The League of Women
Voters of Fund "Sukhumi” elaborated and adopted basic principles and visions of
strategic priorities for 2012 – 2014.
Representatives of the
League informed about this document all political parties, local governments
and international organisations in 8 cities of Western Georgia.
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign
"From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World”
From November 25 to December 10, by tradition Fund "Sukhumi” joins international campaign against gender based violence.
Representatives, volunteers, young leaders, partners and beneficiaries of Fund "Sukhumi” plan to conduct vigils, meetings with different groups of society, Round table meetings, forum-theatre performances, screen films, TV programs and broadcast radio programmes around Western Georgia. There will be distributed leaflets, posters, calendars, and booklets.
"2011 Campaign gives opportunity to think over and discuss once again what women’s rights global movements can do to change systems causing violence against women at all levels, from local to global" – say the materials of international campaign.
The overall theme of the campaign serves to raise our awareness on the need to work to change violent and militaristic mentality and also involve as many partners as possible in the process of building just and peaceful world.
„Peace in the Home" is associated to „Peace in the World", therefore the campaign unites people of good will worldwide.
From October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012 - Cultural-Humanitarian Fund "Sukhumi", with the financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED, Washington), implements a project - "Enhance activity of the League of women voters in development of a dialogue with local authorities and preparation for parliamentary elections of 2012.”
The project area covers the four regions of Western Georgia (Imereti, Samegrelo, Adjara, Guria).
Project objectives:
-Enhance the influence of the League of Women Voters and expand the dialogue with local government structures to address the local population problems in eight towns of Western Georgia.
-Raise awareness and civic activity of women voters in the parliamentary elections of 2012 in western Georgia
As the outcome of the carried out activities can be considered that the League of Women Voters has establish the links with local government structures in eight cities.
The advocacy groups from eight clubs will submit a range of problems of public importance to the local authorities for making decisions.
As a result of the ndertaken activities, theLeagueof Women Voters will establishcontacts withlocal governmentstructures.The project anticipates theintensework of the Leaguein cities of Western Georgia-Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Khobi, Zugdidi, Poti, OzurgetiandBatumi, where theadvocacy andpublic awareness-raisinggroups will develop theproposalsto protect localpopulation interests and submitted to thelocalauthorities and political parties for further advocacy andlobbying.
The highly qualified members of the League of Women Voters will inform the other women in their communities about the advocay campaigns and importance of participating in elections, that will lead to increased women's participation in the parliamentary elections.
A new stage of informational-educational activity joins the television and radio programmes, publishing of the journal, conduction of workshops, where women will learn how to conduct debates and advocacy campaigns, develop advocacy and lobbying strategies and enhance their leadership skills.
All activities, planned within the project, will be directed to improving women's opportunities with the purpose of their full-fledged engagement in political processes. The representatives of society groups, media, government and political parties will be involved in the public debates. During the entire project period the meetings are planned with political parties aimed at supporting women in the party structures, as well as contributing to close cooperation between the League of Women Voters and the political parties and supporting potential women candidates in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
We believe that the project will contribute to increasing women’s political capacities, developing of civil society, providing the positive impact on gender situation for the next parliamentary elections and achieving peace, stability and democratic principles in the country.
Fund "Sukhumi” joins an international information campaign "No women No
peace” launched in October 2010 by the international network "Gender Action for
Peace and Security”.
At 18:00-19:00 on October 31 Fund ”Sukhumi will organize peaceful vigils
in the towns and regions of Western Georgia: Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni, Khobi,
Zugdidi, Khurcha, Ozurgeti, and Batumi.
The vigils will be held within the framework of the world women’s campaign
and coincide with the 11th anniversary of the signing of the UN Security
Council Resolution 1325 which recognizes the unique impact of conflict on women
and the need for their inclusion in peace building.
Women's movements around the world share a commitment to implement the
principles of the Resolution 1325, to make it a powerful tool for protecting
women's rights, their unhindered participation in the democratic processes to
defend peace and security.
The focus of the campaign organizers is the solidarity with Afghan
women's rights activists who try to participate in the process of State
building in most difficult conditions.
·In
the vigils to be organized by Fund "Sukhumi” will participate over 300 women;
·The
symbols of the vigils will be candles and green scarves.
The vigils’ participants have a message –
"Protection of women’s rights in conflicts and post conflict
rehabilitation, ensuring their participation in building of peace and
democratic society, full-fledged implementation of the UN Resolution 1325 – is the
way to peace and equality!”
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Branch in Russian Federation
Regional Public organization Union "Women of the Don Region| (Russia)
Public organization Cultural-Humanitarian Fund "Sukhumi” (Georgia)
Press-release
Dialogue of Russian language teachers
of Russia and Georgia
September 7-9, 2011
The seminar "School services of reconciliation” will be held for the teachers of Russian language of Russia and Georgia in Kobuleti (Georgia) on September 7-9, 2011.
The seminar is organized within the framework of the project "To live in peace – to live with peace” aimed at restoration of mutual understanding and post conflict reconciliation through the initiation of multiple dialogues between the representatives of Russian and Georgian societies.
The project is implemented in the partnership of the two public organizations: the regional public organization Union "Women of the Don Region” (Russia) and the public organization Cultural-Humanitarian Fund "Sukhumi” (Georgia) with the support of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Branch in Russian Federation. It is the logical continuation of the Dialogue of the members of the Alliance of Women-Peacemakers of Russia and Georgia started in December 2009 in Tbilisi.
The objective of the seminar, the second one from the planned cycle, is to extend the knowledge of Russian language teachers in the space of principles and technologies of restorative justice - a new method of conflict resolution.
Participants of the seminar will discuss the role of Russian language in education of the younger generation, familiar with the principles and values of restorative mediation, and will get an idea of the school service of reconciliation.
The seminar will be held by Rustem Maksudov, the president of the Public Centre "Judicial and legal reform" (Moscow).
The venue of the seminar: 8 Queen Tamar Mepe St., Hotel "Green House”, Kobuleti, Georgia
For the additional information about the seminar please contact the Project Coordinator in Georgia Alla Gamakharia. Tel.: (+995 431) 7- 13-68, Mob: (995 99) 54-31-61, e-mail: woman@fundsokhumi. www.fundsokhumi.ge. www.facebook.com/fundsokhumi.
... We are again in Vani. In the morning there arrived representatives of Fund "Sukhumi". In the afternoon we took there food. In Vani we saw a bleak picture: the remains of the burnt houses were still burning ... - Again we have lost everything, but there's hope for good people, - women IDPs can not keep from crying. At dawn on 21st of July 12 IDP families from Abkhazia living in the Vani district - resort "Amagleba", were left without basic living conditions - in fact, on the street. Yesterday the chairman of the Government of Abkhazian Autonomous Republic, Gia Baramia and government representatives visited the survivors of fire. The Government of Abkhazia has allocated all of the twelve families left homeless financial aid in the amount of 1000 GEL. Representatives of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees (Georgia) offered the survivors various options for resettlement. In Imereti branch of the Ministry was opened the coordinating headquarters to help the survivors. The UN representatives have brought the IDPs folding beds and other things of the first necessity. We have sent the information about this tragedy to all networks and encourage all to help people in trouble. We received many responses and are grateful to all. Fund "Sukhumi" collects clothing, shoes, bedding and other necessary items that will be delivered periodically by us to Vani for the IDPs affected by the fire.
At dawn, in Vani district, in a collective center - resort "Amagleba" the tragedy occurred. Suddenly, a fire completely destroyed the wooden cottages, where IDPs from Abkhazia have lived for many years.
Today, 13 children (including one 3-months child), 13 women and 13 men are under the open sky.
Representatives of Fund "Sukhumi" were one of the first who arrived in Vani.
We urge everyone to show cordiality and give a helping hand to survivors.
Dialogue between Russian language teachers of Russia and Georgia
From July 2 to 7, 2011 the rehabilitation-educational seminar for Russian language teachers of Russia and Georgia will be conducted in Yerevan (Armenia).
The event is held under the project "Live in the world - live in peace" and aimed to return to post-conflict reconciliation and mutual understanding through the initiation of multiple dialogues between representatives of Russian and Georgian communities. The project is being implemented in partnership between two non-governmental organizations: Union "Women of the Don Region” (Russia) and the NGO "Cultural-Humanitarian Fund "Sukhumi" (Georgia), and is a logical continuation of the dialogue between the participants of "Alliance of Women Peacemakers of Georgia and Russia", which began in December 2009 in Tbilisi.
The seminar will be attended by eleven women from each country. They have gained the right to participate in the project by taking part in a special contest among the Russian language teachers, held simultaneously in Russia and Georgia.
During the project realization period, the teachers will acquire new knowledge and skills in a series of training seminars and participate in multi-faceted discourse on new tools of educating the next generation in the spirit of a culture of peace and nonviolence. They will also be able to develop partnership projects on building a tolerant outlook among students.
The aim of the seminar in Yerevan, the first from the intended series, is to provide psychological assistance to the participants, addressed on preventing professional burnout, increasing personal resources and creating a zone of mutual trust and cohesion of the group.
The seminar will be rendered by the psychologists from the South Federal District of Russia, specially trained to provide psychological assistance to individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Venue of the seminar:"Armenian Royal Palace”
Yerevan Armenia17/1, 4th str., Silikyandistrict
Tel..: +374 10 319119, 319484 Fax: +374 10 380338
For more information about the seminar and project can be received in Fund "Sukhumi" (contact person: Lali Shengelia - 593 28 45 31, 27, 27 29, 29 01 90)
On June 13, at 12 p.m. in the office of Fund "Sukhumi" (6 Mgaloblishvili St.) will be held a press briefing dedicated to the issues of human security.
From 13-19 June, 2011, activists in more than 60 countries are joining the Global Week of Action AgainstGun Violence, organised by IANSA (the International Action Network on Small Arms) to draw attention to the human cost of gun proliferation and misuse.
The campaign is held on the background of the solidarity of public organizations, ordinary people who share experiences on issues of human security.
The campaign is special with understanding of the importance of gender issues since women are the most vulnerable in armed conflicts.
Women's NGO Fund "Sukhumi" joined the IANSA network in 2011.
We are well aware of the pain brought by uncontrolled arms, gun violence, especially for women and children.
Our society has lived in conditions of the two unresolved conflicts for a decade. Peaceful civilians living in the conflict zone and its nearby territories are still subjected to gun violence.
A woman, who lives in the conflict zone, said something important:
"Some shots at night time usually do not affect our sleep. Anxiety comes when there is a silence. And we are waiting in fear that something would happen!"
In the course of the campaign, along with ongoing activities Fund" Sukhumi will hold more than 60 informational meetings in Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni, Senaki, Poti, Ozurgeti and village Khurcha - Zugdidi district (located near the conflict zone). On the last day of the campaign - June 19 on radio Dzveli kalaki will be aired a broadcast prepared by Fund "Sukhumi".
We support all people of good will, and with numerous beneficiaries we are joining an international campaign,
• to express our irreconcilable attitude towards violence,
• to realize the importance of participation in global processes,
• to express our solidarity to the survivors of violence!!!
We, the Alliance of Women-peacemakers of Russia and Georgia appeal to all who cherish peace and sustainable development. We want to share with all of you our main aspiration: to return, keep and strengthen peace between our countries. The philosophy of the value of peace is based on the moments uniting us. We can not "cancel” the geography and we’ll stay neighbours. We still have spiritual-cultural contacts, religious community. We have many mixed families and numerous diasporas. Another important factor is that demand in peace is an economic necessity.
We appeal to you for support having strong moral basis: despite the efforts of propaganda Georgians could not become enemies for Russia. The stereotype of any Russian as an enemy has not been formed in Georgia. Probably, our common past has been much stronger protection than thought those who are involved in starting the Georgian-Russian conflict. That is why we believe that not everything is lost. However, we have left too little time, so you need to seek changes right now.
WENEED:
·Restore diplomatic relations
·Restore economic contacts
·Strengthen and develop cultural community
A little more delay, and we will not have time, we’ll miss a historic chance, let alienation prevail.
First of all we appeal to public organizations with women’s agenda – they don’t need to be explained the benefits of peace before the war, humanitarian issues are at the heart of their work.
We encourage use of international instruments and mechanisms that constitute a reliable basis for peace-building - such as the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which defends women's right and their duty is to be active participants in the peace process.
These days they celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Resolution. It can be used as a good opportunity for actualization of resolution. We need to use this document persistently and creatively to achieve desirable changes – request women’s inclusion in negotiation process, change its format, status of negotiators. In short we should seek for appropriate decisions that people of both sides interested in peace, participated in negotiation process.
We appeal to Mass Media as an institution which work is crucial in these issues. We can see how Mass Media is used for the conflict escalation. Very often this tool is in base hands. We can do a little with this as with the reality of government. However, we appeal to the media as a community of people, each of whom selects a place of work, style and range of permissible and impermissible. We believe that even at this level, we’ll be able to prevent much, if we profess self-restraint and prudence, refrain from sensationalism and hasty conclusions, do not yield to provocations, guide by human values and focus on something that connects us, but not separates.
Alliance of Women-Peacekeepers of Russia and Georgia
From January 2011, fund "Sukhumi" starts to work on a new project "Public receptions - protection of women's rights". The objective of the project is to involve women in changing the current situation on gender equality, protection of women's rights and advocacy.
The main target groups of the project are women and girls IDPs who live in the Imereti region (Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni). Except social problems they are concerned by many issues regarding the program of resettlement. The most painful issue is women’s protection in cases of domestic violence.
The project envisages protection of civil women rights, strengthening of their position by means of "Public receptions" so that they can advocate for the rights of women and girls.
The following activities are planned within the framework of the project:
- Study problems of women and girls IDPs in the following cities: Kutaisi, Khoni and Tskhaltubo;
- Organize "Public receptions" on the basis on Women's Support Centers of Fund "Sukhumi" which will be staffed by women human rights defenders;
- Protect civil interests of women and girls – advocacy;
-Organize meetings with authorities on women's rights violations;
- Raise awareness of women and girls through telecasts, distribution of leaflets.
To achieve the project goals we will work with women and girls IDPs, authorities, lawyers, and non-governmental organizations.
Enlarged meeting of women-deputies of the City Council of Imereti region and activists of Fund "Sukhumi”
On the 3rd of September in the conference-hall of the hotel "Imperial” (#28 Mchedlidze St., Kutaisi) Fund "Sukhumi” will carry out a meeting for women-deputies of the City Council of Imereti region and representatives of public with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy.
The basic part of the meeting will be dedicated to the presentation of a brochure edited by Fund "Sukhumi”.
The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is an international exchange program that offers practitioners, scholars, andjournalists from aroundthe worldthe opportunityto spend five months at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), in WashingtonDC, in order to undertakeindependent research on democracyin a particular country or region.
For more detailed information see attached files in Russian and English languages
On May 27, 2010, from 11:00 to 12:00 the Network of Women’s Organisations of Georgiais arranging joint, silent actions in cities and district centres of Georgia (Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni, Khobi, Zugdidi, Poti, Ozurgeti, Batumi, Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Gori, Mtskheta, Dusheti, Gurjaani, Tbilisi).
Women’s Information Centre, Women’s Political Resource Centre, Union of Wives of Invalids and Lost Warriors, Women for Democracy, Anti-Violence Network of Georgia join the Action and express solidarity with different measures.
According to the statistical data there are 6% women in the Georgian Parliament.
11% of women are presented in the Local self government.
Georgia is on the 120th place according to the level of women’s participation in politics.
For the achievement of gender equality Georgia already has an appropriate Legislation base – Law on Gender Equality, though effectiveness of this Law is conditioned only by the good will of voters.
Fate of the Local self-government for the nearest four years will be decided at elections to be held on May 30. Whether women-candidates will be given possibility to use their abilities and opportunities for the good of their co-citizens is dependent on voters.
With the initiative of Cultural-Humanitarian Fund "Sukhumi”, the Action of solidarity to support women-candidates all around Georgia, organized by the Network of Women’s Organisations of Georgia, will remind voters, that:
Awareness raising and mobilization of women IDPs in political processes
From May 1 till December 31, 2010 Fund "Sukhumi” with the partnership and support of international organization "Conciliation Resources” is implementing the project "Awareness raising and mobilization of women IDPs in political processes” in the cities of Western Georgia –Khoni, Tskhaltubo, Kutaisi.
Beneficiaries of the project: women IDPs living in the region
The project consists of two stages:
The first stage: Awareness raising and mobilization of women IDPs before elections in the local self-government (May 2010).
The second stage: Monitoring of the process of IDPs’ housing (June-December).
The objective of the first stage of the project, taking into account experience of the last elections (when women’s participation in political processes was passive) is to raise awareness of IDPs in regard to election legislation, role, functions and possibilities of the local self-government.
We are planning to carry out informational meetings (18 meetings) within the framework of the project in the cities of Imereti region (Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni). As a result of the meetings 360 women will obtain knowledge about local self-government, increase the awareness about election legislation, and their election activities.
During the second stage of the project we are planning to do monitoring of the implementation of the programme on housing of IDPs, taking into account quality of repair works, fear redistribution of living area and gender principle.
Monitoring will be implemented in 14 collective centres located in Kutaisi: building of former pharmaceutic department, MilitaryHigh School, a military commissariat, kindergarten (21 Zakariadze Str.), Kindergarten (Nikea Str., # 19), Administration Building of Concrete factory, administrative building of Tractor Factory, School of Finance, Mining College, an administrative building airport Sataplia, Physics and Mathematics High School, Kindergarten of tuberculosis dispensary, military town of Kopitnari.
Situational analysis and proposals connected with the issues of housing of IDPs will be presented to appropriate governmental structures.
To active, wonderful women of Batumi Club of Women-voters, Tsitso Chkheidze and Inga Mebonia!
The staff of Fund "Sukhumi” shares your happiness and would like to congratulate you with your professional success: gaining nomination of the best radio producer and radio journalists of the year in Adjara. Your activeness, leadership qualities, particular skills of communication – these qualities could not be left unnoticeable.
Be sure that we are with you and share your success. Let this award be the starting point in your carrier and the beginning of the greatest success!
Use your professionalism, charm and other qualities, which were endowed to you by nature, in the other direction too, and tell your word in public-political space.
Fund "Sukhumi” would like to wish you a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas once again! Let the year 2010 be happy and successful for you and your families!
