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Domestic violence is a problem of any society, especially
critical the problem is in countries which had passed through war,
conflicts and civil confrontotation, as many people suffer of
post-traumatic stress. The war sets an example that violence is a method
to solve problems. Thus the problem of domestic violence exceeds the
limits of one family. A small tragedy becomes the beginning, a symptom and
continuation of the general one.
“Women’s participation is essential in order to
provide for comprehensive postconflict rehabilitation”- in 1993 on the
basis of such belief Swedish Fund “Kvinna till Kvinna” was established.
Swedish women have united to support their sisters on the torn Balkans.
During the years of the Fund’s activity it has spread all other regions of
the world, where women resist to violence and devastation in all its
forms. The Fund accomplishes its activity on the South Caucasus.
Meeting concerning the subject of domestic violence was held in
Yerevan - initiator was the Fund. Representatives of NGOs from Armenia,
Georgia, conflict zones of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions arrived at the
conference.
During the three days the participants discussed
issues regarding legal and political aspects of domestic
violence, specific activity of shelters’and crisis centers’,
cooperation with law-enforcement bodies, connected with sexual violence
and reproductive health.
The main goal othe meeting was to grant possibilitiy
to NGO representatives’ to be involved in the discussion, aimed at
qualitative changes of strategies in fight against violence in family and
exchange expereince in the sphere. The issue of domestic violence has
become a global one today. Governments of 44 states in the world
have adopted laws to prevent violence but their number grows steadily.
The following forms of violence towards women in a
family are emphasized. They are beating, raping, violence connceted with
receiving portion, female infants’ murder, sexual violation of female
children, crippling operations on female genitals and observance of
traditionl customs that cause harm to the health of women and early
marriages. Speech of the representative of organization “Anti -
Violence network of Georgia”, (Georgia) Mrs. Manana
Sologashvili, was dedicated to the history of creation and
adoption the Law on “Domestic Violence in Georgia”. Representatives of
state structures and NGOs were involved in the process. On May 26, 2006 at
the third hearing of the Law it was adopted, and on June 9, 2006 it came
into force. Undoubtedly, it is a positive moment, however according to the
speaker there are some imperfections in the Law, most important is, there
has not been elaborated Plan of actions on its accomplishment yet.
The head of “Center for Women’s Rights”, Mrs. Susana Vardanyan
(Armenia) told the present on situation in Armenia regarding the issues of
domestic violence for the last years.
Latest Gallup poll has revealed, approximately
70,1% women in Armenia have suffered of domestic violence, but the
Law on domestic violence unfortunetly has not been adopted yet and
officials deny the existance of the problem. Though, positive
moments can be marked as well: there is planned to open a shelter in
Armenia by 2009.
The participants spoke much on shelters, crisis
centres and neccessity of cooperation with law-enforcement bodies.
Speeches of the representatives of number of organizations from Armenia
and Georgia were dedicated to the issue. Leader of “Social and
Psychological Support Center”, Mrs. Marina Gumba (Sukhumi) said, there
exists a crisis line “Trust Phone”, that suggets women psycological
consultations, information and social services as well. 1000 calls from
women have been accepted for the period of its existance. At the
initiative of the members of the Organization there was set up “Trust
phone for prisoners”. There is an idea to create a “Trust phone for
women-prisoners”. The part of mass-media in the process of informating
society regarding domestic violence.
Was marked at the meeting. The Head of NGO
“Journalists for human rights” (Tskhinvali region), Mrs. Irina Ianovskaya,
spoke on depressing situation in the region. The Organziation works in
this direction, at the assistance of Kvinna till Kvinna Fund
has been issued a newspaper “Newspaper for everyone”and a book “About our
mothers, sisters, friends, beloved” where topics of women’s conditions in
Tskhinvali region were touched.
Special interest of the
participants arose a speech of Mrs. Marina Modebadze, the head of “Women
–democrates of Samtskhe – Javakheti”, Georgia, she told about the shelter,
created on the basis of the Organization at the support of Foundation KTK
and on problem of girls’ kidnapping in the region.
Legal, psychologic and educational work is carried
out for all the victims in the shelter. According to the statement of Mrs.
Modebadze social worker function in the shelter for 24 hours. She herself
was the victim of violence, but today she helps others to get out of the
situation. Members of the organization make all their efforts for women
not to be unemployed and have dwelling after leaving the shelter.
Speech of Mrs. Maya Kvaratskhelia, head of the
organization “Avangard” (Gali, Georgia) was dedicated to the issues of
sexual violence and reproductive health.
The latest project, carried
out by the organization was aimed to raise young girls’ sexual education,
which includes trainings for girls (human anatomy), preservation and AIDs.
There was established an information center on sexual education.
The center relaized educational programs for women,
120 of them studied computer, 80- English language. The main goal of the
project was to place these women in job.
Some problems exist as well
in Gali region. It is not a standard practice to register marriages, which
is connected with the problem of passports there. When a baby is
born, they are registered in different ways, more often illegally. A
husband does not often register the marriage if a girl was born to them.
There does not exist a “Trust Phone” in the region and establishing a
shelter there at present is simply impossible.
The representative of Fund Kvinna till Kvinna Mrs.
Kristina Bender – the Coordinator of KTK office in South Caucasus, shared
her views regarding the work done during the meeting. “I worked much on
the issues of violence in Sweden, but there it is called men’s violence
against women. It is very interesting for me to work in other context. I
know, you have been working on the problem for many years and your
approach is different. That was exactly our start point in Sweden.
Domestic vioelnce has wide meaning and includes various kinds of violence
in a family. Most widely spread is violence against woman, but there are
some other forms. All thses days, spent in interesting discussions,
speeches, I realized, how interesting was your approach to the problem and
how you try to solve all sore points. It was very interesting to listen to
the speakers, who represent various big regions and cities, small towns
and conflict zones. Nevertheless, the problem is common for everyone. The
problem exists in the whole world and we have to live with this built up
system of values. As for me, such meetings are very important. And I would
like to believe, that they are of great help for all of us. For people who
work in different countries on one and the same topic, meetings,
discsussion and sharing opinion, experience and knowledge are
useful. This possibility is to strengthen their potential, as of
specialists and persons. When people hear of the problem for the
first time their reaction is that the problem does exist, but when the
discussion starts, they realize that it really does”.
Mrs. Stina
Magnuson, particiapnt of Yerevan meeting has been working at Fund Kvinna
till Kvinna for four months and she is the coordinator of work with
partner organizations in Armenia and Azerbaijan: “We cooperate with four
partner organziations in Armenia and four in Azerbaijan. All these
organizations activiely work on women’s problems and has been supported by
Fund Kvinna till Kvinna for many years. Each old them has its own approach
to the problem despite how long it functions. We intend to support them in
future and watch the fulfilment of their work. I consider such meetings
very important for the organization’s development and to reach gender
equality in the region”.
GINSC Special Correspondent
Nino
Modebadze |
