Pre-election mood is observed in Khoni as well as in other cities and that has its reflection on activity of Club of Women-Voters. Social problems of IDPs, prolonged repair works carried out within the framework of the program on housing are on agenda again and need to be solved.
In the words of the members of the Club pre-election meetings between voters IDPs and representatives of political parties have not been started yet. Accordingly voters are not acquainted with election programmes of parties.
Participants think that it is important to arrange meetings with representatives of different political parties since they have many questions to candidates. They are interested which sphere is priority for this or that party, how far IDPs problems are taken into consideration, how lists of candidates are made up and which places women hold in those lists.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
The Club of Women-Voters held in Zugdidi was attended by majority candidates for the local self-government, representatives of Republican party, Nona Toloraia and Nana Khupenia.
Candidates acquainted attendees with their programmes. They mentioned that there are many problems which need to be solved.
-I’ll try to raise in the local self-government all problems of the population in Kakhati village - roads need to be repaired, there is not a kindergarten in the village. The former building of a kindergarten is inhabited by IDPs, - mentioned Nona Toloraia.
-In her words problems of that village can be solved only at local level.
-I’ll try to justify my voters’ hopes!” – mentioned the candidate.
Pre-election mood of the women-candidates is optimistic. Members of Zugdidi club are planning to carry out actions in their support before elections.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Among participants of four workshops on the topic of elections, carried out in Tskhaltubo, there were teachers, young people in the age of 18, who will firstly participate in elections.
The workshops topic: Changes in election legislation and local self government elections.
During mini lection they touched upon increase of women’s participation in elections, statistics of different countries about women’s representation in politics, local self government and basic election terminology.
Participants’ evaluation: The carried out workshops were very interesting for the participants. The work style was especially effective for them. During practical exercises they could use the obtained theoretical knowledge.
The achieved results: Participants learnt about obligations of the local self-government, realized necessity of participation in elections and importance of women’s solidarity for revealing of women-candidates. Their motivation for participation in elections has been increased.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
The topic: "Involvement of civil society in the process of peaceful resolution of Georgian-Abkhaz conflict”.
Society (representatives of local authorities, students, IDP society, scientific intelligence, representatives of public organizations, journalists), gathered under the aegis of Fund "Sukhumi” at the Round table in Batumi, were acquainted with the results of discussions carried out by experts invited by Fund "Sukhumi” and tried to fix their positions around the issues discussed at the meeting.
Atmosphere at the meeting there was sincere and constructive. Attendees had many common opinions.
All welcome the course of peaceful resolution of conflict declared by the government, perspective of kind relations with Abkhaz people. For this in their opinion, it is necessary to comprehend bilateral meetings in the context of common history – views based not only on emotions and propaganda. Live examples, sited by participants gave reason for optimism.
There were also defined conciliation resources, factors, contributing to estrangement and separation.
There was expressed special concern of the fact that the conflict became a polygon for geopolitical games, during which low efficiency of international institutions and necessity of modernizations becomes more obvious.
Strengthening of internal diplomacy contributing to People’s Diplomacy, use of economic resources of diasporas, struggle with estrangement between youth, reformation of "media-language”, conduction of far-sighted internal and external politics, aimed at future – this is a list of questions raised at the Round table.
The project is implemented with the support of International Alert, Great Britain
The main objective of the workshops on the topic of elections, held in Khobi district was raising awareness of women-voters about election legislation and authorities of local self-government. In total there were carried out 6 meetings in different municipalities with participation of 60 women-voters. Among them were those who will participate in elections for the first time.
Special attention at the meetings was paid to such issues as election administration, financing of elections, rights of voters etc.
It should be mentioned that practical exercises and discussions helped participants strengthen the obtained knowledge.
Participants positively evaluated the workshops and mentioned that raising awareness of women-voters is important and necessary for taking active participation in elections and expressed solidarity to women-candidates.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
"Involvement through cooperation” – what does Strategy mean, how far effective and acceptable it will be for Abkhaz and Ossetian sides, what are women’s opinion about separate paragraphs, which sphere in Action plan will be priority and may become the beginning of cooperation – these and other issues were discussed at a three-day training held in Batumi. Participants of the training were trainers of Fund "Sukhumi”, project assistants, girls-leaders.
Most of participants were not well acquainted with the aforementioned document. Consideration of this document according to paragraphs significantly increased the level of their awareness that was well shown during group works and presentations.
According to evaluation of training participants the training was productive. In their opinion they could freely express their positions.
The training was very interesting for those participants who knew well the Strategy. In their opinion, it was especially interesting to discuss the document from women’s view since gender issues in the Strategy are not taken well into consideration.
According to trainers’ evaluation, the training objective has been achieved. Despite some difficulties there were recorded many interesting and new ideas.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
-Such meetings are necessary since we were provided with much new information about elections. This method helps to increase political culture of society”, - such was common opinion of the participants of the workshops carried out in Kutaisi (in total there were carried out 4 workshops). They think that participation of every voter in elections is very important, especially when it comes about local self-government elections and increasing of women’s representation in it.
About 64 women participated in the meetings. One of the groups consisted of young IDPs.
Theoretical part of the workshops included such issues as competences of the local self-government, changes in election legislation, pre-election campaign, financing etc.
Practical exercises aimed at making participants realize competences of local self-government and budget distribution according to certain priorities.
Analysis of the carried out meetings showed that participants are ready to participate in election process. It is very important that they obtained necessary information about their rights. One of the participants mentioned: "I did not know if I had right to attend sitting in Sakrebulo and be involved in consideration of the city budget. Now I want to be actively involved in these processes”.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
We should go ahead – to modernization, European Union! This is our main message to society – Armaz Kaxidze, New rights.
The Club, held in Batumi, was attended also by men – representatives of political parties: Christian-democratic movement – Avtandil Chikhvadze, New rights – Armaz Kakhidze and Shalva Gogitidze.
Representatives of parties talked about problems existing in regions and focused their attention on priority topics: health protection, education, employment, roads, transport.
There was made an emphasized on the forth coming local self government election. Participants stressed that there are no woman in the local self government of Batumi. A representative of New rights Armaz Kakhidze says that the reason is women’s passiveness.
At the end of the meeting representatives of opposition party addressed women who wish to come to politics – "We’ll accept women with pleasure”.
Women-members of Batumi club hope that women will joint political parties functioning in Adjaria.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Increased opportunities of IDP population in solution of the problems raised during the process of housing – the third network meeting organized in Women’s Support Centre of Khoni was dedicated to this topic. Participants of the meeting were active groups of IDPs from seven collective centres (Kutaisi – boarding house "Tskhaltsitela”; Vani – tourist base "Argo”, hall of residence of vocational school, military town of Khoni, resort "Amagleba”, hall of residence of Vani village), which passed trainings within the framework of the program.
At the meeting there were also invited representatives of donor organization, local governmental structures, partner organizations "Future Development House” and Association of Young Lawyers.
Participants of the meeting were provided with the information about issues of housing. They were rendered appropriate consultations on the discussed issues.
The project is implemented with the support of DRC, Danish Refugee Council (EC, Sida)
What political parties promise us, what are their pre-election programs, how far gender balance is kept in election lists – these topics were discussed by representatives of different political parties (New Rights, Republicans, Christian-democrats) gathered at the meeting of Club of Women-Voters in Kutaisi.
In parallel with discussion of election programs there was made accent on gender disbalance existing in election lists. In opinion of the representatives of parties the main reason of this disbalance is lack of women’s activeness. They think that women should have more initiatives.
It was also mentioned that social issues are always priority for women, so problems will be better solved if number of women in the local self-government increases.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
This is a wonderful book about war and peace, hatred and love, women and children, hope…
You should read this book translated into Georgian language in Fund "Sukhumi”!
Elvira Gorukhina is a professor, a psychologist, a philosopher, an ethno-conflictologist, a journalist…
Elvira Gorukhina introduces herself as a teacher from Novosibirsk. A wonderful woman who went endlessly long ten years on the warpath in Abkhazia, Karabakh, Sumgait, Tskhinvali, Chechnya, Ingushetia…
She went and helped people to overcome war hostilities, since she thinks that "misfortune is doubled in loneliness”.
She went to save the grain of good, ask pardon, give love and hope.
"Teacher’s tour in the Caucasus” – this is a modest title of the book. This is a poetical confession of a great humanist. This is the greatest protest of woman-peacemaker against any war.
Officially Georgia numbers 200000 drug-abusers, though this statistic is quite relative”, "Unfortunately drug addition is constantly "becoming younger”, "Compared with previous years the level of drug use has been increased by 10%”, "Alcoholism is also great threat for families”, "Affection for gambling has become fashionable”.
-On the background of this disturbing statistic, students, representatives of law enforcement bodies, psychologists, sociologists, human rights defenders, experts gathered in the office of Fund "Sukhumi” discussed the seriousness of the problem of dependence on drugs, alcoholism and gambling in Georgia, and why it is threatening for every person, members of families and friends, physical and psychological health.
"It is impossible to indifferently observe how gene pool and future of your nation destroy, how families break up”. "Every person, all State structure should unite and declare permanent war on all that threatens future of our society”.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
Several women-candidates are presented in the future local self-government election in Poti. As it was found out, National party presented four women in its party lists. A member of the Club of Women-Voters Darejan Tskhvitaria is number four in the list.
She is a candidate for the local self-government for the second time and she thinks that if there are more women in politics, social problems will be solved better.
This time Club was held in one of the municipalities of the city. Candidate Darejan Tskhvitaria met with her voters. She told them about her activity in the local self government and her future plans.
Participants were particularly active. Based on their questions, it became clear that population considers priority social sphere and sphere of health protection.
Candidate mentioned that she was involved in these issues for several years and if she wins election, she will continue active work.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
During spring 2010, Fund Sukhumi is conducting three workshops on the topic of gender equality and feminism. Leading the workshops is Anja Westberg from Sweden, who is doing an internship at Fund Sukhumi from March to June. The first workshop was held in the women’s support center in Tskhaltubo on April 14th. The participants were girls from the age of 16.
During the workshop, participants were acquainted with the key concepts of gender, gender equality and feminism, and they were encouraged to think independently about these issues. Using interactive exercises, the workshop explored the meaning, goals and strategies of feminism. In one exercise, participants shared personal experiences about gender discrimination. They were also encouraged to express their own opinions about various gender-related matters, which resulted in interesting and lively discussions. The workshop aimed at making participants realize the importance of gender awareness, and inspiring them to actively engage in discussions about gender equality in the future.
During the evaluation, participants expressed positive comments on the topics discussed during the workshop. Many girls wanted to learn more about feminism, and some girls said that the workshop had inspired them to re-think their attitudes towards gender issues.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
At the regular meeting of the Club of Women-Voters held in Ozurgeti special attention was paid to information publicity. There was emphasized importance of raising awareness during election process since candidates and voters should have more contacts.
Participants of the meeting were acquainted with the information about election procedures.
The next meeting of the club is planned to be held with women-candidates. Members of the club hope to get detailed information about election programmes as well as answers to the questions they are concerned about, which are basically connected with the spheres of culture, health protection, and education.
They think that many women are involved in pre-election processes that will contribute to objective and fair carry out of elections.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
"In which direction does Fund "Sukhumi” keep working on increasing of women’s political activity? What is planned by Clubs of Women-Voters? What are the results of the research conducted with women’s electorate? What can be predicted regarding local self-government elections? – these questions were discussed by participants invited by Fund "Sukhumi” in the TV studio "Rioni”. Among them were project assistants, members of the League of Women-Voters, representatives of partner organizations.
…The working area of the League of Women-Voters is being expended. Tskhaltubo club has joined this League and brought around active women, who are worried about their city.
… At the training held in Batumi for activists of Clubs of Women-Voters with the purpose of political education of women, there was emphasized importance of election legislation, functions and obligations of local self-government and election education as a whole.
… The conversation also touched upon attitude of media to women’s activeness. Participants wished Media to have positive attitude to those deserved women who are not afraid of taking burden of politics on them.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
