EnglishSave yourself – save peers!
Project: Save yourself – save peers!
Implementation of the project: association Resourse Center for Women “Marta”
Project is financed by: OAK foundation
Duration of the project: July 2011 – December 2013
Places of implementation of the project: Riga and Riga region, Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, Latgale
Targets of the project:
- to mitigate risks of children to be involved in prostitution and trafficking whether they have suffered from domestic or other type of abuse or not;
- to change perceptions and roles of boys to reduce the risk of them to become negative actors (abusers);
- to educate professionals working children to provide tools for work with children to prevent their involvement in prostitution and trafficking;
- to advocate on national and regional level on policies that prevent domestic violence, prostitution and trafficking, and provide support for survivors of sexual abuse.
Project activities:
- 5 boy and 5 girl group activities in Riga and regions;
- campaign “Youth against violence” developed by the youth group participants and the Centre “Marta”
- support services for women and their children suffering from sexual violence (legal advisor, social worker, psychotherapist, hotline administrator);
- support meetings for the group leaders;
- experts’ work to move in political agenda problem questions that have been found out by experts taking part in the support meetings of the group leaders.
Nowadays increasingly young people come into contact with demands of society in connection with their appearance, behaviour, choice of education and profession or free time activities. Unfortunately antiquated opinions of society about what is right for girls/women and boys/men deceive frequently, prohibiting youth to make their own choice about their preferable school, work or appearance. Compliance to these accepted opinions provides continuous circulation of stereotypes.
Reproduction of stereotypes is connected with risk becoming a victim of human trafficking. Due to existing stereotypes girls can start to recognize in themselves only the value of beauty or skill of taking care of others. Girls search for safety, happiness and welfare in their lives using resources of their bodies and skills of taking care. Mainly in crisis situations resource of girl’s beauty is being sold for money therefore there is a high risk to become a victim of human trafficking. At the same time, the boys take a look at the girls as carers that will serve for their needs. Unequal division of power among men and women frequently is a reason for such dangerous consequences as prostitution, women and children sexual abuse, and stalking.
The greatest part of victims of human trafficking refrain from explanation of their accidents and decide not to turn to help and support. One of the reasons is the low level of society’s awareness of sexual abuse of children – sterotypical opinions about perpetrators, victims of sexual abuse, and traditional gender roles in family. Second crucial reason why many episodes of children sexual abuse have not been reported, is lack of effective system of support and protection for victims and their family members. Many parents or other family members of abused children don’t trust the institutions.
Project “Save yourself, save peers” which is financed by OAK foundation is anticipated as continuation for a previously started project in collaboration with Åland Islands Peace Institute “Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Human Trafficking”. The project contains both preventive work with youth to address current problems in society and policy advocacy to move problems that are studied in youth environment to examination in legislation.
In the project financed by OAK foundation boy and girl groups in different regions of Latvia are formed which are organized by trained group leaders to talk about urgent themes for youth (in age 12 – 16), to involve them in different activities at the same time forming these activities through gender perspective, i.e., integrating into conversations and discussions questions that are connected to gender norms, roles and stereotypes. Thus the girl and boy group method gives opportunity for youth not only to talk about urgent themes but also to look critically to distribution of gender norms existing in society both in media and their own families and clutches of friends as well as consequences created by gender norms – human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and stalking.
Category: Projects
