In the words of Lali Gurchiani: “Women have the power to empower one another”
UN Women is helping women and girls across Georgia’s regions access information about State-run services and municipal programmes addressing violence against women and domestic violence. Through awareness-raising trainings, nearly 800 women, including representatives of ethnic and religious minorities, women living in high-mountainous communities, and those residing in areas adjacent to the dividing line, strengthened their understanding of available support and referral mechanisms. The trainings were conducted within the framework of the UN joint project “Civic Engagement for Local Development”, implemented by UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of the UN Georgia Thematic Pooled Fund for Civic Space. Among the training recipients was Lali Gurchiani, a 49-year-old IDP from Abkhazia.
Date:
“I became displaced twice. The first time was in 1993, when I had to leave my home in Abkhazia after the outbreak of the war. The second time was during the August 2008 war, when I was forced to leave the Kodori Valley and experience displacement all over again.
Today, I live in Kutaisi with my husband and child. I am a trained nurse, but since settling in Kutaisi, I have not worked in my profession. Instead, I serve as the chairperson of my apartment building association. At the same time, I actively collaborate with the Charity Humanitarian Women’s Fund ‘Sukhumi’, which is how I became involved in the training on violence against women and domestic violence.
I have always known that violence is widespread and that many women live in extremely difficult circumstances. I wanted to support them, and that is why I joined the training.
After the training, I gathered women from my neighbourhood and shared everything I had learned. We spoke about the available services, support mechanisms and ways to help women escape violence. We also discussed what we, as community members, could do to support women who may be experiencing abuse.
The response was overwhelming. Many women were deeply interested in the information. Some later called me to ask for the hotline number again. Others became involved in spreading the information themselves. In a way, we became linked together like a chain, helping information reach more and more women.
I also brought back informational brochures on violence against women from Fund ‘Sukhumi’. I distributed some of them among women in my neighbourhood and left others at a beauty salon near my home. I thought that perhaps they could help someone access information they might urgently need.
I believe that once women become aware of their rights and the services available to them, they begin to approach the issue of violence with greater awareness and responsibility. They become better equipped to protect themselves and to support others.
I truly believe that women have the power to empower one another. Even something as simple as sharing information with a woman experiencing violence can give her hope. And empowerment begins with hope. It begins with knowing that someone cares, someone is listening, and someone is ready to help.
I am proud that I can now play a part in that process. I am proud that I can share this knowledge with others, support women in my community and help ensure that no woman feels alone when facing violence.”