Family conflicts, violence against women, victim protection mechanisms - meetings on these issues were held in the Women Support Centers of Vani, Senaki, Kobuleti, Terjola and Zugdidi.
Participants noted that openness on the facts of domestic violence has been increased, but at the same time, active work is still necessary to inform the population, since many do not know how to respond in case of violence, what is their responsibility.
Participants believe that such meetings are necessary to fill the information vacuum, and to make society ready to resist violence.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The monitoring and advocacy group of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, in cooperation with the Women Support Center, held an information meeting on violence in the hall of the main library of Tsalenjikha The meeting was attended by the officials of Tsalenjikha municipality: deputy Mayor, chairman of the City Council, deputy chairman, employees of the City Hall and City Council, representatives of the society.
The participants of the meeting were provided with information about a research carried out in Tsalenjikha municipality, which concerned the prevention of violence against women/domestic violence and an effective response in terms of facilitating the employment of women - childcare. They also received information about the importance of correcting the rapist’s behavior at an early stage and about existing best practices.
The meeting was held in the mode of questions and answers. The participants spoke about the need to strengthen coordinated work to prevent violence in the municipality.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A meeting, organized by the monitoring group and the Women Support Center of the Fund "Sukhumi", was held in Tkibuli. The meeting was attended by representatives of the municipal services and various groups of society.
The series of meetings “Involvement of society in combating domestic violence” aims to increase the role of local governments of partner municipalities in the eradication of violence and assistance to victims.
The meeting presented the conclusions of the researches, conducted by the Women Fund "Sukhumi": the need to implement the programs correcting the rapist’s behavior at an early stage; strengthening the women-childcare services. Presentation of a digital resource center of the services for victims of violence was prepared (http://sosfsokhumi.ge/).
During the direct dialogue, it was noted that the society should think about the measures against violence. Women's economic empowerment programs were recognized as important. A positive assessment was given to the decentralization of social work, the result of which was a department for children's rights. After the reorganization, it was formed into a municipal service and this shows the importance of this direction in the issue of strengthening the family.
It was noted that the cooperation between the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and Tkibuli municipality has positive dynamics, the directions of the future partnership are outlined.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The ordinary meeting in Baghdati was held as part of the cycle of information meetings planned by the monitoring and advocacy group. It was attended by representatives of local government, teachers and kindergarten educators. The organizer of the meeting is Bagdati Women Support Center.
In order to assess the problem of combating violence against women / domestic violence and assist the victims, the participants were provided with information about a research that was conducted in Bagdati municipality and related to the promotion of women's employment: what childcare services exist, what needs to be improved for women's economic independence. As noted, the research concretely showed the real barriers for women from vulnerable groups.
Participants also learned about the importance of correcting the rapist’s behavior at an early stage and about existing best practices. It was noted that a strategy needs to be developed as it takes time to receive effective results.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
"The importance of inter-agency cooperation and coordination on the issues of domestic violence/violence against women at the local level" was the topic of the training held in Borjomi.
The training was attended by the representatives of local self-government from 15 municipalities of Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Samtredia, Terjola, Bagdati, Tkibuli, Senaki, Zugdidi, Poti, Tsalenjikha, Lanchkhuti, Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti, Kobuleti).
On the first day, together with getting acquainted with each other, many things were interesting and important:
- Presentations of the research conducted by the Women Fund "Sukhumi" on: ”The importance of correction of the rapist’s behavior at an early stage” and the rapid assessment of the needs of the Mayor's representatives in 10 municipalities of western Georgia;
- Information about the website “Digital Resource Center of the Services for Victims of Violence” - http://sosfsokhumi.ge;
- Presentations and discussion of programs implemented by municipalities against violence towards the women.
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).
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.
They were brought from one of the municipalities of Western Georgia, where the Fund "Sukhumi" Women Support Center operates.
I. 37 years old - was the eldest in the family. She helped her father in raising younger brothers and sisters after her mother left the family. Since childhood, she has gone through suffering and trauma. She was married twice. She is a victim of violence. She looks after a niece with disabilities. Her second child has a problem with birth trauma. This is a family living below the poverty line.
A woman with three children stayed in the rehabilitation center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" for 10 days. During this time, a comprehensive joint daily intensive psycho-rehabilitation was held. A psychologist, a lawyer and a social worker actively worked with the victim. For the first time, a teacher was included in the process. She took care of the children - played with them, conducted various activities.
