The AIDS epidemic will be brought to a swift end through committing to the goals of UNAIDS 90–90–90: 90% of people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of people who know their HIV positive status will receive antiretroviral drugs, treatment, and 90% of people on treatment will have suppressed viral loads, keeping them healthy and reducing the risk of HIV transmission.

Ending the world’s AIDS epidemic is achievable by 2030 The Fast-Track AIDS program encourages new, cutting-edge service delivery. The program addresses other public health challenges, including tuberculosis, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health, gender-based violence, and communicable diseases — also significant areas of focus under the Paris Declaration.

The Paris Declaration includes commitments which focus on communities most affected by HIV: to mobilize resources for the better integration of public health and development, to build and accelerate urban HIV strategies, and to use the AIDS response as a catalyst for positive social transformation.

In towns of Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti, and Chakhstauri (Guria region) a round table was held bringing together doctors, NGO representatives, social workers, and local governmental representatives to discuss HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and the overall situation in the region. The second half of the meeting focused on the declaration and appropriate responses from the government, healthcare professionals, local communities, pharmaceutical companies, and donors. An action plan for Guria region was drafted outlining changes to be implemented to better the situation. At the end of the meeting each participant received a copy of the declaration in Georgian, translated through the efforts of the Union Women Center.

Project focused on changing behaviors of youth through peer-to-peer education, designing of research on youth vision and accessibility information on youth friendly service center which works in Tbilisi and give opportunity to young people in creating positive change concerning to the availability of Sexual Reproductive Health counseling services. The following activities carry outtraining of young peer-educators for peer-to-peer education for deliver meetings in home university, Focus-group discussion, survey and the round-table meeting with NGOs and service providers working on SRH.

Analyzes of survey which based on qualitative and quantitative methodology, the focus group discussions revealed that students do not aware about youth-friendly reproductive health centers available at primary health care level and interviewed 12% of students never visited doctor. Therefore, 75% of student rarely visited general practitioner or doctor at reproductive health centers, the reasons not visited is related to low quality of services and luck of anonymity. About 59% of respondents search information about sexual and reproductive health on internet. Almost all Students (96%) were interested in youth-friendly consultation centers and 62% attaching to it a great importance. 43% of interviewed students desire qualified doctor and 31% psychologist as a personnel service providers at youth-friendly consultation centers.

More than three quarter (78%) of students admitted that university never provides prevention activities on health lifestyle, therefore 55% of student desire was general information about health care, 79% needed more information about sexually transmitted diseases and 49% about family planning and contraception.

Students talked about important steps, recommendations and ask for more communication, information, public education and for convenient, affordable and quality services. Students highlight information about different services, procedures and providers, on programs designed for youth and in general on issues of prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle.

The project was supported by ASTRA assisting in capacity building between the government and NGOs to provide evidence-based, targeted information on SRHR education and health services to adjust the response accordingly.

The goal of the project was:

1. Raise awareness on SRHR as human rights according to international documents.
2. Acquaint the target group to ten human rights that are keys to reproductive rights.
3. Implement the policy of ASTRA in Georgia, as it supports women's right to free and
   informed choice on and access to: abortion, full range of modern contraceptives,
   information, education and services on SRR. Special attention is given to youth and
   undeserved groups (Refugee, IDP...)
4. Raise awareness and understanding about contraception, teenage pregnancy and abortion, sensitizing society about the importance of strengthening youth SRHR.
5. To increase understanding and awareness of sexual and reproductive health issues in order to enable those working with young people to address this area in their work.
6. Review current situation on RH problem in Georgia, Policies and strategies. (published in English and Georgian)

More than 90 people from different fields have been trained. While working on the pilot project we revealed that neither NGO representatives nor doctors understand the necessity of knowledge of reproductive rights and how to use them. Besides, we revealed that young people have zero knowledge about reproductive health and they really need help.

(ASTRA)

The purpose of our project is to advocate for the implementation of the internationally accepted sexual and reproductive health and rights standards at the national level among youth population.

Project focuses on creation of powerful youth group to work on promotion of SRHR, to establish youth-friendly services.

To reach this aim we plan through seminar-training of the university students.
In the youth friendly service they can get information by phone or electronic contact. This project is the first step on involvement of youth on advocacy of SRHR.

We have trained 160 students from Tbilisi State Medical College N 2 and from Tbilisi Medical Institute “Panatsea”. We gave them basic information about Reproductive Rights and Sexual Health. During this training we have chosen 20 students who were continuing work on these issues; Was created youth friendly service in Women’s Center providing hot-line and e-mail consultations as well as setting up the volunteers network on promotion of SRHR in 4 Universities.

According to the training it can be said that nearly 90% of the students have no idea about Reproductive Health and Rights, Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV/AIDS; contraception and abortion. The work we have done showed that it is necessary to give information in early ages.

We intend to increase understanding of linkages between health and reproductive rights.

Next step must be implementation of SRHR among health care providers and youth in the regional parts of Georgia.

Our task is to raise awareness through training of the health care practitioners, youth and policy makers involved in health care institutions as well as State health departments to understand the importance of these issues and multidisciplinary collaboration of health institutions with policymakers and NGOs.

We published the book “Reproductive Health and Rights”;

(National Women’s Program Open Society – Georgia Foundation)

The book was published in Georgian language with the support of Women’s East-West Program and National Women’s Program, Open Society – Georgia Foundation.

The goal of the book is to give basic knowledge about reproductive health and rights (RHR), to increase understanding of linkages between health and reproductive rights.

The book consists of five chapters. The first chapter "Reproductive Rights and Health Problems" consists of translated materials from the publication "Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health in Central and Eastern Europe" prepared by ASTRA.

It attracts the readers’ attention on the situation concerning reproductive health and rights problem in the region, the policies and strategies. In addition, it contains the situation analyses of RHR in Georgia.

The second chapter "Reproductive Health" contains basic knowledge on reproductive health and rights, sexual health and rights, sexually transmitted diseases as well as the situation analyses with respect to Reproductive Health in Georgia (STD: syphilis, chlamiydia, candida, herpes, hepatit A, B, C, gonorrhea, thrichomoniasis, HIV/AIDS, contraception, abortion) and the review of national legislative basis with respect to these problems. The materials of this chapter have been prepared in Women's Center by Ia Verulashvili, Lali Baratashvili, Nino Kartvelishvili, Maka Gabexadze, Lela Tevzadze, Tamta Komaxidze.

The third chapter -"Health and Human Rights Norms and Standards" discusses how human rights are enshrined in international law, links between health and human rights, international human rights instruments, integration of human rights in health, how human rights support work to strengthen health system, and also United Nations Human Rights Organizational Structure. The chapter is based on the translated materials "25 Questions & Answer on Health & Human Rights "publication series issues N1, 2002 WHO.

The forth chapter "International Legislative Bases of Reproductive Rights" contains Ten Human Rights Keys to Reproductive Rights translated from "Reproductive Rights are Human Rights " prepared by Center of Reproductive Rights.

The Fifth chapter "Protection of Human Rights System according to European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights" shows how the international system of human rights protection established under the European Convention on Protection of Human Rights can be used for protection of reproductive rights. The chapter has been prepared on the basis of translated materials from ASTRA publication "How to use European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in Matters of Reproductive Law”.

At the end of book the information on "Women's Center's" experience in the sphere of the issues in question is provided.

The book will be useful for health care providers, NGO representatives, policy makers and general public.

Download .PDF file (2.85 Mb)

HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination of HIV positive women (ASTRA)

"Empowering HIV positive women in CEE countries (ASTRA)"

Objectives was to raise awareness about specific gender issues of HIV positive in women living in Georgia, especially regarding their reproductive and sexual health, establish collaboration between women’s groups and HIV positive women of CEE countries in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights due to the importance of SRHR in designing successful prevention programs. Women's Center took part in implementation of project activity as ASTRA member country Organize national advocacy training HIV positive women which include awareness raising components about gender issues and sexual and reproductive health and rights and clarified the needs of HIV positive women. Organize meeting with HIV positive women and choose one for participation in the seminar in Lvov for HIV-positive women from CEE counties which was directed on establishment contact and development mutual understanding about priority issues for each community. Jointly work with HIV positive women on awareness razing of country specific problem which this contingent in face and present in Warsaw on the pre HIV/AIDS XII meeting. We took part with HIV positive women on the plenary session of HIV /ADS XII conference and presented country report .Following Conference HIV positive women share information among HIV positive women group. It was first time when Georgian HIV positive women spoke about this community problem openly.

"HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination of HIV positive women and how to change people's attitudes to AIDS (ASTRA)"

The aim of the project was to increase awareness on types of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination of HIV positive women, translate ASTRA statement specially prepared for AIDS conference into Georgian Language with the information of situation which HIV positive women faced in Georgia. Also, print the leaflets and organize round table, workshops with Doctors, Mass-Media , NGO’s , Policy Makers. The topic cover of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare in the workplace, restrictions on travel and stay. Community level stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS, role of family in providing support and care for people living with HIV and AIDS. Outcome of round-tables was to recommend how to change people's attitudes to AIDS 1. A certain amount can be achieved through the legal process. 2. Efforts should be made to improve early HIV diagnosis, stigma and discrimination of risk groups remains to be a major challenge as it creates significant barriers to HIV Prevention and service utilization. Low awareness of HIV not only among general public, but also among health care workers remains to be a major obstacle. 3. Increase the visibility of people with HIV/AIDS as a 'normal' part of any society 4. AIDS education need to be tackled at the community and national levels, 5. Involve mass-media in awareness of result of treatment HIV positive person which increase willing to be tested for HIV 6. Policies within health care settings can also be effective in reducing stigma 7. Training Health care providers on stigma and universal precautions 8. Create NGO with people living with HIV they could lead to a greater understanding their needs and the negative effect of stigma.   "Building Critical Thinking Among Youth Through Promotion Healthy Lifestyle( U.S. EMBASSY DEMOCRACY COMMISSION SMALL GRANT PROGRAM)"   The project aims to support behavior change and behavior development through adequate knowledge, critical thinking, attitudes and skills to solve problems, make informed choices, and protect  from harm as they maneuver through adolescence into adulthood. Small-scale initiatives taken for increasing capacities and engages school children in discussion  at age 14-18 through highlighting the dangers of drug, alcohol and smoking, practices healthy eating, hygiene in puberty and in periods, partnering with education professionals, NGO, governmental officials (both central  and regional ) to launch new out-classes programs and initiatives, highlighting the importance of education as a pathway to greater opportunities. Concerning college, university, community youth age 18-30 they   involved in  discussions  about sexuality, reproduction, including  sexually transmitted infections;  HIV/AIDS, contraception, abortion alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; sexual and other forms of exploitation; and discrimination in its many forms, foster a demand for services and promote gender equality. Capacity building of local NGOs, teachers, youth empowerment through education, development of brochures on  Georgian, Azeri language on life-style, establishment of  Youth Center with  hot-line, consultation, organization of Youth Forum ,Peer-to-peer initiatives support in behavior change, critical thinking ,attitudes and skills to solve problems, also provide opportunity to have voice on issues that affect them and active involved in local decision making. Results: Integrating critical thinking into the traditional teaching of life style education. Changing health related behaviors of youth. Response to healthy life-style. Youth Forum "Seeking Competitive Advantage through Action for Social and Cultural Integration of Ethnic Minorities and Promotion Gender Equality (VIRGINIA GILDERSLEEVE INTERNATIONAL FUND)" Project  directed on creation minority  young women’s movement for protection their rights. Azerbaijan  youth communities  get information on their native language  on legislation which directed to protect youth from gender based violence, on healthy life-style , sexual transmitted infections  , about programs  which exist in the country    For solving problems related to human rights protection and those of minorities in particular, violence against the individual, domestic violence , reproductive  health problems used  permanent  active  education at schools and universities, peer-educators  ,  youth  communities self group , hot-line, gynecological  consultation  First time on the level of college and university students  was speaking about gender based violence , healthy life-style  and sexual transmitted infections   , the way of prevention and were they can get information, help  . Prepared teaches which run education problem at colleges and universities  . Peer-educators  take part in the Youth Forum