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Description
The project PEER NETWORK: Gender Violence and Empowerment aims mainly at developing an innovative pilot-intervention to promote civic empowerment and engagement of women who are or have been targeted by gender-based violence, domestic violence, discrimination and harassment – Grupos de Suporte de Pares (Peer Support Groups). These Peer Support Groups will be created based on the women’s personal experience and in this particular case, the project will focus on women from the so-called vulnerable groups: migrants and from rural areas. Within these, sub-groups of women will be targeted: elderly, LGBT and disabled, among others. The project also aims at educating and capacitating on Domestic Violence and Violence against Women 3 key target-groups: 1) the younger generations and 2) future health professionals, as a preventive approach, and 3) the professionals working on organizations for women in vulnerable groups as an interventionist approach.This will be achieved through training sessions, given by the women themselves. The PEER NETWORK will work torwards the following specific objectives:
a) develop methodologies which enhance the capabilities of participants to work with peer support for women who have experienced gender based and domestic violence;
b) develop competences among Portuguese relevant entities regarding knowledge needed for the creation and development of peer support groups;
c) create a national network of peer support groups and those who have been targeted by gender and domestic violence (advocates) and that that establishes itself as a resource for RNAVVD;
d) act upon the information and knowledge within youth groups and to work with health providers, enhancing knowledge and practice regarding prevention and awareness initiatives using a collaborative approach methodology by working with the women’s advocates trained through our programs;
e) to create and disseminate training tools on peer support groups.
Summary of project results
This project aimed to empower and support survivors by developing an innovative peer support intervention at the local level. Through the Peer Support Groups, women with lived experiences of violence could share knowledge, offer mutual encouragement, and strengthen their social and civic engagement. By focusing on particularly vulnerable groups and fostering community-based solutions, the project contributed to improving victim protection, breaking cycles of isolation, and promoting survivor-led advocacy.
The REDE PARES: Gender-Based Violence and Empowerment project developed networks of self-representing women and a set of intervention tools at the local and national levels to promote the empowerment and civic participation of women who have experienced violence, particularly migrants and those living in rural areas. It served as a positive example of a university-community partnership, actively involving Casa do Brasil de Lisboa (CBL), the Cooperative Organization for the Integrated Development of the Municipality of Odemira (TAIPA-CRL), the Cape Verdean Association of Setúbal (ACVS), the Women Of Multicultural Ethnicity Network in Iceland (W.O.M.E.N.), and ISPA – Instituto Universitário as the coordinating entity.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project adapted its initiatives to the territories of its partner organizations while expanding its reach through online training sessions featuring experts in advocacy for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, community support services, and engaging men in the prevention of interpersonal violence. These sessions significantly influenced the development of project outputs, including the REDE PARES website (http://redepares.eu/), manuals on peer networks and violence prevention, social media campaigns, awareness-raising activities, a promotional leaflet, and policy recommendations.
In total, the project engaged 1,103 participants (85.6% women and 14.4% men), conducting six training sessions, seven workshops, and 18 awareness-raising activities, culminating in a final conference. Several key outputs were produced, including a website, four thematic videos, four podcasts, three publications (two manuals and policy recommendations), as well as intervention tools such as a leaflet, a values-based card deck, and training support materials. The project also launched a pilot initiative for violence prevention and educational success promotion.
Through collaboration between partners and the coordinating entity, the project established two networks: one for women survivors and another for young people dedicated to preventing interpersonal violence.
As part of the women survivors'' network, a peer support group was formed, involving 10 women regularly and others intermittently, mostly migrants identified through partner organizations. A total of 56 meetings were held with partners and survivors. Initially, survivors acted as consultants in defining the peer support network’s structure and distinguishing it from traditional mutual aid groups. In later stages, they took on activist and leadership roles, initiating local and national actions to improve community support systems. Their experiences and perspectives were incorporated into project outputs, including the communication strategy, peer network and prevention manuals, policy recommendations, public presentations at various events and workshops, and participation in the mid-term meeting and final conference (http://redepares.eu/).
In parallel, a university student peer network was established to prevent violence in intimate and gender-based relationships. These students actively contributed to the development of the Manual and participated in awareness-raising activities aimed at their peers.
Regarding communication and dissemination, the project maintained regular updates on its website and social media channels, ensured ongoing collaboration with its international partner, and presented its findings at three European conferences to integrate REDE PARES into broader international networks.
By combining peer support, awareness-raising, and policy advocacy, the REDE PARES project successfully empowered survivors, engaged communities, and contributed to long-term strategies for preventing gender-based violence.
The REDE PARES: Gender-Based Violence and Empowerment project contributed to reducing social and economic disparities by promoting the civic participation of women survivors of violence and discrimination, with a particular focus on migrant women and those living in rural areas. Through partnerships with Casa do Brasil de Lisboa (CBL), TAIPA-CRL, Associação Caboverdiana de Setúbal (ACVS), and Women Of Multicultural Ethnicity Network in Iceland (W.O.M.E.N.), the project directly addressed the barriers faced by vulnerable groups, ensuring equal access to support networks, training, and information. Given the lack of specialized services in certain regions, particularly in the south, the project worked to strengthen local peer support systems and victim protection services, aligning with national efforts to enhance community-based responses to gender-based violence.
The project empowered women survivors by creating peer support networks, where participants transitioned from beneficiaries to activists, using their experiences to improve community support systems and advocate for better policies. A total of 56 peer support meetings were held, with 10 women participating regularly, while others joined intermittently. Survivors actively contributed to manuals, policy recommendations, and public awareness activities, ensuring their voices shaped the project’s outputs. To promote inclusive participation, meetings and training sessions were adapted to survivors’ needs, incorporating privacy measures, online accessibility, and childcare support to remove barriers to engagement. The initiative also established a university student peer network, fostering violence prevention awareness among future professionals and ensuring a long-term impact on gender equality and social justice efforts.
Beyond direct support, the project prioritized knowledge dissemination and public awareness, developing open-access training materials, social media campaigns, videos, and podcasts, expanding its reach both nationally and internationally. By leveraging digital platforms and academic networks, the project ensured that training resources, policy recommendations, and prevention strategies remain available to a broader audience. Through community engagement, survivor-led advocacy, and capacity-building efforts, REDE PARES contributed to strengthening support structures for women experiencing violence and fostering a more inclusive and informed society.
Summary of bilateral results
The organization W.O.M.E.N. played an active role in the project by organizing an online workshop on Diversity and Cultural Competence, participating in international workshops with English-speaking speakers, attending online training sessions on Civic Defense with three participants, and on Intervention with Survivors of Sexual Abuse with two participants, engaging in nine partner meetings, co-developing the training manual, contributing to the institutional video, and promoting activities and content on social media The Icelandic partner also took part in the Final Conference with a keynote speech and an organizational presentation held online Despite operational challenges such as leadership changes within the partner organization, the voluntary nature of their actions, and pandemic-related restrictions, the bilateral collaboration was fruitful and enriching. While in-person missions between Portugal and Iceland were not carried out, effective communication enabled meaningful exchanges of experiences W.O.M.E.N. contributed significantly to the integration of migrant women, including survivors of violence, by providing language learning support, employment assistance, and sociocultural activities to foster support networks. The organization also shared valuable insights on intervention in rural contexts, where women often feel more constrained in seeking help, facilitating opportunities for them to travel to urban areas for private and formal support regarding gender-based violence and discrimination. The Final Conference was a crucial moment for consolidating the joint work, strengthening the transnational network, and fostering a structured exchange of best practices