"I often participate in the meetings of Fund "Suhumi”. I have become more self confident and loot at life with other eyes. Any woman should know her rights. It will change much in our lives and would contribute to formation of full-fledged society, - this was opinion of participants of the meeting, held in Tskhaltubo.
Girls had active discussion on the issues as gender equality, social roles of women and men, Georgian mentality and stereotypes.
There were considered international documents on women’s rights protection – the UN Resolutions 1325 and 1820, Beijing platform.
Participants mentioned that young generation talks about distribution of the roles of men and women more boldly. They think that discrimination should not happen on the basis of gender and equality should be established in every family.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
Meetings on reproductive health have been continued. Three meetings with women and young women IDPs were carried out in Women’s Support centres (Kutaisi-02.02.10; Tskhaltubo-17.02.10; Khoni-15.02.10).
The topics discussed were: complications connected with pregnancy, importance of regular visits of women to doctors, information about free of charge mammography examination, measures for prevention of breast cancer.
In desire of some participants they were rendered individual gynecological consultations.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst
On the 5th of February in the office of Fund "Sukhumi” there was held informational meeting the purpose of which was to inform students about the analysis "Dialogue process on security guarantees in the context of Georgian-Abkhaz conflict” and to fix their positions about peaceful ways of conflict resolution, in particular, about agreement on non-resumption of hostilities.
In the meeting participated students of A. Tsereteli State University and the StateUniversity on Subtropical Agriculture. As a result of the discussion participants made conclusion that agreement on non-resumption of hostilities is needed for the restoration of confidence between parties, though some participants paid attention to threats for Georgia in case of drawing up such an agreement.
"Until the threats coming from Russia are not neutralized it is impossible to talk about full security guarantees”.
"It is necessary to spread real information about the situation around and here young people should say their word”.
"Russia carries out permanent information war against Georgia and misleads, first of all, its own society. Therefore we try to contribute to dissemination of objective information”.
At the end of the meeting participants submitted their suggestions.
On February the 4th representatives of Fund met with the chairperson of the local self government of Tskhaltubo, Mamuka Sagarashvili. The topic of the conversation touched upon the issue of housing of IDPs. The first stage of the programme on housing stipulates constructing of ten buildings in Tskhaltubo, which is planned to be completed within 2 years and approximately 350 will be provided with premises.
Representatives of Fund were interested in the issue about colletive centres which are in particular emergency conditions.
According to the explanations of local authorities there are such centres where roves, electric wiring and sewerage system are in awful conditions. People will not be able to live there for another two years. Local authorities and Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation try to solve these problems together within the limits of the possible.
"Dissemination of results of the Georgian-Abkhaz dialogue on Security Guarantees - Dialogue on security guarantees in the context of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict” – this was the topic of the workshop organized by fund "Sukhumi” in Batumi with participation of representatives of supreme and local legislative authorities of Adjaria, lawyers and IDPs.
Participants of the workshop were acquainted with the analysis of experts on the aforementioned topic, fixed their opinions on the issue and results of the analysis. Some participants think that agreement on non-resumption of hostilities will give only positive results, while others think that such agreement will not change the real situation.
After discussions participants worked in groups. They formulated positions of civil society and representatives of authorities on the aforementioned topic, elaborated suggestions and recommendations.
Every month Fund "Sukhumi” organizes informational meetings with representatives of political parties functioning in the cities of Western Georgia.
In January parties were provided with the information about objectives of Fund "Sukhumi” – to increase women’s representation and strengthen their role in political parties. Representatives of parties, in their turn, gave information about the process of preparation for the participation in the local self-government elections in their parties and what chances women have of being presented in election lists.
The meetings were held with the representative of the following parties: United National Movement (Zugdidi), Republican Party (Batumi, Ozurgeti), Christian-democratic Movement (Poti), Labour Party (Kutaisi).
Election lists of the Republican Party are drawn up based on liberal principles, that means free selection of candidates. Women and men have equal rights to be presented in election lists.
Representatives of the National Movement say that women-members of their parties would be given possibility to use their skills and experience in pre-election period as well as during the elections.
Chairperson of the Christian-democratic Movement in Poti, Lasha Beraia said that in their election lists second and third positions would be held by women running committees of Health and Education within their parties.
As to the system of quoting chairpersons of parties do not support the system of drawing up election lists taking into account gender. They think that more attention should be paid to professionalism, hardworking and experience of candidates.
Since a new work year meetings on reproductive health, planned to be carried out in the Women’s Support Centres of Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo and Khoni have been continued. In total there were carried out 6 meetings for women as well as for young women. Women come to the meetings with great pleasure to obtain useful information, answers to the questions they are concerned about.
At the meeting in Kutaisi they talked about the importance of often visits of women and young women to gynecologist. They were also interested to listen about HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The meeting in Tskhaltubo was consultative. Before the meeting many girls and women had time to visit gynecologist and so they wanted to discuss the results of their examinations.
Parents to be who attended the meeting asked many questions about meals for pregnant women, which vitamins and medicines they can take.
The meeting held in the WSC of Khoni was attended by the women at a mature age. They were interested in the issues related with menopause.
In January there were carried out 12 informational meetings on the topic of housing in different collective centres of Kutaisi and Tskhaltubo.
At the meetings we have found out that basic problems of IDPs are connected with housing.
IDPs living in one of the collective centres, former hotel "Sataplia” expressed their satisfaction, because the building was redecorated and transferred to their ownership. But despite this fact they still have certain problems connected with faulty distribution of living space.
Informational meetings will be continued and IDPs will get necessary information regarding housing.
"When you are angry, you does not perceive good, but consentrate at anger filling yourself with ruinous energy, that destroys you from inside”, - say women, participants of the meetings with psychologist.
"Learn to send your body impulses of good and love”, - advices the psychologist.
In January there were carried out 12 group and 7 individual meetings with psychologist. The meetings were held in collective centres of Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni. In total 86 women were rendered psycho-rehabilitation.
In the assembly hall of the local self-government in Poti there was held a meeting with the participation of women-representatives of local authorities, civil society, political parties and Mass Media.
The meeting was held within the framework of the project "Dissemination of results of the Georgian-Abkhaz dialogue on Security Guarantees - Dialogue on security guarantees in the context of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict”, implemented with the support of British organization International Alert.
The objective of this meeting was to acquaint participants with analysis of Georgian and Abkhaz experts and make visible results of public discussions on that issue for specialists and governmental structures.
At the meeting held in Poti there were defined attitudes of different groups of women to the agreement on the non-resumption of hostilities and conditions which should be stipulated in this agreement.
In the opinion of participants peace resolution of the conflict has no alternative. So there should be an agreement which will define obligations of parties on non-use of force, protection of human rights etc.
What are the risks for Georgia connected with this agreement? Who should be the guarantee for its implementation? Which sides should be the main subjects? Which are necessary conditions to be included in the agreement? Which proposals, recommendations do they have for the positive solution of the issue? These were the main issues discussed at the meeting.a
Women’s rights, their role in peacebuilding, the UN Resolution 1325 – these and other issues were discussed at the meeting with young women held in WSC in Tskhaltubo.
"The oftener I participate in such meetings, the more I understand that topics discussed here are important and essential since young women should know their rights, laws to be able to use this knowledge in case of need”, - Eka Kvachaxia.
Participants consider that such meetings contribute to their awareness raising and decreasing of the facts of violence.
Meetings planned to be held by Fund "Sukhumi” with political parties in January are aimed at getting of information about preparation of parties to local self-governmental elections and promotion of inclusion of more women in election lists.
A regular meeting was held in Batumi branch of the Republican party of Georgia. Leader of the party, Murman Dumbadze, told about political activeness of women-members of their parties at the local level and future plans on the preparation to elections.
In his words women – members of their party show special activeness not only in pre-election period, but also making specific decisions.
Representatives of parties think that the principle of gender equality is adhered in their party and accordingly they don’t support quota system. They make election lists based on professionalism, leader qualities and high educational level.
At the meeting there was emphasized the importance of cooperation between women- members of the party and Club of Women-Voters of Fund "Sukhumi”. There was initiated participation of the party members in the future meetings of the Club.
