Description
The project addresses the social problems of family violence and violence against women in a globally proved and comprehensive way – by including men in prevention of gender based violence. The aim of the project is to conduct the MenCare campaign to promote involvement of men in the provision of care for children, educate health workers on use of Manual P methodology and position the Institute of Public Health of Međimurje County (IPHMC) as the key institution for education of young fathers on non-violence and gender equality through forum for the dissemination of evaluation results for the 80 relevant stakeholders in the county. With MenCare campaign based on human rights the project will reach 40 000 citizens of Međimurje County, trough seminar capacity for 30 health care workers and related professions for working with fathers will be built; and act preventive through workshops for 20-25 young (future) fathers, users of services by IPHMC (including members of Roma minority) and their families about care giving and building a non-violent family relationships based on gender equality.
Summary of project results
According to information provided by the Republic of Croatia Ministry of the Interior, during the first half of 2014, there were 6856 persons reported for committing the family violence - out of which 221 in Međimurje County. participation in the implementation of the project had a positive influence on their professional skill and knowledge development and improvement. Among other positive effects of the project these can be highlighted: gaining knowledges that they can use in their daily professional work; higher levels of competence for interactive group work; linkage with colleagues as a prerequisite for interdepartmental networking; gaining specific competencies required for working with a specific beneficiary population (men, fathers, Roma, treated alcoholics); gaining new awareness on socio–cultural specifics of certain groups of beneficiaries and modifying own prejudice views about them (e.g. assumption about low engagement of Roma fathers in caregiving). Furthermore, most volunteers, facilitators and educators claim that involvement in these workshops had a positive effect on beneficiaries. In their review on usefulness and level of interest for certain themes, beneficiaries state that almost all workshops were interesting and educational and that the biggest value they see is raising awareness on some of their misconceptions and prejudice, overcoming of which, helped them to significantly increase the quality of their life, especially partner life.
Summary of bilateral results