Description
The project arises from the need for innovative approaches in building nonviolent relationships based on equal gender rights and in preventing children's exposure to domestic violence. The promotion of new models of family organization helps preventing gender violence and stops the perpetuation of dysfunctional family models. The construction of new roles for men and women is needed for the development of relations based on equality of rights and duties, where the personal, social and parenting skills are equally valued and assumed between genders. There will be differentiated actions for the various groups that the project is aimed at: an information campaign and public discussion on gender relation issues; intervention courses for positive co-parenting and development of parenting skills; an initiative for children exposed to domestic violence, aiming at mitigating the negative effects on them; and training for professionals providing services in these areas.
Summary of project results
The municipalities of Montemor-o-Velho e Figueira da Foz (Centre Region) are familiar to the project promoters and include a significant number of vulnerable families whose situation has worsened with the economic crisis. This population is characterized by high levels of poverty and unemployment but often also by increased conflicts between parents and inside the family, domestic violence, low levels of education and of personal and social skills, and gender traditional stereotypes and intolerance. The project worked closely with vulnerable families with innovative methodologies to achieve a better social and family integration. A coherent set of activities have been developed namely: 2 Information campaigns (preparation of 19 materials for information and education for the dissemination of new masculinities and femininities and prevention of domestic violence and homophobia; holding of 63 information sessions: 483 students; 7 socio-community actions) and the implementation of the Inter-peer Programme for Prevention in School - 18 students (topics covered: trafficking in human beings, positive parenting, new masculinities and femininities, gender social roles, violence in dating, domestic violence, gender violence, homophobia, human rights); 5 workshops for parents, involving a total of 74 fathers and mothers (315 hours), addressing the following subjects: positive parenting, positive communication, conjugality, gender equality, gender and family violence, sexuality, first aid, domestic management); 2 Inter-parental Violence Prevention Programs, 42 children, 23 group sessions, 42 hours; 3 professional training cycles (total of 30 hours) themes: positive parenting, conjugality, gender equality, family violence, consequences of children's exposure to inter-parental violence). The project has surpassed its ambitions: awareness-raising on new masculinities/femininities and homophobia prevention: 2 334 individuals; capacity-building on positive parenting: 74 men and women; minimization of impact on youngsters of being exposed to domestic violence: 42 young people. In addition the project has allowed the staff involved in the local networks of intervention in this area to get new skills and experience: 62 professionals have improved their competences.
Summary of bilateral results