PROTECT - Preventing Sexual and Gender-based Violence Against Migrants and Strengthening Support to Victims
Duration: 18 months (1 October 2018 – 31 March 2020)
Donor: European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020)
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a prevalent human rights violation both globally and on the European level. SGBV has both physical and psychological forms, it includes domestic violence, sexual harassment and abuse, harmful practices, exploitation and trafficking in human beings. Women and men, girls and boys and LGBTI persons can all become victims of such violence.
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the capacities of existing national support services for sexual and gender based violence to coordinate better and make these systems available for refugee, migrant and asylum seeker who have experienced or are at risk of SGBV. The project also aims to raise awareness among and empower these communities.
The project is implemented by 12 IOM country offices (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Spain) and 8 NGO partners (Legebitra, Slovenia, Le monde selon les femmes abl, Belgium, Fundación EMET Arco Iris, Asociación Rumiñahui, Movimiento por la Paz, Spain, Arq Psychotrauma Expert Groep, Rutgers, and Pharos, the Netherlands) between October 2018 and March 2020.
The project has the following specific objectives and activities which will be tailored to specific national contexts and implemented during its 18-month project cycle:
- Strengthen and adapt existing national support services for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) to coordinate better and include refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers.
- Build capacity for professionals who work with and for refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers with the aim of identifying and addressing the needs of victims and potential victims of SGBV more effectively.
- Empower and inform refugee and migrant communities and asylum-seekers of SGBV and its prevention through a regional awareness-raising campaign.
By the end of the project the following outputs will be produced:
- SOPs/Guidelines developed/reviewed/contributed to in 8 countries.
- 120+ trainings organized over 12 countries.
- 13 000+ information materials distributed.
- 200+ information session organized on SGBV prevention.
In Slovenia, the PROTECT project is implemented in close cooperation with Legebitra, an association working in the field of LGBTI human rights advocacy and youth social care services.
Download the PROTECT information material relevant for Slovenia here. Read more about the PROTECT project here.