Gender-based violence takes on many forms during conflicts, as we are witnessing in Ukraine. Rape and sexual violence are used as tools of war, and women and girls face higher risks of trafficking, as well as domestic violence and exploitation. Women’s specialist support services (WSSS) play a vital role in supporting survivors of violence, both during the conflict, as well as in the medium and long-term in post-conflict areas.
WAVE, with the support of the OSCE, started a new project to address capacity building and exchange of promising practices between women’s specialist support services to better support women survivors of violence in conflict and post-conflict areas. The WAVE members involved in the project are the Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Women Fund Sukhumi (Kutaisi, Georgia), Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine).
During an online meeting with members of Senaki IDP Women Initiative Group, the participants evaluated the trainings that were held in April and talked about the significance of the information received:
“I do not have the opportunity to attend such thematic trainings, so this is a good chance for me to be more informed.”
“The cycle of trainings will help us to be more active and practically get involved in advocacy of problems.”
At the end of the meeting, participants were provided with information about new training topics. According to them, after completing the trainings, they will be even more motivated to be actively involved in solving local problems.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Ordinary meeting was held with IDP Women Initiative Group of Tskaltubo. Attention was paid to the cycle of trainings held in April. According to the participants, the trainings were informative, interesting and practical.
- It is very important for me to participate in such trainings. Each new topic gives new possibilities. I am glad to be part of this project - noted one of the participants.
At the end of the meeting, the participants got acquainted with the topics of May trainings. They noted that after the completion of the training cycle, each of them will have skills that contribute to their formation as active citizens.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
During the online meeting with the members of Kutaisi Women Initiative Group, the participants evaluated the training cycle held in April and talked about the necessity of information.
"These trainings were interesting and important for me, they gave me the opportunity to be aware of important topics for an active citizen."
"The training cycle will help us to become more active and be able to prioritize our needs and advocate them."
At the end of the meeting, participants were provided with information on training topics of the next month.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
24.02.22 - the day that shocked the whole world and all of us, the women of the Fund "Sukhumi" - the war in Ukraine!
25.02.22 - we wrote an Appeal in support of the Ukrainian women and sent it everywhere!
26.02.22 – fundraising to support people in Ukraine began. 54 employees of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" transferred money to various funds to help Ukraine.
28.02.22 - we collected an additional 1500 GEL and bought baby food, diapers, hygiene products and took 12 boxes to Tbilisi, to the point of receiving aid for Ukraine.
We sent letters of support to all familiar and unfamiliar women organizations in Ukraine - with the question: how can we help, what can we do for them?
08.03.22 - organized the action "Solidarity of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - to the women of Ukraine!" The action was attended by women from Western Georgia.
10.03.22 - started to provide assistance to Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Kutaisi.
Members of the IDP Women Initiative Group from Khoni, Tskaltubo, Kutaisi, Senaki and Zugdidi met online on April 28-29. A two-day training on "Local Budget, Civic Budgeting" was conducted for them.
Discussion of the training topic was continued in an interactive mode. Group work and discussions provided participants with the opportunity to share experiences with each other. Feedback showed that the participants will practically use the information received and will be actively involved in the ongoing budget processes of the municipality.
This training finished the one-month training cycle (4 trainings), which trained the members of the Women Initiative Group with appropriate skills. They will actively work with the target municipalities to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 action plan at the local level.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
They are interested in: when the next training will be held? Because they liked the work. Their feedback is following:
- It is interesting and necessary to conduct trainings on the topic of conflicts and violence.
- Live training is completely different!
- It is very good to play small scenes, the topic is better understood, and they got amused...
- They learned a lot about new and useful things.
The trainings in Tkibuli, Terjola and Kobuleti Youth Empowerment Centers were live, with role-playing games, exercises and discussions.
Also interesting were online trainings conducted with youth from the municipalities of Chokhatauri and Bagdati.
The participants were active, joined the discussions, frankly shared their views and experiences with each other.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
In order to make the process of responding to facts of violence and assisting the victim more effective, other referral entities should be included in the process - for this purpose, important meetings were held in Senaki, Kobuleti, Terjola, Chokhatauri, Bagdati. Women Support Centers
- The victim should not be left alone at any stage. She needs to be supported so that she feels secure and safe - this was the general position of the meeting participants. Women who went through violence emphasized the need for psychological support.
The participants noted that the web page “Digital Resource Center of Services for Victims of Violence”, created by the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, will provide serious assistance to women victims so that they have full information about existing services.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The work of a psychologist is carried out in the regions where the Women Support Centers operate and in Kutaisi, at the head office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
In April, there were meetings in Terjola, Kobuleti, Senaki and Zugdidi (village Khurcha) municipalities. Individual and group meetings were held with women – there were 21 participants. Such meetings often identify victims of violence, with whom specific communication begins. In April - 4 victims of domestic violence were identified. They were given the first recommendations and continued psychotherapeutic sessions.
Despite live meetings, online individual sessions are still going on – during the month 15 beneficiaries communicated with the psychologist online.
