Over 60 civil society representatives from across Georgia participated in a series of capacity-building activities aimed at strengthening their role in promoting gender equality and preventing violence against women and domestic violence (VAW/DV). Organised by the Council of Europe, the workshops were delivered in two parallel cycles and designed to equip civil society organisations with practical tools for effective advocacy, inclusive communication, and sustainable engagement.

As highlighted by the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) in its 2022 baseline report on Georgia, a stable institutional framework enabling effective civil society participation in policymaking on VAW/DV is still lacking. In response, three workshops aimed  to strengthen the role of civil society in implementing the Istanbul Convention and addressing national gaps in policy and practice.

Participants strengthened their skills across a broad range of areas, including gender-sensitive communication, strategic advocacy, countering anti-gender narratives, and results-based management. A strong emphasis was also placed on organisational sustainability, encouraging civil society organisations to diversify resources and build long-term partnerships.

Recognising the increasing psychosocial pressures faced by women human rights defenders, the programme included dedicated sessions on stress management and emotional wellbeing. These sessions built on the findings of the conference “Her Fight, Our Future” held in November 2024,and reflected the growing need to support the mental health and resilience of frontline defenders.

“As a representative of an ethnic and religious minority community, I come from a context where traditions and customary practices are often shaped by deeply rooted stereotypes. These stereotypes hinder societal development and limit women's participation in public life. This training was particularly valuable for me, as it provided an opportunity to learn from both the trainers and fellow participants. I appreciated the exchange of experiences, and the critical approaches and methods shared. It helped me better understand how we can strengthen women’s roles and promote gender equality in our communities,” said one of participants.

Through interactive workshops, group exercises, and peer learning, participants co-developed strategies to strengthen civil society impact at both community and policy levels. Participants also deepened their understanding of how to engage with international human rights mechanisms, including contributing to GREVIO country monitoring.

These workshops were organised in the framework of the project “Reinforcing gender equality and implementing GREVIO recommendations to combat violence against women and domestic violence in Georgia”. The Project is a part of the Council of Europe Action Plan to Georgia 2024-2027.