Fighting the stereotypes and myths about sexual violence through awareness-raising

Project facts

Project promoter:
proFem - center for victims of domestic and sexual violence, o.p.s.(CZ)
Project Number:
CZ-HUMANRIGHTS-0055
Status:
Completed
Final project cost:
€148,314

More information

Description

According to many studies (Al CZ; 2015, Persefona, 2016; IKEA, 2021), a lot of myths, stereotypes and misinformation about sexual violence are still present in Czech society (e.g.: rape affects only tens/hundreds of women; the most common perpetrator is an unknown man; women are co-responsible for rape). These stereotypes and myths influence how society and individuals relate to the issue of sexual violence: how they treat victims, how victims themselves think about their experience, but also how individuals assess the appropriateness of their behaviour and whether they are committing sexual violence. Sexual violence is a serious and widespread problem that violates the fundamental human rights of victims and negatively impacts society as a whole: in terms of the financial cost of the helping system and in terms of being a barrier to achieving gender equality. Therefore, through the awareness-raising campaign, the project aims to contribute to the reduction of stereotypes, myths and misinformation about sexual violence and thus contribute to the reduction of the secondary victimisation that sexual violence victims often face, but also to the reduction of the prevalence of sexual violence as such. The project will achieve this through key activities: an exhibition on sexual violence and harassment; a campaign on social media and in public spaces; the training of journalists and journalism students, and the impact of these activities will be evaluated comprehensively. The target groups of the project are: the general public, sexual violence victims, journalists and journalism students, and the project intends to raise their awareness of sexual violence, to contribute to the correction of their views on this topic and, as a result, to contribute to a change in their attitudes and behaviour. The target group is also proFem workers, intending to strengthen their competencies and thus strengthen the violence prevention system.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.