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.
An online meeting on the topic “The process and stages of advocacy of problems at the local level” was held using the Zoom platform.
The meeting was attended by members of the women's network established in the municipalities of Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo, Zugdidi and Senaki, as well as representatives of donor and partner organizations.
The members of the network discussed in detail the dynamics of the problems taken for advocacy by the "one window" method - at what stage they are and what results they receive. They also spoke about the problems identified within the research, which were presented to local governments for consideration in the budgets.
The meeting turned out to be the best platform for participants to exchange information, share their experiences and talk about existing challenges.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
The Interagency Human Rights Council held another work meeting. It was hosted by Niko Tatulashvili, the Prime Minister's Advisor on Human Rights and Gender Equality. Tbilisi representative office of Women's Fund "Sukhumi" took part at the meeting along with representatives of other locan and international CSOs.
It was noted at the meeting that on October 25 by the resolution of the Government of Georgia, the 2022-2024 Georgian National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security and the 2022-2024 Action Plan for Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence and Protecting Victims were approved. One of the main issues of the commission session was the promotion and monitoring of the implementation of the mentioned governmental action plans.
Women's networks organized in 5 municipalities of Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Senaki, Zugdidi) chose topical issues and started the advocacy process on “one window principle”.
This is told by the women participating in the project and representatives of local government who participated in the meeting. They emphasize the importance of the dialogue format for problem solution.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
One woman, during the period that she was in the rehabilitation center was filled with positive emotions, realized her place in life, felt peace and freedom. Now she is ready to fight for her better life. The second one says that she has received the necessary knowledge. I realized how important it is to have adequate self-esteem and, most importantly, that I must study and be a worthy mother to my daughter...
All this is the merit of their stay at the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi". In October, the center hosted three women with young children, victims of domestic violence, who had gone through suffering and trauma.
They underwent intensive rehabilitation work - a social worker, a lawyer and a psychologist were actively involved.
The results of the work are visible in their comments.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Group and individual psychological meetings were held in the Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Kobuleti, Tsalenjikha and Tkibuli (online). 35 beneficiaries took part in them.
During a month, the psychologist conducted online individual consultations in the regions and psycho-therapeutic work in Kutaisi office.
There were also group meetings on Fridays with the beneficiaries of the Day Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - with women who learn how to work with polymer clay. Sessions were held with them to overcome fears, stress, traumas and raise self-esteem.
One of the beneficiaries of the Day Center said: “Everything that happened this month is special for me – I was filled with love for myself and others, I manage to do beautiful things”.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
