At 3pm on March 7th activists of the Women’s Support Centre and members of the Club of Women-Voters in Khoni joined the Action-round table of Fund "Sukhumi” dedicated to the International Women’s Day – March 8. Three activists Lela Lomidze, Eliso Jikia, Shushana Mirstkhulava talked about history of women’s movements and emphasized historical importance of this day once again.
Results of the survey "What does 8th March mean to Georgian women and how do they celebrate it?” conducted by the activists in Khoni, were very interesting for the participants.
In the Action-round table dedicated to the International Day of Women’s Solidarity, participated twenty seven women-activists of the Women’s Support Centre and members of the Club of Women-Voters. Activists of the Centre (Anna Kvaratskhelia, Neli Ungiadze, Darejan Ungiadze) made speeches about the global women's movements, including women's movement in Georgia. The action was also joined by the participants of the Young Leaders’ School.
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to express our positions and to share our views once again...", - mentioned participants of the action.
Twenty seven activists of the Women’s Support Centre in Senaki, including young participants of the Leaders’ school, gathered at the Action-round table to show their support and solidarity with the women around the world. Participants listened to the speeches of Lali Gagua, Nana Ninua and Lia Gvamberia about how women around the world are fighting for the protection of their rights, keeping gender balance and peace building. The women activists’ speeches stressed the importance of women’s unity.
Participants of the Round table discussed results of the survey "What does March 8th mean for Georgian women and how do they celebrate it?" held by young leaders in Senaki.
More than three hundred
women participated in the action. The roundtable meetings, organized by Fund
"Sukhumi”, were successful held in Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo,
Batumi, Zugdidi, Senaki, Khoni, Khobi, Poti, Ozurgeti, village Khurcha) within
the action dedicated to the International Women’s Solidarity Day- March 8.
The members of the clubs of
women voters and activist of Women Support Centers, in the aforementioned
locations, made speech about the International Women’s Solidarity and the
women’s movement in Georgia.
The action – round tables,
once again highlighted the importance and peculiarity of this day, and was
covered by the local media.
Action - round table
dedicated to the Women's Solidarity Day attended by twenty-five members of the
Club of Women-Voters began with the discussion of the issues of women's solidarity:
"History of March 8th(Nato Bigvava); "Women - leaders of the world" (Gulnazi Gadua);
"How women celebrate March 8th in Georgia" (Dodo Gadua).
At the meeting, emphasis
was placed on women’s solidarity. Participants of the Action said that on March
8th once again women from all over the world announce their protest against
women's rights infringements and violence against women!
Members of Kutaisi Club of Women-Voters and
the staff of Fund "Sukhumi" gathered once again to show their
solidarity with all women around the world for the protection of their rights
and gender equality. Active members of the Club - Nata Todua, Anjela Chikhladze,
Gulnara Lakerbaia told participants of the Action about International Women's Day
and women's movement in Georgia.
- I think that all women should fight to
protect their rights. I wish women success in private and public life! - Manana
Kikabidze, a member of Kutaisi City Council and the Club of Women-Voters.
- Women, let your life be full of warmth,
kindness, joy and love! – said an active member of the Club, Nata Todua.
The Action - roundtable was highlighted by the
local TV company "Rioni".
With the support of Fund "Sukhumi" activists of Women’s
Support Centre and members of the Club of Women-Voters held Action - round
table dedicated to International Women's Day - March 8. Participants of the
action made speeches on "Women's Movement in Georgia" (Nana
Kopaliani), "History of March 8th (Laura Jimsheleishvili),
"How women celebrate March 8th in Georgia" (Marika
Mamardashvili).
The presentations were followed by an interesting discussion on women's
rights and gender equity issues.
25 women-members of the
Club of Women-Voters gathered in the building of Human rights Rights Defence
Union to participate in the Action-round table dedicated to international
women’s day. Emphasis was placed on the importance of women's unity for the protection
of their rights and in combating violence violence against women and
trafficking.
Active members of the
Club made speeches on Women’s Day: "History of March 8th (Irma
Kakhidze), "History of women's movement in Georgia" (Manana Rokva), "How
women celebrate March 8th in Georgia" (Tamila Katamadze),
"Women’s Solidarity” (Teo Jashi). These topics aroused great interest among
participants of the action.
International
Day of Women's Solidarity - March 8th was celebrated unusually in
Ozurgeti. At the Action-round table twenty-seven members of the Club of Women-Voters
showed their support for women of the world in the protection and advocacy of women’s
human rights. Active members of the Club made speeches on the topic of women’s
solidarity and women's movement in Georgia: "History of March 8th(Ketevan Kadeishvili), "History of
women's movement in Georgia" (Nino Nikolaishvili), "How women celebrate
March 8th in Georgia" (Marina Kipariodze).
From
recent times in Georgia the 8th of March is used more to celebrate
advocacy for equal women’s rights, discussion of the issues of gender justice,
peacebuilding and the themes of women’s solidarity in these issues.
The women’s non-governmental organization
Cultural-Humanitarian Fund "Sukhumi” started preparing for an Action dedicated
to the International Women’s Day – March 8. Activists of Fund "Sukhumi” will hold
Round table meetings in the towns of Western Georgia: Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo,
Khoni, Khobi, Ozurgeti, Batumi, Zugdidi, Senaki, Poti and the village Khurcha.
At the
meetings they will report on the world history of women’s solidarity; the
history of women’s movement in Georgia. Young activists will acquaint participants
of the round table meetings with the results of the survey – "What does the 8th
of March means for women in Georgia and how do they celebrate it?” There will
be screened documentary films of Fund "Sukhumi” which raise the issues of
women’s participation in different spheres of life.
The main
issue of the day and the theme of women’s discussions will be women’s
solidarity so the Round tables meetings will be held under the common slogan –
"We unite our dreams and goals”.
On the last day of the 16 Days Campaign fund
"Sukhumi" planned to held an action of bicyclists. Because of bad weather
few people gathered on David Agmashenebeli street (employees and activists of Fund
"Sukhumi") but inspite of this they drew attention of passers-by through
slogans. The interviews given to TV "Rioni" reflected their attitudes
to domestic violence.
10 December is Human Rights Day and the last day
of the Campaign. Having held over 130 measures Fund "Sukhumi” reminded hundreds
of people that violence against women is severe human rights infringment and
should be iradicated through joint efforts.
A regular action within the framework of the international campaign against gender violence was held by the first graduates of the Leaders’ school at the central square and the territory near to the market of Kutaisi.
Activists were divided into two groups. They distributed blue scarves and booklets not only among women but also men and children
Most of the action participants were young people. This was a very special sign for the first event of the 16-day campaign, as the youth, in the first place, should realize that violence against women is evil.
The action, conducted by the Women's Support Center, was attended by representatives of local government, famous people of the town and the IDP community.
All of them believe that violence against women must be condemned not only on the day of action, but also in everyday life.
Press-briefing was held in the office of Fund "Sukhumi” at 12 p.m.
The theme of the press briefing was clear to the representatives of regional and republican mass media, because after many years of cooperation, journalists are well aware of the meaning of November 25 and 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
The attendees were given the campaign attributes and the calendar plan of events. All of them expressed their desire to participate in the campaign and highlight different events in media.
Over forty people gathered in the center of Khoni by joint efforts of the Women’s Support Centre and the Club of Women-Voters.
Khoni joined the international campaign with the action, where participated many local and IDP people. They shared a commitment to end violence against women which is so widespread in society.
