Ekaterine Gamakharia, head of the Tbilisi representative office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, participated in the two-day conference organized by the IDP Women Association "Consent". The conference on "Women and Youth for Positive Agenda’s Creators" was held on April 24-25.
The first day of the meeting was dedicated to the positive role of women and youth in the peacebuilding process, while the second day was dedicated to the situation and needs of the displaced women and girls.
The conference was attended by representatives of governmental and local self-government, as well as organizations working on peace-building issues and the problems of displaced people.
Ekaterine Gamakharia, the head of the Tbilisi representative office, reported on the panel discussion of the conference, which was dedicated to the state strategies and action plans for the IDPs. In her speech, she spoke about the commitments taken by the state in the fourth action plan (2022-2024) adopted by the United Nations Security Council, Resolution 1325, in the direction of the participation of displaced women in the peace-building and decision-making process, as well as in the state programs for women's economic empowerment. She focused on the problems of effective participation of IDP women in the decision-making process and economic programs and specific barriers characteristic of their vulnerable situation and etc.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
On May 1, 2023, Ekaterine Gamakharia, the representative of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi", attended the presentation of the thematic inquiry report - "The Accessibility to Financial Resources for Women and Girls" presented by the GEC member, Ana Natsvlishvili, which was held at the Writers' House of Georgia.
The main speaker of the thematic inquiry group, Ana Natsvlishvili, together with the expert, introduced the inquiry outcomes and key findings. She emphasized the multi-sectoral format of work on the inquiry and noted that women's empowerment needs a systemic approach from the state, as well as a unified clear vision and policy. As elucidated, the inquiry included meetings with the representatives of the state institutions, the banking sector, civil society, and donor organizations. The Group held thematic meetings in 9 municipalities with the entrepreneur women, local authorities, and society, where the head of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" Tbilisi office also participated and shared information about the challenges of displaced and conflict-affected women with the inquiry group.
The thematic inquiry report is available here:
Assessment of the quality of human security and gender needs of the population is a systematized report based on quantitative and qualitative research conducted in six municipalities.
The main goal of the research was to assess the attitude of various groups of society towards human security issues in the fields of public and personal security.
The recommendations developed on the basis of the research will be used for the advocacy campaigns in terms of human security in Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha and Senaki municipalities.
Kutaisi Khoni Senaki Tskaltubo Tsalenjikha Zugdidi
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Informational meetings with various target groups were held in the Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Tsalenjikha, Chokhatauri, Vani and Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality). The participants got acquainted with the activities of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the main results that exist in different areas. They talked about victim assistance services and economic empowerment programs.
Through the active discussion, the participants outlined their positions: they believe that, in order to fight against domestic violence, it is necessary to improve preventive measures, and this includes informing young people and improving services for victims.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A meeting organized by the Women Fund "Sukhumi" was held in the conference hall of Chokhatauri Educational Resource Center. Representatives of the department for the protection of children's rights and the education sector of the City Hall exchanged important information that will contribute to social protection and strengthening of children and their families.
Representatives of schools also received information about the interdepartmental commission of the City Hall on the issues protection from domestic violence and violence against women.
Participants identified a number of acute problems requiring immediate response. The plans for future cooperation were also outlined.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
- Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
- Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
- Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
“Local cooperation for social environment focused on children and families” - a meeting on this topic was held in the village Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality).
Representatives of the Social Department and the Children's Department of the City Hall provided the meeting participants with information about social and health programs and the specifics of the work of the Children's Department. They also got acquainted with the results of the activities of the departments for the protection of children's rights and their support, which were identified as a result of the monitoring conducted by the Women Fund "Sukhumi". During the meeting, there were identified the recommendations that will increase the efficiency of work in this direction.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The second month of the training course at the Youth Empowerment Centers continues successfully. The first meetings were held in Samtredia, Terjola, Senaki, Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi municipalities.
The trainings were attended by teachers, representatives of the youth services. And, of course, the main thing is active youth, who not only join the training with interest, but also carry out the initiated events in their schools with responsibility. It is gratifying that the support of the school administration and the teachers of civic education is felt everywhere.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Everyone should take their own responsibility - plant a tree, green the environment, take care of nature - this was the aim of the campaign dedicated to the week of the Day of Earth. Kutaisi Youth Club of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", in cooperation with Kutaisi Public Schools #32 named after Avtandil Dekanoidze and Public Schools #6 of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia named after Zhiuli Shartava, organized a greening campaign. Pupils, together with the teacher Lela Bregadze, planted Georgian walnut seedlings in the school yard and in the yard of the rehabilitation center of the Fund “Sukhumi”. Families residing in the rehabilitation center also participated in the event.
In April psychologist Manana Gotsiridze worked with three families - 7 people from Ukraine. She identified their condition and began a free course of psychotherapy.
Everyone needs help because they have gone through lots of difficulties.
Olena, 41 and her family arrived from Mariupol last August. They were in hell for a whole month, their neighbors were dying every day. They had fear and hopelessness. It was a terrifying sight: burned houses, burned animals, destroyed streets... They moved to another city in Ukraine, but there was no peace, no food also... They decided to leave and chose Georgia: familiar, warm, close. According to Olena, it is very good that the Women Fund "Sukhumi" helps with products, but the advice and support of a psychologist is no less important. It makes problem solution easier...
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Training courses continued actively. Another five meetings were held in the Youth Empowerment Centers of Bagdati, Vani, Samtredia, Chokhatauri and Senaki.
School directors, teachers, representatives of youth services took part in the trainings. The process was interesting and fruitful in all municipalities.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
- Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
- Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
- Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
The total number of participants of 10 trainings held in April is 266 people. Everyone showed great interest towards the training course. This is very important to us and always gives more effect to our work.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)