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Representatives of Fund "Sukhumi” participated in the parliamentary sitting where were discussed changes to the law on Suppression of Domestic Violence, Protection and Aid of Victims of Domestic Violence.

The principle position of our organization to participate in the discussion of the draft, was due to the fact that, according to the project (the author of the legislative initiative - a member of parliament Guguli Magradze) the norms are to be added to the law, envisaging forms of participation of municipalities in suppression of domestic violence – municipalities are entitled to participate in prevention of domestic violence by means of awareness raising, study of the reason of the conflict, mediation, arrangement of crisis centers/shelters etc.

At the sitting we had the opportunity to argue the need to include municipalities together with state instances and social institutions in prevention of domestic violence, provision of the relevant assistance to victims of violence and the management of cases of violence.

Fund "Sukhumi” has raised at different levels the issue of the need for integrating social programmes into the measures aimed at assisting victims of violence and presenting local government as one of coordinating branches of the State referral mechanism.

Principal position of Fund "Sukhumi” is that the aforementioned is the best way out from the situation. And it is impossible to achieve this without relevant changes. After discussion, members of the Committee on legal issues supported submission of the draft to the session.

We consider that adoption of the law will be a declared political will that stresses direct responsibility of the state with regard to the solution of the problem of violence. Fund "Sukhumi” plans to continue the work for the public support of the Law. 

The time of youth forum-theatres continues in Batumi!

The work has moved to a new phase. This time casting was held in the three schools of the city. In the school number one eight pupils expressed their desire to play in the forum theatre, in the school number 2 - 14 pupils, and in the school number 7 - 21 pupils.

The director and actors of the Forum-theatre of Fund "Sukhumi " held master classes for them that was very interested for each participant.

Very soon in Batumi will be formed three school forum theaters. Each of them should consist of 5 pupils, but no one wants to leave the project - they all want to stay...

For more information see the link https://www.facebook.com/axalgazrduli.forumteatri?fref=ts

The project is implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of Adjara Autonomous Republic

Batumi Club of Women-Voters of Fund "Sukhumi” continues its activity. This time women gathered within the framework of the new project "Gender Advisory Council - improved outlook, strengthening women's rights and good governance in the region” which is aimed at increasing of women’s participation at the local level.

According to the members of the Club they will be actively involved in the work and will contribute to social problems advocacy.

After reviewing the new project, club members have raised pressing problems. Among them were the issues of the IDPs who were resettled a few years ago from the hotel "Medea".

-Due to the fact that prices were very high then, many IDPs were not able to purchase the apartment after receiving compensation – they still pay rent or live with relatives - said Marina Murgulia.

At the meeting there were raised problems of unemployed women.

The information about the meeting and the new project of Fund "Sukhumi” was covered on TV "Adjara” http://www.ajaratv.ge/ge/index.php?page=shownews&id=52378 and in the newspaper "Adjara P.S.” http://adjaraps.com/2013/10/31/გენდერული-საბჭო-ახალი-

On the same day there was held another meeting in Batumi.

According to the new project, the beneficiaries are also members of ethnic minorities. That is the "reason" why the staff representatives of Fund "Sukhumi" visited "House of Friendship" in the Mayor’s office of Batumi.

An introductory meeting was held by Medea Mikeladze – a manager of communications with the Diaspora. It was mentioned that the "House of Friendship", formed in 2007, brings together representatives of nine nationalities. With the support of local government interesting events are held in the "House of Friendship".

This unusual house has expressed a desire to cooperate actively with Fund "Sukhumi".

The project is implemented with the support  of the U.S. Department of State