2010.03.19 06:47:33

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Семинар по Интегрированной Безопасности имеет своей целью дать молодым женщинам активистам возможность присоединиться к своим коллегам из региона Южного Кавказа в безопасном месте, для обсуждения основополагающих вопросов, которые были подняты защитниками ПЧ из Южного Кавказа, а именно:

• Как мы можем справиться с угрозами и помехами, травлей и отсутствием поддержки? Упомянутые организациями региона угрозы включают и страхи, что экстремистские группы в будущем станут еще более активными, страх войны, финансовых проблем и риск быть закрытыми властью.
• Как мы можем создать безопасную сеть для наших коллег, наших организации, наших семей – для нас самих?
• Какими методами противостоять угрозам и помехам – мы можем обсудить и усовершенствовать совместно – какие методы оправдались, что нужно изменить, что необходимо для формирования новых стратегии.

Члени Комитета Советов СМЖ - решили приготовить анкету заявления и мотивационное письмо, которое отправлена для вас всем на вашу почту.

Пожалуйста, заполните заявку и отправте на эту почту не позднее 29-ого марта, 2010 Года - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

С уважением,

Члени Комитета Советов СМЖ

2009.12.21 10:07:16

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Women's Information center

"Women, Peace and Security: United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889"

07.12.2009 - 10.12.2009

After military conflict in Georgia in August 2008 country faced new wave of IDPs. It caused aggravation of the whole range of the social problems existing in the country, including those affecting women. On other hand these events again put on the agenda necessity of the allocation of additional efforts for addressing of special needs of women and employment their potential in security and conflict transformation fields. Women’s organizations and development actors working with conflict affected women and IDPs feel this moment as crucial for the review of the achievements and problems in the field of implementation of the UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions and development of the intersectoral partnership and action plan for its implementation.

Aim of our discussion is to create conditions for constructive and healthy dialogue to share experiences between competent experts from the different countries and representatives of different classes of society that are interested/engaged in peace, security and women’s issues.

P.S.

The first steps on the promotion of the Resolution have been made by nine organizations united within the framework of the project “Women’s Peacemaking Council” in year 2002.

In year 2006 women’s organizations lobbied for the adoption of the National Action Plan on implementation of the Resolution. Unfortunately it did not take place but some aspects of the prepared document have been included in the National Action Plan on Gender Equality.

Team of the project “Intersectoral and community-based measures for the elimination of the domestic violence in Georgia: joint efforts on the implementation of the anti-violence legislation” under support of the UNIFEM Trust Fund on Elimination of Domestic Violence decided to carry out internet conference “Women, Peace and Security: United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889 (experience of those countries who adopted action plan)” in order to explore wider contest of violence against women, especially in conflict and post-conflict situations and lay the foundation for Georgian National Action Plan on Resolution 1325.

If you are interested, please see the page  www.conference.ginsc.net  and ask the questions to experts.

Tako Tchekhani

2009.10.15 10:44:51

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On September 25, 2009, the Sexual Assault Crisis Center of the Women’s Resource Center Armenia invited different NGOs, Government representatives and concerned citizens to a round table discussion on the reality of child sexual abuse in Armenia.

The goal was to assess the situation after the scandal in one of the special schools in Yerevan, Nubarashen #11 where a group of volunteers reported incidences of neglect, violence and sexual abuse towards the children with mental disabilities. Following these scandal Mariam Sukhudyan, one of the activists interviewing the children was accused of defamation, risking up to 5 years of imprisonment while no legal procedures were taken against the institution’s administration and staff.

The discussion was based on 2 important elements; 1- to assess the situation in Armenia, based on different organizations’ work on children with special needs and from low socio-economic families; 2- to find the best methods to raise awareness and advocate for this issue in society and with governmental bodies.

Many NGOs responded to the invitation, bringing their own concerns regarding this issue. Among them were World Vision, Fund for Armenian Relief, Armenian Relief Society, Society without Violence, Pink Armenia and Democracy Today.

A psychologist participating in the discussion stated that sexual abuse in the family is one form that occurs on an alarming scale. They also stated that mothers are often aware of what is happening but find it better to hide it and the family to deny it, to not endanger their reputation or the reputation of the child, since the child will fall victim of an intolerant society and will be repeatedly hurt.

The representative from FAR (fund for Armenian Relief) working over a decade with children from broken families, was familiar with the issue of sexual abuse. She urged all the participants and workers in this field to act carefully because in her opinion, to change the system in a developing country is an extremely long and challenging process. She insisted that assistance should be provided to individuals first, and on the long run reform the system to dismantle group institutions and help more families to take care of their children, since most of these children placed come from poor families lacking the basic needs to provide for them and trusting the institution to do so.

It was also stated that for one child in every special public institution, the state allocates 5000 US dollars annually, while families receive 200-300 US. This may explain the resistance of these institutions’ leadership, safeguarding their positions. All NGOs agreed that a reformative approach and shifting work towards families would be a better solution. By keeping those children as much as possible in their familiar settings and local schools and not to cut them from their community would be more efficient and insure sustainability.

Mariam Sukhudyan’s case was raised during the discussions by her friends and former volunteers at the Nubarashen special school. Most of the participants agreed that Mariam brought up an important question that people were trying to deny or not openly discuss, claiming the accusations against her were unjust. All present NGOs declared that it was crucial to support her case and make sure that she does not fall victim of the system.

The discussion concluded upon the agreement of the following steps:

1- Continue raising their voices on the alarming situation in Armenia, regarding child abuse by inviting the community for more discussions (public debates, TV panel discussions with experts, etc)
2- Join the efforts of the coalition of NGOs working on children’s rights in Armenia and write letters to officials urging them to address the issue with the cooperation of NGOs
3- Implement a research and national survey to better understand the needs of those children and how to reform the system for better prevention of child neglect and abuse in these institutions.

The group will meet again to discuss further and in details specific actions.

By Anush Poghosyan

2009.09.02 04:36:47

lara

Yesterday a group of activists, NGO representatives and concerned citizens gathered in front of the Ministry of Education to protest the treatment of children in special boarding schools of Yerevan, following a scandal in one of the schools where two young girls complained of one of their teachers harassing them sexually. The school administration is trying to intimidate its students and the parents and cover up all these.

The group of activists with banners in their hands saying: "stop violence against children", "sexual assault is a crime"... were demanding the ministry to take action on this issue and give a group of NGOs the right to have free access to enter these schools and monitor the activities and the state of the children there.

2009.08.27 18:08:43

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is it possible or not – I am often asking to myself.

As it is known across the generations the Caucasian peoples follow the traditions which form our way of thinking, behavior and thus, our life-style. Traditions which are carefully inherited by the old generation to a new one are certain frames within which you should exist otherwise you are at risk to be condemned by the society you live in. Another way the term “Caucasian traditions” can be interpreted is a lot of limitations and taboo in many spheres of our life and the worst thing here is that we are living as we are used to, without asking ourselves whether we are happy with that.

We are told by the older generation that traditions are good and necessary – they help to preserve morality. But what are the consequences of that morality – when a young unmarried girl having delivered a baby leaves him at maternity hospital being afraid to be stained; when a husband leaves her bride having learned that she is not virgin; when a wife endures the roughness of her husband and does not leave him just because she knows that a divorced woman in Caucasus has no right to private life and happiness. And these are our traditions which we keep on following.

Of course, each thing has its advantages and disadvantages and our task here is to decide what overbalances for each of us.

Thus, in the frames of “Caucasian traditions” it is very difficult not to break one of the main principles of democracy – “freedom of choice” since we do not choose we just follow our traditions…