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"ASTRA NETWORK"


      

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1. Mobilization of Youth for Protection of Their Reproductive Health and Rights in the Regions of Georgia”

Project directed to advocate implementation of international accepts of sexual and reproductive health and rights standards at the national level among medical authorities and youth population in the regions; to develop compensative network on prevention and awareness of SRHR through preparing young trainers as educators for the schools of 6 regional towns; to maintain operation of Youth Consulting Center at Women’s Center, where young people can get confidential consultations. Provide protection of the rights of juveniles to get confidential health care; help health care professionals better to understand state's laws and legal rights of juveniles.

According the project, 25 teenagers, 78 regional policy-makers , regional NGO’s, mass-media representatives, medical authorities

        and local governmental representatives ;163 teachers were trained in 6 regional towns of Georgia.


2.Rights of aging women on health and improvements of health care system in this sphere” – TASO –
Project directed to raze awareness on cervical cancer screening among community. For improving doctors response to this problem

was created a post-graduate training course Screening on Cervical Cancer “.
The course “Screening on Cervical Cancer” was approved by the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs as part of the certificate program for postgraduate training of doctors. Duration of the training course – 5 days, and was available with the payment of the course fee. After completing the course, doctors received 25 credits.

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Manual for Re-qualifaction Doctor on Screening and Treatment of Carvical Cancer

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3.“Movie Breaking the silence”

“Breaking the silence” presents women’s stories written by life itself and told by women themselves. Female characters from Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Moldova, Georgia and the Ukraine share personal problems in exercising their rights in the area of sexual and reproductive health (e.g. right to access to adequate health services, sexual education, modern contraception, safe abortion, or the problem of feminization of the HIV/AIDS pandemic). The movie clearly shows that in the region, the basic rights of female human beings are constantly violated. Authors hope to raise awareness about women’s tragedies and hardships which could be easily avoided if policy makers upheld their commitments.
ASTRA Member organizations who took part in the project:

Federation for Women and family Planning/Poland
Lithuanian family planning Association/Lithuania
Reproductive Health Training Center/Moldova
Women’s Health and family Planning/Ukraine
NGO Pro-Choice/Slovakia
Women’s Center/Georgia

Documentary "Breaking the silence" – Georgia

Women’s Center organized presentation documentary for Women’s NGO Coalition Members ( as for today coalition consists of 82 NGO ), for reproductive youth volunteer group ( 14 member ), for representative of education system, health system in Tbilisi and in two regional town Mtskheta.

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4. Project - Reproductive Health Supply ( ASTRA)

ASTRA Central and Eastern European Women's Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights conducted surveys among ASTRA partner organizations in a number of countries to obtain information on the accessibility of reproductive health (RH) supplies in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. (Reproductive health supplies include contraceptives, condoms, safe motherhood supplies, supplies needed for safe abortion care, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment supplies, i.e. HIV testing kits, as well as information regarding family planning, sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention.) ASTRA compiled its results
into a Report on Reproductive Health (RH) Supplies in ASTRA Countries. Participant
countries included: Albania (Albanian Family Planning for Population and Development/ Tirana);
Armenia(Women's Right Center/Yerevan);
Azerbaijan (Center "Women and Modern World"/Baku);
Georgia (Women's Center/ Tbilisi);
Macedonia (Shelter Centar/Skopje);
Poland (Federation for Women and Family Planning/Warsaw);

The aim of project is to increase knowledge about RH supplies thought prepared manual as a guide on SH supplies which will support in the understanding among policy makers of the critical importance initiate programs focused at improving access to contraception service
Results of our work rise awareness among doctor ,women's human rights network, Women's Leadership Coalition ,among youth , parliamentarians of Committee on Health and Social Issues; Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia;- mass media;
Through protection women's reproductive rights support of establishment effective and reproductive health services: Aware women about the wide choices in contraceptive methods; Prevention of infertility and consulting for safer abortion; Prevention of reproductive tract infection; HIV/AIDS Re-training and health professionals to provide comprehensive treatment,
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/02/25/reproductive-health-supplies-not-accessible-central-eastern-europe

       




5.We Choose To Be Healthy” Event. (Youth Group ASTRA, Global Fund for Women)

The goals of the project were to inform young people living in Georgia about SRHR including a broad range of health and rights issues related to sexuality and reproduction. This includes: sexuality education, abortion, family planning, STIs including HIV/AIDS prevention, assisted reproduction, adolescents’ rights and to sexual and reproductive health information and services free of discriminations.

We held one day action in United Nations/Summer Camp For Young People Aged 15-18 which located in Tsxnety We Gave Them information About STDs Such As: Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), Syphilis (Treponema pallidum), Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) (Chlamydia trachomatis serotypes L1, L2, L3. Chlamydia), Hepatitis B. ,Herpes simplex, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS), Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis) Distributed Booklet “We choose to be healthy”, T Shirts with Slogan and Made Mobile Phone Hangers also give them for distribution among their friend booklets, poster HIV/AIDS, T Shirts,

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Reproductive Health and Mass-media

The aim of the project was to inform the journalists on such problematic issues as: poverty, labour migration, human trafficking, domestic violence, reproductive health and rights, HIV/AIDS.
In order to raise awareness of the journalists regarding these issues was the organization of the school for the journalists which implied four-day seminars. The selection was processed under the specially organized council.The trained journalists had to write the articles in the magazines and newspapers over the year. The project included the prize fund.





Public Hearing on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Europarliament -2008

Was organised by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality of European Parliament and ASTRA representative were was present recent trends regarding sexual and reproductive rights in Central and Eastern Europe.
http:www.astra.org.pl


“Advocating Awareness Raising on SRHR”

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)

 
“Advocacy of Youth in the Area of Sexual and Reproductive Health and
   Rights and Creation of Youth Friendly Service“


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)

 
Book “REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND HEALTH”


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.

 
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Europe – Georgia


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.

 

 


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