Tbilisi. On 23-27 April Women's Fund in Georgia organized a Training of Trainers in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights within the frames of the one year program New Perspectives on Generating Knowledge and Resources of Women Rights Groups on SRHR supported by Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI). Training aimed to raise participants’ awareness regarding interconnection of sexual and reproductive health and rights with the issues of strengthening women. In full… Source: The Organization’s web-page in a social page

Tbilisi. On May 4, the Parliament of Georgia ratified the Council of Europe Convention on ''Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence'' through the third reading. The package of all 24 legislative amendments was adopted by the Parliament unanimously. Read more… Source:ginsc.net

Tbilisi. ''Coalition for Equality'' responds to the information, spread in the media, regarding kidnapping of a juvenile girl for the purpose of marriage in Kvemo Kartli and to allegedly ineffective response of police to the fact. ''The Coalition considers that existence of such cases of violence is a result of discriminatory policy of the state in relation to those crimes, victims of which happen to become women and girls. Ineffectiveness of the state in relation to prevention, investigation and punishment of violence against women breaches the principle of equality before the law and discriminates women'' – is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The action ''Protect our work'' was held at the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia. The action was organized in relation with the International Workers' Day to protect labor rights of women. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Five-day Training of Trainers in Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights has started today. „Training aims to raise participants’ awareness regarding interconnection of sexual and reproductive health and rights with the issues of strengthening women. Invited trainers Irina Costache, Ph.D. In Gender Studies and Adriana, Radu Master of Public Health will lead the training for the women and girls who already have specific experience in direction of SRHR", is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The organization’s web-page in a social page

Azerbaijan. Two day training on UN Security Council resolution 1325 ''Women, peace and security'' was held in Baku, Azerbaijan initiated by the association Women for Rational Development and by the support of the British Embassy. ''The training was held in the State Committee of Family, Women and Children and it was participated by the representatives of state structures and groups working on action plan of 1325 resolution in Azerbaijan. State Committee of Family, Women and Children was supporting this process'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The organization’s web-page in a social network

Tbilisi. On April 21, a conference on "Equality Policy and Main Challenges in Georgia” was held. "The conference was focused on reviewing activities, carried out by non-governmental organizations, members of "Coalition for Equality”, in 2015 and 2016 years in order to eliminate discrimination in various fields”. Full version of the above presentation can be seen here... Source: sapari.ge

Samtskhe-javakheti. Women's Fund in Georgia continues training series for women within the frames of the project Organizing Grassroots Women’s Groups – Advocacy, Lobbying, and Leadership for Women's Rights In Akhaltsikhe this time. Participant of the previous training in Telavi and Marneuli elaborated group project ideas, that have been funded by the Fund. In full… Source: Organization’s web-page in a social page

Kvemo kartli. On April 5-6, 2017, Women’s Information center organized training in Tsalka Public Center. ''The aim of the training was to inform the people about women’s rights and gender equality issues. The participants were local residents and the engagement was high particularly among school teachers and kindergarten employees. They received information about gender roles, stereotypes, employment market, gender segregation and gender equality as the part of the democracy, social justice and well being'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The organization’s web-page in a social network

Tbilisi. On March 27, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association made a presentation of results of monitoring criminal cases at Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Gori and Telavi courts: ''Family harassment, domestic violence and violence against women''. ''The report, based on particular examples, retells about beating a woman by a man, harassment conducted against a pregnant wife, burning a woman using petrol, serious psychological harassment, death threat and other cases of conducting violence within a family'' – is stated on the website of the organization. See findings of the study... Source:www.gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On March 8, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, together with the Gender Equality Network and Women's Fund in Georgia, conducted a working meeting with non-governmental organizations involved in women issues. ''The aim of the meeting was to review an ongoing constitutional reform from a gender equality perspective'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender delivered a speech at the 34th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 8, 2017, where the topic of discussion was the report of Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, about his visit to Georgia. ''In his speech, the Public Defender emphasized the steps taken by the Government of Georgia in terms of protection of child's rights and positively evaluated the legislative changes, though he noted that it is necessary to strengthen the enforcement mechanism of the existing regulations and to improve the capacities of the responsible agencies'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

March 5-9, over 150 members of USAID’s (PITA) Youth Centers celebrated Women’s History Month throughout five cities of Georgia (Zugdidi, Ninotsminda, Kutaisi, Zugdidi and Gori). ''Young members of (PITA) Youth Centers joined the Georgian Women’s Movement action ''Breaking the Glass Ceiling'' in order to emphasize the significance of continuous fight towards protection of women’s rights and equity, and at the same time call for the necessity to remove invisible barriers those hindering women’s participation and empowerment in Georgia'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The web-site of the organization in a social network

On January 31, 2017, the Public Defender was appealed by Ana Arganashvili, Executive Director of the NGO - Partnership for Human Rights, who pointed out that by the order of the Zestafoni Municipal Council, single mothers were included among the social assistance recipients. The applicant claimed that the exclusion of single fathers from the program represented discrimination on grounds of sex. During the study of the case, the Public Defender sent a letter to the Zestafoni Municipal Council. On March 2, 2017, the Public Defender was informed that the order of February 24, 2017, was amended and single fathers were added to the social assistance recipients. Accordingly, the "single parents who have child/children under the age of 18 will receive 200 GEL as social assistance”, is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Adjara. On March 1-2, 2017, Women’s Information Center organized an information meeting in Chaqvi Public Center. ''The aim of the meeting was informing local residents about women’s rights and gender equality issues. The participants were local residents. The engagement was high particularly among school teachers and kindergarten employees. They received information about gender roles, stereotypes, employment market, gender segregation and gender equality as the part of the democracy, social justice and well being. There were also exhibited photo materials "Women at Constituent Assembly of Georgia 1919-1921.'' In full… Source: Social page

Tbilisi. On February 10, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia presented a special report on the situation women's and children's rights in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in 2014-2016 to the media. ''Conflicts have particularly severe impact on women's and children's health. Trauma of conflict and poor social conditions directly cause domestic violence, the victims of which most often are women and children. However, the number of non-governmental organizations that work on the women's and children's rights in these regions is low. No systematic monitoring or study of the situation is carried out. Domestic violence is one of the most difficult and, at the same time, hidden problems in the Abkhazian and South Ossetia societies. Victims of domestic violence are not seriously regarded by the police, who refrain from intervening in such cases'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On February 1, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia established the fact of direct discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in relation to the Club Sector 26. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) addressed to the Public Defender claiming that the guard of the Club Sector 26 in the city of Batumi identified the applicants as LGBT persons and expelled them from the club. The Public Defender considered that the applicants were not given an opportunity to self-realization and enjoyment of the services available for full-aged members of the society. The Public Defender addressed the club with a recommendation to ensure the availability of the service offered to the public on an equal basis, which among other things means that the club's staff and guards should respect the guests regardless of their sexual orientation or other signs'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On 3rd of February Tbilisi Sakrebulo has adopted Tbilisi Mmunicipality gender equality strategy which was suggested by the Tbilisi Mayor office. ''The Municipality gender equality strategy was prepared in the framework of the project which is implemented by Women’s Information Centre and supported by UNDP Joint programe for Gender Equality'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The web-page of the organization in the social page

Imereti. With the financial support of the Women’s Fund there has been conducted an assessment of needs of miner women living in a village (Chiatura). The assessment contains a review of needs of women employed at Chiatura mines and factories. An excerpt from the findings of the assessment ''... more than half of the respondents is the only breadwinner in the family. While an average income is up to GEL 300 ...''. The assessment… Source: The Women’s Fund in Georgia

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia echoes the requirement established by the Borjomi municipality program No2 for the newly married couples, which says that the husband must be registered in the town of Borjomi in order the couple to get monetary assistance. ''The Public Defender notes that similar requirement of the municipality emphasizes the dominance of men in the family and further strengthens the stereotypes about the roles of women and men in the society. Based on the above, the Public Defender calls on the Borjomi municipality to cancel its discriminatory requirement concerning the place of men’s registration in the program intended for the newly married couples and to promote gender equality in the region through its future activities'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge