Kutaisi Gender Advisory Council (GAC) started a new project "Strengthening of the gender aspects for active inclusion in the formation of local gender policies." The project is co-financing by Kutaisi City Hall and the fund "Sukhumi".

On April 21 in frames of the project a regional conference was held in "Grand Palace", on "Gender component in the local budget - the current reality, the positive developments, the prospects for the future."

The conference was attended by representatives of local self-government 17 municipalities of Western Georgia - Kutaisi, Batumi, Ozurgeti, Senaki, Zugdidi, Poti, Tskhaltubo, Khoni, Vani, Samtredia, Kharagauli, Zestafoni, Terjola, Tkibuli, Kobuleti, Chokhatauri, Lanchkhuti, as well as members of the GAC, rectors of universities, professors, students, representatives of NGOs and the media.

In the first part of the conference members of GAC of Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, Batumi and Senaki told about the results in terms of gender, achieved in cooperation with local governments.

In the second part the speakers discussed the topic of equality in different contexts. The conference was concluded with the report "Gender needs of students and their integration into the formation of the local budget."

The first phase of the project was completed. Discussions on the issues discussed at the conference will continue in Kutaisi universities.

The mobilizers of the Women Support Centers of the Fund "Sukhumi" held six meetings with representatives of various government agencies in June.

The mobilizers of Khoni and Tskaltubo met with representatives of social protection and health services. In Poti, a meeting was held with the counselor on the gender issue, and in Senaki - with the head of the village of Teklati. The mobilizers of Khurcha/Koki Women Support Center met with Deputy Gamgebeli of Zugdidi Municipality. In Kutaisi a meeting with the director of the college "Iberia" was held.

The necessary information and innovations (on social support, on gender issues or free vocational training programs), which the mobilizers learned at the meetings, will undoubtedly be reflected in the next mobilization meetings.

On May 23, a meeting organized by the Women's Initiative Group was held in the office of Tskaltub Municipality, attended by representatives of various collective centers, activists of the fund “Sukhumi”.

The chief specialist of the Health and Social Protection Service, Nargiza Abesbadze, was invited to the meeting and spoke about local social programs.

Participants were asked questions about how the programs are planned in the budget, which ones are priority, how information about these programs is spread.

It was noted that it is planned to hold similar information meetings in the coming months, as this will increase the level of communication between the population and local authorities.

A regular meeting of the Advisers’ Council was held in the Sakrebulo meeting room. Members of the Council discussed the issues envisaged by the agenda: an analysis of the implementation of the goals and objectives of the social inclusion strategy of Khoni (based on the results of monitoring the 2017 action plan); highlighting the priorities of the social inclusion strategy for the 2018 action plan.

The meeting positively assessed the implementation of the 2017 action plan and presented interesting ideas for integration into the action plan for 2018, over which the Council members will work in the near future with the support of the organization "Reople in Need".

What should be the focus of the Council, in which issue it is necessary to strengthen the members of the Council so that the action plan is followed by its real implementation - an emphasis was placed on these issues.

The project is implemented with the support of the Czech organization PIN

There started the next phase of the project "Women implementing inclusive approaches in the field of human security to build a sustainable world." After workshops on the theme of human security in Tskhaltubo, Kutaisi and Khoni there were created initiative groups of women.

Tskhaltubo initiative group consists of 6 women. Each of them is selected by a special survey. In one of the paragraphs of the questionnaire, why you want to become a member of the initiative group, the activists wrote that around them there are lots of problems that can be solved at the local level, and they want to be actively involved in the process of advocacy of these issues.

Members of the initiative group will have a special training, after which they will be included in advocacy of the issues.

On April 25, the first meeting of the Gender Equality Council was held in the Sakrebulo meeting hall, the creation of which was preceded by the active three-year work of the Gender Advisory Council of the fund “Sukhumi”, which operated under the Sakrebulo until August 2016.

The Senaki Municipality is the first in Samegrelo region, in Sakrebulo structure of which the Gender Equality Council has already been established, according to the amendment to the Law on Gender Equality and Local Government.

Chairman of Sakrebulo - Jumber Lashkarava, who at the same time is chairman of the Council of Gender Equality, familiarized the meeting members on the final list of the council, which included the deputy chairman and chairmen of the Sakrebulo commissions, deputies, representatives of Gamgeoba, local NGOs. It was noted that in addition to the main structure of the council, other representatives of the local government and civil society can take part in the meetings, having submitted a request for participation in advance.

It should be noted that members of Senaki Club of Voter Women were members of the council. The fund “Sukhumi”, as one of the leading and experienced NGOs in the issues of gender equality, is ready to advise and help the Gender Equality Council to achieve tangible results.

The project is implemented with the support  of the U.S. Embassy in Georgia 

The first meeting in frames of Senaki Gender Advisory Council "Prevention of domestic violence in Senaki municipality" was held today in the hall of Sakrebulo. The meeting was organized for representatives of Gamgebeli and majoritarian MPs of fourteen territorial units of Senaki municipality. The event was also attended by the chairman of Sakrebulo Jumber Lashkarava.

Chairman of the GAC Nana Alania familiarized the participants with the project goals and objectives, as well as the statement of Gender initiative groups which will be  established in rural communities. Within the project, these groups will have special workshops on the topic of gender and domestic violence, which will help to raise awareness of the rural population.

Majoritarian MPs and representatives of Gamgebeli expressed their willingness to join the project and contribute to enhancing the role of women and youth in the processes of prevention of domestic violence.

Information and advisory service of the fund “Sukhumi” has developed an annual plan for 2018 and a concept of work that includes: legal advice and counseling, meetings with a conflictologist, information meetings with young people, working with couples, representatives of crisis families and violence victims.

In January, the psychologist held individual consultations. Three sessions were held with one beneficiary. In the second case, the problem is diagnosed.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)