14 February 2020. Tsalka Municipality – within the framework of the EU ENPARD supported project “EMBRACE Tsalka” implemented by CENN with partner organizations,  within the framework Civil Engagement and Mediation Committee (CEMC) program the meeting was held between the Ombudsmen regional office representatives and local community members at the LAG office.

Public Defender Irma Mchedlidze met women living in Tsalka municipality and spoke about the activities of the Public Defender in the field of gender equality, the need for women’s economic independence, domestic violence, and reproductive health. The main purpose of the meeting was to raise the participants’ awareness and improve knowledge about Ombudsmen Office, Human Rights, and needs.

At the meeting, the LAG Advocacy Committee highlighted the key challenges and needs facing the Tsalka local community.

The Public Defender’s Office provided audiences with information on various aspects of human rights abuses and provided individual consultation to citizens as needed.

The LAG Mediation and Advocacy Council is ready to actively implement the planned activities within the project, which include reducing poverty in the Tsalka municipality and improving the living environment of the population, providing structured, interactive assistance to vulnerable groups and providing legal assistance.

The meeting was attended by the Tsalka LAG Mediation Committee, stakeholders and local people.

The project “EMBRACE Tsalka” is implemented under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) by EU’s partner organization CENN, in partnership with the Georgian Farmers’ Association (GFA) and German partner organization – Institute for Rural Development Research (IfLS). The total budget of the project is € 2.4 million. It follows the previous EU-supported rural development actions under ENPARD in Borjomi, Lagodekhi, Kazbegi, Keda, Khulo, Dedoplistskaro, Tetritskaro and Akhalkalaki municipalities. This year, the EU has launched rural development projects in four new municipalities including Tsalka, Akhmeta, Tskaltubo, and Mestia.

The EU is supporting agriculture and rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 179.5 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in Georgia. The first phase of ENPARD in Georgia focused on developing the potential of agriculture. The second and third phases of ENPARD focus on creating economic opportunities for rural populations that go beyond agricultural activities. More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge.