an information meeting at the medical center for IDPs "Pitsunda". They talked about the project "Strengthening of medical staff to protect victims of domestic violence", which provides training for the medical personnel for better identification of victims of domestic violence and for their assistance. The staff of the Center will join the work with interest, as they consider it a good opportunity to gain experience.

The project is implemented with the support of the British Embassy Tbilisi 

A memorandum of cooperation and implementation of the joint project was signed on September 12 between Senaki Gender Equality Council and the Fund "Sukhumi".

The sides came to agreement on following issues: the Gender Equality Council and the Fund “Sukhumi” will implement a joint project "Cooperation with Local Self-Government - for Gender Equality and Prevention of Domestic Violence".

It is planned to conduct 4 trainings in frames of the project: for the members of the Gender Equality Council, heads of the City Hall services and decision makers, as well as with representatives of the Mayor in the villages and majoritarian candidates of communities. The theme of the training is gender, gender violence and the role of local government as one of the subjects of referral mechanisms.

It is also planned to conduct a survey in 14 communities of Senaki Municipality with the aim of analyzing the situation regarding violence against women.