In February the Fund "Sukhumi" began series of meetings - in Zugdidi and Senaki, held a debate on «Are the efforts of local structures adequate on violence prevention and assistance to victims?"
To the same theme was devoted to a round table held in Kutaisi.
Significantly positive, which was recorded at all the meetings, was that they were attended by all units, structures that are provided in the referral mechanisms in the prevention of domestic violence.
In the office of the Fund " Sukhumi" there gathered representatives of the local City Council, police, courts , NGOs , social workers, lawyers, attorneys, psychologists... that there are people who directly or indirectly are related to preventive mechanisms.
Despite the fact that during the meeting, and active discussions there were more questions than answers, the participants talked about personal responsibility and the need for coordinated efforts.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)
On February 28, in the Center for Democratic
Involvement of Batumi, fund "Sukhumi" organized a round table on the
theme - "local gender perspectives in the context of self-government and
community relations." The wide range society, media government and non-governmental
organizations attended the event. Participants of a round table heard the
information about a project of the fund "Sukhumi”, its goals and objectives,
activities of the gender consultation centre and had an opportunity to express
their view regarding the needs of different gender groups and the ways of their
solution.
The conversation touched the gender
stereotypes that often cause inequality, also the necessity of gender education
in schools. This part of the society has a lack of information; it has no
possibility to reach local resources.
According to the Council of Representatives,
it is necessary to strengthen those groups which are less affected by social
protection measures. It will help to distribute resources fairly.
"Unemployment and its solutions through the eyes of young
people" – a round table meeting on this topic was conducted by Tskhaltubo
group of Young Leaders School.
Participants talked about the problems they face. They said that even
higher education does not guarantee employment, which creates serious problems
- unemployment is directly linked to conflict, violence and other negative
factors.
Attendees mentioned that while finding jobs young people need to better
show their capacities. They talked about the importance of professional
re-training. They also said about on-line work, that is still new for us, but
investigation of this space will help to overcome many problems of young
people.
Early marriages pose serious problems – said participants of the
roundtable meeting in Senaki.
Members of the School of Young Women Leaders and other participants of
the meeting said that negative results of early marriages are mainly reflected
on girls: they may not get education and be dependent on others financially and
morally. These problems often create conflicts and lead to divorces.
Participants emphasized that such kind of meetings raise awareness of
young people.
The project is implemented with the
support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
A round table meeting
on the topic "Protection of victims of violence and violence
prevention" was held in Khoni Women Support Centre. The meeting was
attended by representatives of local self government, teachers, youth, women
IDPs.
During the meeting
there were revealed problems in terms of protection of victims of violence, and
elaborated relevant proposals.
Participants were
given posters, leaflets and calendars published by Fund "Sukhumi"
within the framework of the campaign. They expressed their willingness to
actively participate in the campaign and said that they would wear white
ribbons as a sign of solidarity.
The
project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst
(Germany)
Khoni group of the Young Leaders’ School of Fund "Sukhumi” carried out a
round table on the theme "Violence against children”.
-Reasons, results, preventive activities – the meeting was
held based on this scheme.
Participants said that in families where violence occures children become
potential victims. As to the preventive measures participants said that more
wide-scaled and coordiated work against the problem is needed to protect
children against any form of violence.
The round table was held within the framework of the 16 days campaign.
All the participants were given the campaign attributes.
The project is implemented with the
support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
Peace and human security; the most pressing issues of
human security for women IDPs; where they feel themselves less secure; who can
improve the current situation; gender-based violence, as one of the "weaknesses"
of human security; the responsibility of the state and society, and activities
for the prevention of violence. An illustrative example of the "women-peacemakers’
base" - a brave fight to protect the rights of women and girls in the
"hottest" spots of the world - these and other issues were discussed
by local and IDP women, as well as representatives of local authority at the
round table meeting conducted at the Women Support Centre of Tskhaltubo.
The project is implemented with the
support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
"Drug
addiction" - this was the theme of the round table meeting organized by
the participants of Young Leaders School at the school № 15 of Poti. The
meeting was attended by 30 ninth-graders.
They discussed issues
of drug addiction and its prevention among teenagers.
For many attendees
drug addiction is a disease that needs serious treatment and some believe that
it is a crime, as an addict harms not only himself or herself and his or her
family, but also society.
In the process of
prevention teenagers charge state structures and NGOs. They find it necessary
that family and society had a humane attitude to drug users, as only in this
way they may be healed.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna
till Kvinna,
A roundtable meeting on the theme "Gender aspects
of human security" was held in Kutaisi on a background of active
discussions. Women, including women IDPs, identified areas in which they feel
themselves less secure. They believe that more measures should be taken to
protect human security.
The roundtable was held during the 16-day campaign and
represented one of the activities in the peacemaking project of Fund
"Sukhumi" - "Women and girls acting in the name of peace,
security and social justice".
The project participants acquainted attendees of the
round table with the results of the work on the "Database of Women
Peacemakers ."
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna
till Kvinna,
Participants
of the School of Young Leaders actively involved in the campaign. They participated
in the actions carried out in different places, and then started to conduct
their activities.
The
group of Young Leaders’ School of Fund "Sukhumi" from Khurcha held a
round table meeting, where they discussed the topic of gender-based violence.
At
the beginning of the meeting participants were provided with the information
about the 16- day campaign and information materials: leaflets, calendars,
posters...
All
participants had white ribbons - a symbol of the campaign on their chests.
According
to the roundtable participants, in villages, especially in Khurcha mentality
and stereotypes are very strong and woman is a victim of gender-based violence.
It was mentioned that any form of violence is a crime and daily work is needed
to eradicate it.
The project is implemented with the support of
Kvinna till Kvinna,
A round table meeting
on the topic "Non-governmental sector and local government – responsibility and
prospects of cooperation” was held in the meeting room of Zugdidi Municipality
Board.
The meeting was
attended by representatives of local self government, village commissioners,
staff representatives of educational resource centre, teachers, school
directors, representatives of NGOs and EUMM, local and IDP women.
Once again there was
underlined the importance of cooperation between the local government and
non-governmental organizations for problem solution.
There were identified
problems with regard to the protection of victims of violence and discussed
joint measures for their assistance, and elaborated recommendations and
suggestions that will contribute to the effective use of legal mechanisms and
the consolidation of society for the prevention of violence.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization Brot
für
die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)
"Youth Initiatives - the prospects of cooperation with local
structures" – this was the topic a round table discussion in Khoni
Municipality Council, which was attended by the project participants ,
activists , a psychologist, a lawyer, and representatives of local self
government.
This was the final meeting within the framework of the project supported
by PIN (People in Need). An expert invited to the meeting, a Chief Specialist
of Municipality Council Bachana Basilaia stressed the importance of young
people’s mobilization living in the villages Nakhakhulevi and Matkhoji, since
they do not have any experience in working with NGOs.
The project participants believe that they have learnt how to conduct
workshops and organize discussions on various topics. Besides, they already
have the necessary skills for advocacy. In this regard, they are going to do
more in the future.
At the end of the roundtable meeting young people elaborated
recommendations for the implementation of youth initiatives in cooperation with
the local government.
The project is implemented with the
support of organization «People in Need»
"Despite great desire of certain NGOs, they will not be able to solve the problem of domestic violence, if the whole society does not mobilize".
"If not bureaucratic, the law can be called inflexible since the procedures for the victim get to the shelter are very complicated".
"The law should require the local government to help victims of domestic violence."
"In the social housing should be considered living space for families of victims of violence."
"Raising of public awareness, unity of governmental and non-governmental sectors are of particular importance".
"Resource center, social services, police, schoolsshould cooperateto protect children from violence, but they don’t usually do it".
"The problem is a brain drain from the police, when there is a shortage of retrainedpersonnel".
"The problem related to gambling and adolescents is still painful."
... A round table meeting organized in the frame of the campaign in Zugdidi, was attended by local authorities, non-governmental sector, the police agencies, social services, groups of IDPs and local community. According to the participants, the meeting was very fruitful, and in the future it will help to improve the situation that exists in terms of the protection of victims of domestic violence, violence prevention, and consolidation of society.
The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the EUMM. They mentioned that public debate on these issues is very important and a big part is assign to civil campaigns that consolidate all people of good will.
37 representatives of local authorities, social services, non-governmental sector and education system, lawyers, young people invited to the meeting agreed that it is inefficient, when the local government is not involved in the protection of victim, or assigning her the status, because they better know the situation that exists in family.
Participants of the round table organized on December 6 in Kutaisi evaluated the level of victims protection in the case of domestic violence, coordination of entities of referral mechanisms and information sharing, which practical steps should be taken for the prevention of violence and protection of victims.
When is social agency involved in the eradication of violence, what responsibility lies with the schools, hospitals, human rights organizations, other actors?! According to the attendees the system is defined, there are referral documents, but everyone recognizes the problem of coordination.
The conversation touched on the issue of shelters. They said that there must be found resources to increase the number of shelters, popularize psychological services, and return to the school not only the staff of psychologist, but also solve the issue of engagement of social educator.
Participants felt the need to create a coordination unit which would adjust interdepartmental communication and exchange of information, experience, and would provide practical activities to improve the situation. In this regard, non-governmental sector plays important role.
Young people get married at an early age (12 - 14 years old), - such conclusion was made by the participants of Young Leaders School as a result of the survey and that issue has become a reason for the conduction of the Round table.
Meeting on the topic "Family, love, traditions - early marriages" was conducted at the Women's Support Centre.
Young leaders brought together interesting audience - representatives of government agencies and non-governmental sector, human rights defenders, journalists, psychologists, students and pupils.
- The violent environment in the family,efforts to get rid of problems, early maturation, lack of love from parents being in migration, lack of interest in learning - these reasons were discussed at the round table meeting.
One of the recommendations – continuediscussion on this topic in schools, among teenagers, on facebook that young people could identify positive and negative aspects of early marriages.
The round table was dedicated to 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign.
"Victim of violence should understand that after addressing to law enforcement bodies, she will not have to return to a rapist".
"There should be one shelter in each region, since those who need help, can not get to the shelter".
"Rapist must feel that the law is strict and if he commits violence, he will surely be punished".
"Institute of social worker should be developed. Unfortunately, most of the personnel, which at one time were retrained by international organizations, are not used".
"Local government has policies to protect victims of violence, but the fact that the law does not provide a responsibility of the government, causes a number of problems".
This is an incomplete list of proposals and recommendations that have been elaborated at the Round table meeting in Poti Sakrebulo.
The round table meeting was held on December 3 within the 16-day campaign of Fund "Sukhumi". It was attended by representatives of local government, law enforcement bodies, educational institutions and various social groups. The meeting was highlighted by the local TV company "9th Wave".
How effective are legal and social mechanisms that exist today to protect victims of violence, how they protect those who really need help, what is the coordination among the institutions that are responsible for response and mutual cooperation, exchange of information; what should be changed for more effective response to the problem?
In Tskhaltubo Sakrebulo was held a round table meeting of Fund "Sukhumi" with the participation of IDP groups, representatives of local government, human rights defenders and journalists.
During the discussion there was emphasized that institution of social worker is quite effective in the region. The sited examples showed the need for expansion of activity in this direction. "There should not be only one social worker in the districts". IDP women acknowledge problems in their community, "Needs of IDP families should be studied, since the problem of violence around us is very relevant".
There was raised the issue about shelters, which, according to participants, should be more. The conversation touched upon the issue about homes for the elderly, where old people try to get for years.
The initiative of local self government to assist in the organization of trainings for the staff of self-government with the support of non-governmental organizations was interesting.
There was emphasized the importance of joint efforts of the local community, government and social institutions in the solution of the problem related to the protection of victims of violence.
- Integration of persons with disabilities - this topic was discussed at the round table organized by the members of the School of Young Women Leaders in the Women's Support Centre in the village Khurcha.
Attendees - doctors, teachers, parents, lawyers, pupils, mentioned that integration of persons with disabilities is necessary, since they are full-fledged members of society.
Facilitators of the Round table provided attendees with the information about the current campaign, and mentioned that they oppose violence with this event.
