Union "Partnership for Equal Rights"

GEO

Round Table

November 11 the Round Table was held by PER and APRA in the APRA’s office. Representatives of the NGO «Ndoba» also participated in the meeting. During the Round Table we discussed problems of user’s social inclusion and methods of working with carers (parents, relatives, etc.). Best practices from the practical work, done by participants of the Round Table in Georgia were shared and analyzed. During the Round Table we discussed methods of social inclusion and rehabilitation, the problem of unemployment and practical ways of solving it. We also discussed the future of in-patients after the planned closure of Asatiani Psychiatric Hospital.

 

 

Trainings for parents and professionals and exhibition in Batumi

In October PER and parents’ organization APRA arranged a training for professionals and parents of mental health service users and organized an exhibition in Batumi. The events were organized within KAP project and BEARR Small Grant Scheme. APRA also arranged such trainings in Telavi and Tbilisi. The exhibition was held in the yard of Batumi State University, where art pieces made in Tbilisi art unit and Batumi Psycho-Social Centre were presented. Both the trainings and the exhibition are very important to raise public awareness about mental health issues, attract attention of policy makers towards policy reforms and achieve re-integration of people with mental disability into society.

 

 

CRPD training

On the 27th of October a training was held in the PER’s office concerning the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Participants mostly were members of the local peer-advocacy groups. July 10, 2009 Georgia has signed the CRPD and its Optional Protocol, but has not ratified them yet. However peer-advocates expressed keen interest in the provisions of the CRPD and we hope that the knowledge, received during the training will help them to properly understand the meaning of the Convention and actively participate in the lobbying activities.

 

 

Mental Disability Law in Practice

In July 2010 PER took part in the CEU Summer school, course «Mental Disability Law in Practice», organized by MDAC (Mental Disability Advocacy Center) in Budapest, Hungary. During the two-week course participants from different countries-working lawyers and advocates for the rights of persons with mental health disabilities learned CRPD and related materials, participated in the group activities, shared their experience and received practical knowledge from the MDAC’s staff. Participants visited one institution in Budapest for people with intellectual and physical disabilities and in the end of the course participated in the moot court. We believe that knowledge gained during this course will be very helpful for PER’s future activities.

 

Seminars for medical personnel

In May and June 2010 a series of seminars was held in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi for medical personnel of psychiatric institutions. The topic of the seminars was «Human Rights in Mental Health». Both domestic legislation and international standards were discussed during the seminars. There was a discussion on confidentiality, informed consent, involuntary treatment and the right to live in community. The aim of the seminars was to raise awareness about patients’ rights among personnel of psychiatric institutions and make them realize the importance of community services development and the role of such services in the reform of psychiatry.

 

 

Round table and Exhibition in Telavi

On the 7th of May PER held a Round Table in Telavi. Specialists, NGO representatives and one ex-user participated in the discussion. The topic of the discussion was social inclusion of people with mental disabilities. All participants shared their opinion and experience.
After the discussion participants of the Round table visited an exhibition of works made by disabled, which also was organized in Telavi. The collection of the artworks presented was really impressive and showed clearly creative potential of people with mental disabilities and their rich inner world. All visitors of the exhibition got a lot of impressions and bought souvenirs to take home.

 

Film Presentation at Amirani Cinema,
February 4, 2010

On the 4th of February PER representatives were invited to the film demonstration at Amirani Cinema. This event was organized by GIP (Global Initiative in Psychiatry) in the frame of the project financed by European Commission «Fighting Stigma and Discrimination of Mental ill Health». The documentary film, which was shown to many stakeholders invited to the event, describes overall situation with the Mental Health system in Georgia (which is quite complex). After the film demonstration a discussion took place. Many journalists, NGO representatives and other stakeholders expressed their opinion and vision of the future reforms. Some our user representatives also expressed their opinion openly and approved the film idea and idea of reform in rehabilitation services. After the discussion and refreshment in the Amirani cafe, the Awards Ceremony was held. A user painter, whose exhibition in the Amirani cinema added a special color to the demonstrated film, presented some of his works to the winners: media representatives, who took part in the competition for the best mental health media works. We believe that mixed events with participation of user representatives is a successful means of fighting stigma and prejudice. Besides, one feels relieved when it is possible to talk openly about mental health problems and see a friendly or at least not stigmatizing attitude from the people around. We liked the film and believe it will attract attention to our problems and needs.

A Visit to Telavi

From November 2009, PER and ALTER EGO (t.Telavi) with a small grant, received from the Holland Embassy, have started development of the self-help groups for the people with mental health problems in Georgia. The aim of the project is support of these people's integration into society and their involvement in the development of psychiatric services. The project's objective is creation of the regional self-help group and sharing experience received in Tbilisi. On the 29th of December in the frame of the project our group with representatives of the Human Rights Center, which is implementing the project of advocacy for the people with mental disabilities, visited Telavi. We came to the exhibition and sale of the patients' handiworks organized by Alter Ego in the Psycho-social Rehabilitation Centre. The exhibition attracted many guests, we bought some handiworks too. We also held a training, concerning the self-help groups' structure, their purpose and human rights of the people with mental disabilities. The day appeared to be successful and our partnership continued. The project's duration is 10 months.

 

International seminar, November 2009

The third and final, very successful international seminar was held at the CEIMH, University of Birmingham, 26-31 November 2009. Representatives this year came from Georgia, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Italy, Slovenia, Banjaluka, Germany and England. PER also took part in the seminar activities. One of our user participants made a presentation on stigma research in Georgia, the research was made by PER team. Three representatives sent from PER actively participated in the discussions and future planning. During the seminar series we developed partnerships with working teams from Bosnia and Scotland, and made a comparison of mental health stigma in our countries. We are planning to publish a joint article and continue our collaboration in the future.

 

July and August, 2009

The summer

 

 

In July and August the self-help group meetings took place outside the city, on the Kustba Lake. Once a backpacking has been organized from the Kustba Lake to Kojori. There were many remarkable sights and places, which made a deep impression upon the group members. By the end of the day all of the participants were a little tired, but full of pleasant memories.

 

 

June, 2009

Exhibition

On the 14th of June the exhibition of decorative works made by disabled took place in the Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel. Many artworks made of different materials and in different technics were exposed there. The members of our organization participated in the exhibition too. The greatest attention from public was involved with wooden things made by them.

 

 

May, 2009

Mini chess tournament

13-14 of May a mini chess tournament was organized in the Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Centre. All participants were playing with enthusiasm and joy, but the absolute winner is only one: Rezo Tskhakaia. He received the prize and the warmest congratulations.

 

 

April, 2009

Excursion

Day was sunny and we decided to go and see renovated park of Mtatsminda.  It was nice and we also took photos.

 

 

April, 2009

Human Rights workshop

PER organized workshop on human rights for patients and their family members. We discuss Georgian legislation and international standards and how to protect our rights.

 

April, 2009

Advocacy

Advocacy group works to protect users rights. Group members meet users, their family members, support them, give necessary information and help to solve various problems.

Since 2004  PER has implemented users advocacy project in the Tbilisi Central Psychiatric Clinic. In the frame of this project group members visit psychiatric wards, meet patients there, consider their complaints, work on their problems, give information and some advice.

Such service is unique and has no alternative in Georgia.

 

March, 2009

Self-help group meetings

In the frame of ABILIS funded project a user group was created and has meetings twice a month. The group's aims are to share experience and meet new friends.

 

December, 2008

Mini Football tournament was organized.

Our team participated along with the other 3 teams. The winner was awarded the presents made by intellectually disabled.