The Ministry of Internal Affairs held the final event of the campaign against child marriage, titled "Don't Deprive of childhood." During the meeting, the Department of Human Rights Protection and Investigation Quality Monitoring of the Ministry of Internal Affairs delivered a presentation. The presentation aimed to inform the invited representatives from governmental and non-governmental sectors, as well as local and international organizations, about the measures undertaken within the campaign. Our representatives, Linda Chikhladze and Nino Korinteli, were present at the meeting.
The presentation of the monitoring tool on the evaluation of measures for the prevention of violence against women and in the family was held, organized by the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia and the Council of Europe.
The monitoring tool is based on the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. Its purpose is to assess the impact of the state's prevention mechanism on issues of violence against women and domestic violence, as well as to identify specific achievements and challenges. The document will assist state agencies in planning and implementing future steps.
The meeting was attended by our representatives, Linda Chikhladze and Nino Korinteli.
Women Fund “Sukhumi” presents a new monitoring report “Assessment of Effectiveness of the Municipalities’ Preventive Measures to Combat Violence Against Women/Domestic Violence.” The preventive measures undertaken by the target municipalities and the quality of their cooperation and coordination with different actors of the referral system was assessed and analyzed in the report. The study outlines the key challenges, such as the problem of identification of vulnerable families’ for proper intervention to prevent violence; Insufficient communication and coordination between municipalities and referral mechanism actors; lack of municipal programs to tackle domestic violence against women; necessity of awareness raising of population about gender-based violence, and provision of professional trainings to representatives of different agencies. Specific recommendations, addressed to the relevant agencies were developed based on the study findings.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Women Support Center mobilizers took part in the training: "Evidence Based Advocacy", held in 10 target municipalities.
The training was aimed at strengthening the skills necessary for advocacy. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying and ranking the problems. The essence, stages and forms of evidence-based advocacy were discussed in detail.
Using practical examples, the participants discussed the factors hindering the advocacy process, identified target groups and stakeholders.
It was noted that participation in the training is important for representatives of the Women Support Centers, as they are actively involved in the process of forming municipal policy and advocating for local problems.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
“The training format allowed us to talk about the reasons of the problem, when we behave correctly or incorrectly. It is necessary that everyone understands their direct responsibility.
“I would focus on the information received, interesting methods and a good environment during the training”...
This is part of feedback from the training for medical personnel.
The training in Kutaisi was attended by 15 participants from Khoni, Tsalenjikha, Senaki, Chokhatauri and Zugdidi municipalities.
“The role of medical staff in violence prevention and victims protection” - this was the topic of the training, and together with the trainers, the participants actively discussed issues related to violence against women and children...
The training was held within the framework of the project "Digital Resource Center of Services for Violence Victims”.
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 the Equality Fund (Canada)
Another informational online meeting was held with members of Zugdidi Women Initiative Group.
The meeting participants recalled the problems that have already been advocated and resolved. They also discussed priority issues and chose the most relevant ones.
Members of the initiative group discussed the ways of problem solution and will start working on specific activities.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Kutaisi Women Initiative Group actively advocates for problems and at the same time works to identify new needs. The leader of the initiative group holds individual meetings with representatives of IDP settlements, studies problems and determines their priority in order to timely solve problems with the involvement of relevant services and improve the situation of IDPs.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
The problem advocated by Khoni Women Initiative Group is related to the homeowners' association. This institution has existed in the IDP settlement for many years, and 16 homeowners' associations have already been registered. However, there is no program in the local government budget that would allow the associations to jointly implement various infrastructure projects.
In terms of updating the issue at this stage, the meetings were held with the population. For timely and successful advocacy, the Women Initiative Group is in close contact with local self-government.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
The groups were updated with new members and are already staffed with women who are ready for active work. They got acquainted with the municipal programs for social protection and health care. During the meetings, they talked about existing services and they used. All groups have identified issues that they will start advocating.
There are already first results: one woman was assisted with medicines, another - in resolving the housing issue.
Each result is a motivation to the next success.
Project Assistant Nino Chabukiani met with women self-assistance groups established in Vani and Senaki, also in Chokhatauri, Terjola, Kobuleti and Samtredia municipalities. Meetings were held by group leaders, representatives of our organization.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Women's self-assistance groups have already been established in 10 municipalities. In May, groups were formed in Terjola, Senaki, Chokhatauri, Samtredia, Tkibuli, Vani and Kobuleti. In June, three more municipalities were added to them: Bagdati, Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi. Groups should disseminate information about services available for victims of violence at the national or municipal level. They will try to advocate their problems together with representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and local government. According to them, it is clear that the group will do useful things for women.