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Description
With the objective of social integration of Roma people in the Vila d''Este neighbourhood, the “Gaia without prejudice” project aims to promote access to health services for this population, namely sexual and reproductive health, train 5 Roma women in activism for gender equality and preventing and combating all types of violence, promoting the financial literacy of 20 young Roma and training 70 local health professionals and social network professionals for the social inclusion of Roma people. The project will involve 100 Roma people through the creation of an individual health promotion office, training and the promotion of youth groups.
The Icelandic Human Rights Center will train the promoting entity in advocacy for the rights of Roma people.
Summary of project results
In Portugal and most European countries, Roma people have lived for over 500 years. Despite being rooted in these regions, they have historically faced and continue to face stigma, discrimination, xenophobia, and social inequality. Classified as "the others," they endure a more challenging path to achieve the same goals. Child marriages, often before the age of 18, conflict with Portuguese law. According to the National Study on Roma Communities, Roma people still exhibit low literacy rates and high school dropout rates. Early marriages lead to early school abandonment, resulting in financial dependency. Violence and aggression towards Roma women are often linked to their economic and financial dependence. Although they work in both domestic and family economic activities, many lack professional freedom.
Vila Nova de Gaia, the third most populous municipality in Portugal, has 3,165 families living in social housing, including 169 Roma families with 666 individuals. The majority are unemployed or studying, with low educational attainment. The municipality aims to promote specialized projects with new approaches for Roma communities.
This project addresses the lack of response and aims to train professionals working with Roma communities, recognizing that ignorance about Roma culture hinders effective work and perpetuates myths and stereotypes.
To promote access to health services for Roma people, the project established Espaço C, an individual health promotion and mediation office. This office aimed to build trust and address sensitive issues, particularly sexual and reproductive health. The process developed rapidly, achieving significant quantitative and qualitative results. A total of 506 health promotion and access consultations and 1209 consultations for financial literacy, education, professional training, and access to other services were conducted.
To empower Roma women for gender equality activism and to prevent and combat gender and domestic violence, two groups were formed. One group in Grijó included 10 women and held 3 sessions, while another in Vila d’Este included 6 women and held 34 sessions. The Grijó group was formed later at the request of the V. N. de Gaia City Council.
In financial literacy promotion, 25 Roma individuals participated in 3 sessions totaling 9 hours, covering topics like inflation, deflation, social service rates, and basic banking services. These topics were also addressed individually at Espaço C, focusing on debt negotiation and family budget management.
For the empowerment of 6 young Roma individuals to disseminate educational and professional success models, 3 youth groups were formed, holding a total of 59 sessions. Six training sessions (3 hours each) were conducted for health professionals and members of the V. N. de Gaia Social Network, involving 62 social network professionals and 12 health professionals. These sessions aimed to enhance their understanding of Roma culture, improving their work effectiveness and the social inclusion of Roma people.
The project also launched the Desoculta public campaign to transform beliefs and stereotypes about Roma people, developed in partnership with Roma women activists and the V. N. de Gaia City Council. The "30 days, 30 Roma personalities" activity on social media highlighted prominent Roma individuals, challenging negative stereotypes. Additionally, 35 intercultural sessions were held with primary school students in Vila d’Este.
An internal advocacy training session was conducted online by the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, involving 14 professionals from all APF regional delegations and headquarters. The public presentation of project results was a significant event, sharing key achievements with Roma individuals, professionals, and other project participants.
In terms of results the project achieved, the project focused on Vila d''Este and some existing Roma camps in Vila Nova de Gaia, benefiting many Roma people. Activities aimed at inclusion and empowerment of Roma individuals through professional training, and community awareness. Networking with public and private institutions already working in the area expedited trust-building with Roma people and professionals. The "Espaço C" was a key activity, addressing individual needs, especially health-related ones, and providing a safe space for participation. The Desoculta campaign had a significant impact, raising awareness about discrimination against Roma people, and was developed with the Roma Women Activists Group. Internal advocacy training by an Icelandic entity and financial literacy initiatives helped optimize resources through specific skills and knowledge. Project results were shared in a public presentation with Roma individuals, partner professionals, and other interested parties.
In terms of Capacity Building, the project delivered 16 hours of online advocacy training to all APF staff, divided into four 4-hour sessions. Conducted by the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, the training covered promoting human rights, media approaches, public statements, strategic planning, monitoring, and SMART objectives. The sessions included both theoretical components and practical simulations, addressing specific challenges faced by APF professionals in influencing policymakers. The skills acquired are now actively used in APF''s advocacy efforts, such as campaigns on voluntary pregnancy termination and compliance with sexual education legislation. Additionally, APF is leveraging materials from the Desoculta campaign for new initiatives and advocating for the inclusion of Roma communities. The training has significantly enhanced the capacity of APF staff to promote policies aligned with national and international human rights standards.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral collaboration took place with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre. This Icelandic NGO, which promotes the defense of human rights, conducted internal advocacy training for the APF team. This training facilitated the exchange of experiences and knowledge, resulting in mutual enrichment for both organizations. The training was crucial for APF as it becomes increasingly important to know how to influence political and social decision-makers to defend the established human rights of all individuals, regardless of their characteristics, and to continue improving the quality of life, especially for the most vulnerable people.