Women’s involvement and role of in the peace process, 16-day international campaign against gender –based violence and planned activities - Women Initiative Group of the village Koki – Zugdidi municipality held a meeting on these topics. The activities, developed under the strategy of resolution 1325 were discussed at the meeting. The women initiative group of the village Koki joins the campaign and plans to hold its own activity. Koki young initiative group is also going to plan the events within the campaign.
This was one of the issues they discussed at the meeting. They also discussed the role of youth in peacekeeping, strengthening the social unity and preventing conflicts. It was noted that the youth resource and volunteer activities will contribute to the introduction of the culture of peace and its promotion in the next generation. The members of the youth initiative group of the village Koki discussed the plan of peace activities developed with the involvement of young people.
Together with OSCE – The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the WAVE Network in collaboration with four WAVE members: Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Women Fund Sukhumi (Kutaisi and Tbilisi, Georgia), Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine). Based on the specific knowledge and experiences of women’s CSOs throughout war settings, the toolkit not only presents the harm and challenges posed by conflicts but also documents promising first-hand practices with concrete examples and recommendations. Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence during the War and in Post-War Settings Concept note Experiences and Recommendations of Women’s NGOS The authors of the toolkit presented their strategies related to different conflict stages:
Women Fund “Sukhumi” presents a new monitoring report “The child rights protection and support department’s effectiveness assessment and existing challenges.” The effectiveness of the child rights protection department’s structural unit activities, operating in municipalities, and existing challenges are evaluated in the report. These challenges hinder the provision of effective assistance and services tailored to the needs of vulnerable families. Specific recommendations based on the main findings are outlined in the document, which will contribute to institutional strengthening and improvement of the activities of child rights protection departments.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A meeting organized by the advocacy and monitoring group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and Kobuleti Gender Equality Council on the topic "Local cooperation for a social environment focused on the child and family" was held at the educational resource center of Kobuleti.
The participants got acquainted with the monitoring results conducted by the Fund “Sukhumi” regarding the activities of the Department for the Children's Rights Protection and Support. The conversation concerned the main activities of Kobuleti Department for the Children's Rights Protection and Support and the prospect for cooperation with local partners. There was a dialogue about the issues related to services and existing challenges.
Participants believe that multi-sectoral cooperation is important for holding local activities that are socially oriented towards children and families.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
During the meeting held with the women initiative group of the village Didinedzi – Zugdidi municipality, the participants discussed the activities that were developed under the strategy of Resolution 1325. Special emphasis was placed on the involvement of women in peace activities. The second part of the interesting and informative meeting was devoted to the discussion of the plan of the international 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. It is important that Didinedzi women initiative group will join the 16-day campaign with its own activities. At the meeting held with the youth initiative group of the village Didinedzi, the participants discussed the issues of peacekeeping, strengthening the social unity and preventing conflicts. Group members discussed the role and involvement of youth in peace activities.
The international conference on preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) during the war and in post-war settings took place in Tbilisi, Georgia. It was organised by the WAVE Network and the OSCE Gender Issues Programme/WIN Project. The Women's Fund "Sukhumi" was selected as one of the partners of the project supported by the OSCE and was involved in the process of developing a toolkit, in which we described the strategies and experience implemented by the organization in the direction of prevention and response to violence against conflict-affected and displaced women in the conditions of protracted conflicts. Based on the specific knowledge and experiences of women’s CSOs throughout war settings, the toolkit not only presents the harm and challenges posed by conflicts but also documents promising first-hand practices with concrete examples and recommendations. The first half of the conference started with opening remarks from Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, and Stephanie Futter-Orel, Executive Manager of the WAVE Network. Keynote speeches were provided by representatives of international institutions and national stakeholders of the Government of Georgia: Chair of the Gender Equality Council, Nino Tsilosani and member – Teona Akubardia, and Head of the Human Rights Secretariat of the Government of Georgia – Maka Peradze.
“Local cooperation for a social environment focused on children and families” - a meeting on this topic was held in the Central Library of Tsalenjikha.
The meeting was attended by representatives of various services of the City Hall and teachers. They got acquainted with the results of the monitoring conducted by the Fund "Sukhumi" regarding the work of the Departments for the Protection of Children's Rights and Support. They also spoke about the practice and existing challenges of the Department for the Protection of Children's Rights and Support of Tsalenjikha municipality. Recommendations that will increase the efficiency of work in this regard were highlighted.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
UN Women in cooperation with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UN system representatives convened the Open Day on Women, Peace and Security in Georgia.
The meeting was chaired and opened by the representative of UN Women in Georgia - Kaori Ishikawa.
This meeting serviced as a venue for exchange between the UN system representatives and CSOs, grassroots IDP and conflict-affected women and youth around the issues and priorities related to the women, peace and security agenda.
Among the 9 community leaders, three community leaders mobilized by the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" also spoke about the urgent challenges faced by the IDPs and the conflict-affected population, where Ekaterine Gamakharia, the head of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" Tbilisi representative office, and three community leaders mobilized by the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" also participated.
What was October like for the psychologists of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", who work with Ukrainian refugees?
We asked them to briefly describe their work.
Marina Stepanenko: “In October, the number of people who addressed for psychological assisstance increased. Basically, these are people who face the stress of separation from the family, loneliness, confusion, a sense of vulnerability. In such situation, it is extremely important to find and get support, also, to find a way to understand and help yourself.”
Manana Gotsiridze: “In October, initial meetings were held with Ukrainian families in Kutaisi. Everyone noted that our organization is the only one that has felt their pain and tragedy, which knows how to empathize and are grateful for free psychological support and first aid humanitarian assistance.”
Anya Shalimova: “Every month I continue to meet new families who have come from Ukraine. A lot of people come from my native Kherson. Often, going to work, I meet Ukrainian families who take their children to school. We greet and exchange smiles. At the given moment, the number of my meetings with Ukrainians includes more than 30 families from different parts of our beautiful Ukraine. I also continue consultative work and offer my services to children and adults. I help to reduce anxiety, improve relations between parents and children, get rid of phobias and panic. My work involves the constant improvement of my knowledge and skills, and that is why I never forget to pay attention to my education and training.
