Tbilisi.A two-day conference was jointly organized by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, as well as the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy. Party financing and participation of women in politics were the main topics of the conference. Along with the representatives of local NGOs and political parties, the Ambassadors of the US and Netherlands have also attended the meeting. Source: www.ginsc.net

ShidaKartli.On March 12, the society "Biliki" (path) has held the event titled "Woman - Active Citizen" as part of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program (USAID/PH International). At the event, state of the women's rights in historic and contemporary context was discussed and the winners of the essay competition held by "Biliki" have read their works. Representatives of the local authorities and NGO sector, teachers of public schools and other active citizens have attended the event.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. An independent group of feminists has organized a peaceful rally-march on March 8 from the Pushkin Square to the Philharmonic building. Slogan of the rally was "Join us if you fight for genuine equality". Up to 100 participants of the rally have supported the women's labor rights and their emancipation in the society. Source: ginsc.net

Kakheti. As part of the "Promoting Gender Equality in Georgia" program, the UN women's organization has held a meeting in the Telavi Media Cafe in connection with the International Women's Day. Writer DatoTurashvili has read the play "Awaiting Dodo", created for condemning violence against women. Debates were held following the reading of the play, with participation of experts in gender issues Tata Tsopurashvili, Lela Gaprindashvili and Tamar Sabedashvili.

Tbilisi. In partnership with NGO "Union of Wives of the Disabled and Killed Warriors" (women's union) and the Gender Equality Network, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has presented the project "Gender Equality in Political Processes" on March 1 in the Tbilisi Arts Academy. The project aims to strengthen women's politically empowering mechanisms for the next elections; enhance gender equality network; raise public awareness on the mechanisms of gender equality and empowering women politically. Source: npo.ge

Imereti. The Women’s Information Center and Association "Dea” have organized a meeting between the members of the Parliament’s Council for Gender Equality and representatives of the Women’s Development Committee of Zugdidi and Poti. One of the key topics of the meeting concerned the increase of women’s political activities and broader involvement of women at the decision-making levels. Leader women got familiar with the work of the Council for Gender Equality, listened to the Council’s action strategy and raised the issues of concern to them in the field of gender equality and women’s rights.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The organization "Women's Fund in Georgia" has implemented the project –"Women's Rights – Art in Action”, which aimed at raising public awareness increasing the sensibility on women's issues. As part of the project, the organization has carried out street performances on February 14, 16 and 17: One Billion Rising, Break The Chain and the exhibition of works of Georgian women artists „Auto Nomos" on the topic of sexual rights and experiences. The project was implemented with the support of the Estonian Embassy. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kakheti. As part of the UN joint program – "For Promoting Gender Equality in Georgia", an information meeting was held with the Kakheti-based NGOs in the Telavi Civic Engagement Center.The meeting mainly aimed to present the priorities and directions under the joint program to the Kakheti-based NGOs.Soso Mokeladze, Director of "Business Center Kakheti": "I think similar meetings facilitate the partnership between the UN joint program and Kakheti-based NGOs, as well as the implementation of future joint projects."The meeting ended with a discussion over creation of favorable environment for gender equality in the Kakheti Region – challenges and priorities.

Tbilisi.The partner organization of Care International Caucasus - the IDP women's association "Consent" has launched the campaign aimed at drawing attention to the women's property rights. The campaign is implemented as part of the EU-funded project "Empowering Women for Building Peace in the South Caucasus". Within the framework of the campaign, Care and its partners have developed pack of materials for the organizations and activists to illustrate the significance of women's property rights, and to inform the population on where to receive legal assistance on this issue. The pack also includes a 10-minute film where the lawyers, NGO activists and women talk how unprotected they are without the property.Source: Care's page in the social network.

Kakheti. The "Community Development Center”, in partnership with the Polish NGO B4, has implemented the project in Kakheti "Business for the Start”.Trainings were delivered to 60 semi-finalist women selected through the contest as part of the project. The project aimed to support women in starting up the small entrepreneurship and in self-employment.Business projects were developed at the final stage of the project. 20 women with the best business projects have received small grants in the amount of 3,000 GEL for starting up their own businesses.Tato Khundadze, project coordinator: "As the majority of the grantee beneficiaries are housewives engaged mainly in the household activities, it was rather difficult for them to work during the period of trainings and consultations. Nevertheless, we can say that the project "Business for the Start” has assisted dozens of ladies in overcoming the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness, caused by many years of "family isolation”.

Samegrelo. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems has held a meeting on December 14 in Zugdidi on the issues of gender equality and activation of women in political processes, with participation of representatives of NGOs, political parties, local authorities and media.The Manager of the IFES Gender and Awareness Project Lado Mkervalishvili stated that one of the gender-associated problems in Georgia is the fact that often women themselves do not express solidarity towards each other.The EU representative from Sweden attending the meeting has told the audience that in his country women are employed in public service in the same numbers as men, but on relatively lower positions. "Sweden may be an example for Georgia, but we are far from perfection", – explained the EU representative.

Adjara. On December 13, the Batumi Civic Engagement Center has hosted the film screening and discussion as part of the international campaign against gender violence. Worldwide campaign includes various type of activities against gender violence. Since 1991 until today, up to 1700 organizations of 130 countries have participated in the campaign and contributed to the problem solution. The film is directed by NGO "House", which depicts the domestic violence. A problem raised by the film later became the subject of discussion by the invited guests and experts. Representatives of the Public Defender and the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association have spoken about the statistics of violence in Georgia. The meeting ended with demonstration of videos advertising the hot line for the violence victims.

Samegrelo. Zugdidi-based NGO "Gaenati" has organized the event on December 9 in front of the cinema "Atrium", dedicated to the International Day of Human Rights. According to the organization's head Eka Machavariani, every year "Gaenati" joins the international campaign that condemns violence against girls and women and carried out various events. "The youth club functioning with the organization has set up the candle decoration in the evening and organized a concert in the street. We thought to attract public attention against violence by holding the theatricalized event", – Eka Machavariani said.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. A meeting was held on December 7 in the Akhaltsikhe Civic Engagement Center to support the international 16-day campaign against gender violence. Organizations working on violence and the Akhaltsikhe residents, mainly women, have attended the meeting. The experts spoke about the statistics on violence and the film on domestic violence provided by NGO "House" and the advertising videos of hot line for abuse victims were shown. The international 16-day campaign against gender violence dates back to 1991. It was founded at the initiative of the "Women's Global Leadership Center". November 25 is selected as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and December 10 - as the International Human Rights Day. Thus, the combination of these two dates symbolically underlines the link between gender violence and human rights violations. Worldwide campaign includes various activities against gender violence.

Adjara. The seminar was held on November25 in the association of elderly women to commemorate the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women. Topic of the seminar was "Let's unite against violence towards women".The medical staff of outpatient department of the municipality's 12 communities was invited to the seminar. Lawyer Marine Zhghenti has delivered the seminar and informed the participants on the notion of domestic violence and how does the state protect the victims of domestic violence. Information materials were distributed, which will be disseminated in all communities of the municipality. For the full text. Source: awa.org.ge

Tbilisi. On November 28, the office of Women's Information Center has hosted the training titled "Empowered Women for Public Life". The training aimed at enhancing the skills of leader women in communication and delivery of public speeches, and raising their awareness on national and international mechanisms of elimination of violence against women. Leader women from various regions of Georgia, ethnic minority representatives from the Pankisi Gorge, regional journalists and the representatives of the youth community groups have participated in the training. The trainings are organized as part of the project "Empowered Women for Public Life", which is funded by the Democracy Development Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in Georgia, within the framework of the 16-day campaign against gender violence.

Shida Kartli. On November 25, as part of the "Civic Education and Teacher Training Program" and in connection with the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women, the schoolchildren have invited to the civic club of Khashuri Public School #9 the guest – the Head of the Shida Kartli gender Equality Resource Center Nino Sukhiashvili. She talked about violence against women and legislation for its prevention, statistics on domestic violence and the UN documents. The study on the victims of domestic violence in Georgia has established that the victims of domestic violence in most cases are women and children, while males are the violators. However, Ms. Sukhiashvili said that elder parents or males can also become the object of domestic violence. According to her, apart from various international organizations that protect the women's rights, the Public Defender is also authorized to examine these issues and protect the rights of women. The guest has awarded the civic club with a gift - the Declaration on the Rights of Women.

Tbilisi. 16-day campaign against violence in Georgia was launched. The campaign against gender violence, organized by the UN Population Fund, took off on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will be completed on December 10, the International Human Rights Day. During this period the Fund will organize several events, including the radio and TV programs dedicated to women's rights, film screenings and discussions on the issues of gender violence. The 16-day campaign against gender violence aims to raise public awareness on violence against women and strengthen the civic consolidation around women's rights. The campaign is held as part of the UN joint programme- "Promoting Gender Equality in Georgia" - which is implemented by the UN Population Fund, UN Women's Fund and the UN Development Program, with support from the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency. For the full text. Source: insc.net

Tbilisi. "Article 42 of Constitution" has celebrated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by the II building of the Tbilisi IvaneJavakhishvili State University. The organization's representatives have disseminated the thematic booklets on women's rights together with the prominent public faces and the members of the theatrical quartet. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

ShidaKartli. The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) has launched a project together with the "UN Women's organization", which aims to promote better coverage of problems of women living in the IDP compact settlements and to advocate their rights. This very project was presented to the young IDP women in Gori in the office of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association. Local NGOs have informed the journalists about problems existing in the compact settlements encountered by IDP women. Conducted studies illustrate that the number of victims of domestic violence in the IDP settlements is steadily increasing, and in addition IDP women are not much aware of their own rights. The Institute for War and Peace Reporting has created a network of citizen journalists, which will cover the women's problems. The Abkhazian, Ossetian and Georgian journalists already post materials on the web page (women-peace.net) set up within the project framework. The project aims to unite more women around the issues of peace and the women's rights. For the full text. Source: media.ge

Adjara. The cultural-humanitarian fund "Sokhumi” has presented the project "Women’s Civil Participation” on November 16 in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center. The project aims to enhance women’s capabilities in terms of civic activities, ensure their full participation in the important decision-making, promote the formation of the civil society, modify the gender setting in the next local elections, and to establish peace, stability and gender equality in the country. Geographic scope of this project covers four regions of western Georgia (Imereti, Samegrelo, Adjara, Guria), while its duration is one year.The project is financially supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Tbilisi. The training in "Gender Audit for the Facilitators" was delivered in Tbilisi for the representatives of CSOs, International Labor Organization and the central and regional state structures. The training was led by Angelika Muller, the expert in labor rights, and the gender expert of the International Labor Organization.Gender audit implies revealing of the organization's strengths and weaknesses in the activities supporting the gender equality, and the assistance of organizations in independently developing the proposals for introducing complex gender approaches. For full text. Source:ginsc.net