More information
Description
The project addresses "the fear of difference manifested in high level of distrust in the case of LGBT people (74%), Roma (72%), people with HIV / AIDS (58%)" highlighting the main categories of people at risk of discrimination in Romania. "Identity characterization of people with different characteristics is made mainly by the health status (61%)", made that patients with chronic diseases also face besides the limited access to treatment and medical services, the discrimination associated with the disease (36%). Also in the Romanian society, according to the study of the Fundamental Rights Agency of the European Union (2014), 30% of women say that they were affected by physical or sexual violence at some point in their life, these behaviors also representing a violation of human rights.
The challenges will be addressed through the development of local campaigns with volunteers, specific to their field, which they will implement over a period of 6 months. A number of 15 small NGOs working with LGBTQ+, Roma, PLHIV, chronic patients and survivors of VIF will be trained by training beneficiaries, in running active citizenship, human rights, nondiscrimination and equal treatment programs. At the same time, following the trainings, the NGOs, together with the applicant and the partner (COPAC-RO), will put in place a service of assistance and support in solving the needs of victims of discrimination and violation of human rights, for a period of 15 months. The direct beneficiaries of the project are young people from the categories listed above among with young people, volunteers from the general population.
Besides direct services of assistance and support it is expected an improvement of the attitude towards these groups.
UNOPA and COPAC-RO have extensive experience in defending and promoting human rights, developing advocacy campaigns and involving young people, experience and expertise that will contribute to the success of the project.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to promote human rights and equal treatment, by combating the discrimination and hate speech especially when referring to chronic patients, LGBT, Roma, domestic violence survivors by increasing the capacity of 15 small, local organizations that works with groups of people at risk of discrimination. All objectives have been met, and the proposed indicators have been successfully achieved
The project addressed the high incidence of discrimination and hate speech especially when referring to chronic patients, LGBT, Roma, domestic violence survivors etc.) and the limited capacity of small NGOs working with/for these persons to create impact at local level and be efficient in promoting human rights and fight discrimination and hate speech. 15 small NGOs participated in the project and 46 young people from these NGOs attended trainings on active citizenship, human rights, nondiscrimination and equal treatment and became resource persons who activated 15 teams of volunteers which developed 15 local campaigns and created support services in their organizations.
In terms of results and effects, a total of 133 persons were involved in the project, 856 benefited of support services and more than 54000 persons were reached by the human rights campaigns. Through this participative approach the project contributed to the Program priorities: Youth inclusion and Increased capacity of NGOs. A toolkit "Discrimination and Human Rights" and a Monitoring report on cases of discrimination were released and serve as resources for further initiatives (http://step-by-step.unopa.ro/). The Project Promoter committed to maintain communication and support for the 15 NGOs (partnership agreements were signed). The support service will also be maintained contributing to an enforced local capacity to provide support for underserved groups as well as to educating and creating awareness in the community, regarding human rights, nondiscrimination and equal treatment.