On January 20, Women's Initiative Group of Khoni gathered for the first time in 2017. The leader of the group while summing up the past year, spoke about the positive results of a short-term advocacy, as well as on the progress made in terms of long-term advocacy. According to recent news, the group received an official response from the City Council, about the fact that their demand - to ensure Khoni library with central heating – was taken into account in the priorities of 2017.

With pleasure, it was noted that the system of constructive feedback was introduced from the municipality, and each statement of the group causes a rapid response from any government level.

As a result of the discussions there were identified the main strategic goals and objectives, areas, in which Khoni initiative group is going to work actively. Among them - the environmental, social issues, the solution of which will contribute to women.

On March 6 in Tskaltubo there gathered the members of women initiative group. Participants of the meetings discussed the advocacy plan and accordingly planned new activities.

For the effectiveness of advocacy process, they decided to meet the local government, gender council. With the aim of lobbying in the process there will be involved majoritarian candidate – the plan also envisages the meeting with him.

Members of the Women's Initiative Group gathered in the meeting room of Khoni Sakrebulo. They discussed the situation in local communities in terms of human security and identified issues for advocacy.

At the meeting it was noted that the search for donor organizations is necessary to solve the problem. They fixed the idea, planned to develop it in the form of a project and send to the donor organization Orbeliani Georgia, which announced a competition.

Mobilizers of the Women Support Centers of Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Poti and Khurcha/Koki (Zugdidi Municipality) gathered in the office of the fund “Sukhumi”. They made short reports of the held work. Coordinator analyzed the reports, made accents on basic gaps. There were discussed the examples of successful reports.

Mobilizers also spoke about the problems and future plans. Chairperson of the fund familiarized them with the information about the following phase of funding of small projects of the women support centers. Duration of the project – I month, main directions – prevention of violence and protection of victim. The activities should be held in frames of campaign of “16 active days against violence towards the women”.

In Kutaisi, In the Center of Democratic Engagement, there was held a meeting of Gender network of Imereti region on “gender Equality in Political Processes”. The meeting was attended by the women – members of Kutaisi Sakrebulo, chairperson of Abkhazian government, guests from the regions.

There was discussed a situation in the region in gender point of view. Than was held a discussion on actual issues. Mechanisms of political strengthening of women, conditions for their participation in Parliament elections, quoting. The meeting was active and interesting. Similar meetings will continue. 

Twenty-fourth meeting of Senaki Gender Advisory Councils began with submitting of interesting initiatives by the members of Youth Sakrebulo. GAC discussed possibility of developing and co-financing of the youth project, which will allow  the active youth to independently implement their initiatives with the help of small grants. From their side representatives of youth Sakrebulo expressed readiness to involve the GAC in the projects.

There was also held detailed discussion of the project for strengthening the role of youth and women in the process of prevention of domestic violence and advocacy of social problems in the villages of Senaki Municipality. Members of the GAC have ahope that local self-government and fund “SUkhumi” will support their project.

The first meeting in 2016 of Senaki Gender Advisory Council was held in January 22. The members of the GAC discussed the Action Plan for 2016-2017 years for combating violence against women and domestic violence victims protection. In particular, those points of the plan, which relate directly to local authorities, and proposed to make certain amendments.

They also actively discussed the new project ideas, with greater emphasis on the villages of Senaki municipality. Already in February, the trainings are planned for representatives of Gamgebeli in villages and rural deputies on the topic of gender and gender-based violence.