Within the framework of the UNDP Ukraine project, 23 representatives of the conflict-affected municipalities of Ukraine are visiting Georgian municipalities for one week. The visit is funded by the European Union.
Within the framework of the visit, the guests participated in a one-day seminar in Tbilisi, where they learned about the situation of IDPs in Georgia and the existing assistance program. The speakers were the Director of Analytical Department of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, international and local non-governmental organizations operating in Georgia.
The guests were interested in how the dialogue between IDPs and local authorities is organized, to what extent human and societal safety are protected and how the IDP community itself contributes to this process (security on the level of community). In Ukraine, on the initiative of the UNDP, an open dialogue platform is set up, involving local government officials, police officers, local and IDP population.
After the seminar, the guests left for Gori, where they met with the Deputy Mayor of the municipality and the Head of Social Division, Deputy Governor, members of the City Council, NGOs, IDPs. Members of the Ukrainian delegation were primarily interested in the issues of IDP self-organization, public safety and social inclusion – both at the local and community level.
The next day the delegation visited Tskaltubo and Kutaisi, where meetings were held with the municipality, non-governmental sector, organization “People in Need” and their project (Khoni Administration);
In Zugdidi, the guests met with the staff of the municipality and City Hall, representatives of the legitimate Abkhazian authorities and the Ministry of IDPs, representatives of NGOs and International Organizations. The guests also went to Ganmukhuri, where they met with the Ganmukhuri school teachers and women affected by local conflict. The visit is organized by the IDP Women Association “Consent.”
During the last two days, the guests met with the Gender Equality Council of the Parliament of Georgia, City Council, visited IDP settlement in Tserovani. The visits of the last two days are organized by the Women’s Information Center