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.
In frames of the project "Strengthening of medical staff to protect victims of domestic violence", information meetings with the staff of medical sphere started. The first meeting was held in Kutaisi regional service of the Center for Coordination of Emergency situations and urgent assistance. Doctors of so-called "emergency" believe that the work is very important in terms of protecting the victim of domestic violence. They are motivated to take part in the training, get the necessary information, share the experience with colleagues to effectively respond to cases of violence and assistance to the victim.
The project is implemented with the support of the British Embassy Tbilisi
The staff of medical sphere have a special role in prevention of domestic violence. With this reason the Fund "Sukhumi" decided to work with them.
In September, the seven-month project "Strengthening of medical staff to protect the victims of domestic violence" began. The project will be implemented in Kutaisi. In frames of this project a training for medical personnel, meeting with the subjects of referral mechanisms will be held. A guidebook for medical staff will be prepared and published, which, along with many relevant and necessary information, will also contain contact information, whom to address in case of violence.
On September 10, a working meeting was held in fund “Sukhumi”. Participants discussed issues related to the implementation of the project, a plan for carrying out activities.
The project is implemented with the support of the British Embassy Tbilisi in Georgia
Women Coalition "Woman and Peace" - for human security in conflict situations, confirmed its desire to act together and carried out work on formalization, developed and adopted for implementation: the Coalition Regulations, Strategy and Action Plan for the period 01.05.18-30.04.19.
The work of the coalition is aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of the woman’s role in conflict prevention and crisis situations.
The Monitoring Group of the "Law of Georgia on Combating Domestic Violence / Violence Against Women, Protecting the Victims and Helping them" conducted an in-depth interview with the victim of violence and the chairperson of Kutaisi Shelter in August.
In parallel, with the aim to identify the level of inclusion of social workers, focus groups were held in Senak and Ozurgeti municipalities, including representatives of society, the medical sector and the Social Agency.
The meetings showed in which directions it is necessary to work to improve the law. According to participants non-governmental sector will help them to solve and lobby the problems.
A short report on the Advisory Service for the local self-government of Imereti and Guria conducted by the Fund “Sukhumi” in frames of the project "Experience of the Visegrad countries to advocate the equal, inclusive and democratic governance".
From February to July 2018, the consultative group of the Fund "Sukhumi", consisting of 5 staff members, worked with 15 municipalities (12 municipalities of Imereti 3 municipalities of Guria) on the issues of gender policy of self-government, organization of work of local gender equality councils. The "Guide" of the Fund "Sukhumi" - "Introduction of Gender Mainstreaming in Local Authorities" was actively used in the work.
In order to identify the situation regarding victim’s rehabilitation and assistance, the monitoring group of the Fund "Sukhumi" held an in-depth interview in Zugdidi with a victim of violence and a representative of the Association "Mercury".
In order to obtain quantitative information, focus groups were held in municipalities of Terjola and Lanchkhuti, with the inclusion of representatives of the society, the medical spectrum and the social agency.
The meetings identified the challenges faced by the victim of violence and the subjects included in implementation of law. Recommendations developed as a result of the analysis, will be submitted to the relevant structures.
Representatives of the Fund "Sukhumi" met with members of the Gender Equality Council of the municipality, representatives of financial, legal and social services in the meeting room of Tkibuli Sakrebulo. Representatives of the Fund together with the meeting participants worked on the draft Gender Equality Action Plan.
The Council members defined goals and objectives of the plan, and activities to implement it.
The identified issues related to the institutional development of the Council, the introduction of the local statistical base, needs assessment, gender monitoring and analysis, gender budget, citizen’s participation, and gender mainstreaming in service delivery.
Members of the Council emphasized the topics that they consider important for the plan. They said that the plan will be considered in groups, and consultations will be held with qualified non-governmental organizations. The municipality’s experience in terms of the social inclusion strategy and the development of an action plan will facilitate the work on the plan.
Cooperation and consultations between the Fund “Sukhumi” and the Gender Equality Council of the municipality will be continued.
The meeting was held within the framework of the project “Learning from the experience of Visegrad 4 to advocate for equal, inclusive and democratic local governance".
The project is implemented with the support of the Visegrad Fund