In the office of Fund "Sukhumi" was held a two-day training on "Advocacy - an effective tool for the protection of civic interests". It was attended by 24 members of advocacy groups of the League of Women-Voters from eight towns in Western Georgia. Among the participants were students, teachers, journalists and public figures.
The training program included both theory and practical exercises in groups.
The participants got acquainted with the concept of advocacy, its stages and methods of determining effective actions in the process of advocacy.
During group works participants defined one problem for each town and developed a strategy to address it.
As a result of the training, participants obtained new skills for advocacy, planned their joint future activity and shared their experiences.
The training course was covered by the local TV company "Rioni".
In Ozurgeti the Club of Women-Voters was held in the building of the City Hall.
According to advocacy group they addressed problems of drinking water, insurance and transport to the local government of Ozurgeti many times. Despite the severity of the problems they continue to fight for their solution.
During the meeting members of the Club were provided with the following information – the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Action Plan, as well as amendments in the Law on political parties.
According to the Club members, it is important and necessary to introduce a broad spectrum of society with such documents.
20 local and IDP women from Abkhazia gathered at the Club meeting. There was raised the issue of the 11th kindergarten of Poti. "The kindergarten is not supplied with water, which causes insanitary conditions and prevents the staff from normal working", - said one of the participants.
An IDP from Abkhazia Fatima Lakerbaia put forward the issue of cleaning the premise. She said that the territory near to the kindergarten was not cleaned regularly.
The meeting participants focused on the issue of gas supply. In the words of a representative of "SOKAR Georgia” (Sofa Bilikhodze) only one street is supplied with gas in Poti and in the near future another two streets will be also supplied with gas.
Members of the Club discussed the problems with a member of the Sakrebulo Darejan Tskhvitaria.
According to Mrs. Darejan local government solves the problems of population in stages, and will timely respond to the aforementioned problem.
To support gender equality and democratic processes Fund "Sukhumi" continues to hold meetings with representatives of political parties.
In Ozurgeti project assistants met with Irina Sajaia (a member of theUnited National Movement, the Сommittee Сhairman of Sakrebulo on social issues), Kakha Glonti (Christian-Democrats), Aleko Mameshvili (Chairperson of Ozurgeti Sakrebulo).
The meeting participants expressed their readiness for active cooperation with Fund "Sukhumi".
They emphasized the need to conduct research in the region to find out how women are included in social activities and to promote their mobilization.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
30 active women of Ozurgeti gathered at the meeting of the Club to discuss once again issues of concern to the local community.
A member of the Club Tsitsi Kupradze mentioned that cases of migration due to unemployment increased, and the majority of migrants are women.
Revising again the list of pressing problems, were selected as two of them: the problem of water supply and of urban transport, there are streets where there is no traffic, that causes inconvenience to the population, especially women.
Advocacy group plans to raise this issue in local government.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
The theme
of the Round table, carried out within the framework of the 16 Days Campaign
Against Gender Violence, was "Integration of people with disabilities”.
In the
meeting participated representatives of different structures, students, and pupils.
During the
meeting were identified problems and elaborated recommendations: work to
increase society’s consciousness, use correct terminology, provide information
for representatives of different generations, conduct training.
