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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.