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Description
In the Lithuanian media, human rights issues are still often treated as exotic. People experiencing discrimination are more often portrayed as "others" than as one of us. Images shaped by the media become part of everyday thinking: according to the Institute of Ethnic Studies (2019), 63% of Lithuanians would not want a Roma neighbor, 35% would not want a Muslim neighbor, and 22% said they would not want to work with a colleague if he or she were homosexual.
The aim of the project „New Norm: Human Rights Stories at the Renewed Nanook Journalism Platform“ is to create a journalistic platform where respect for human rights is a fundamental value, and to bring together an empathetic, civic and human rights-oriented community that is sufficiently knowledgeable about human rights, and ready to foster a real change in the society. This is done by creating multimedia projects, podcasts, live discussions, photo essays, and personal stories of discriminated people living in Lithuania, revealing their problems and contributions to society. Over the three years of the project:
- the Nanook website and podcast will be renewed and will receive at least 5 million visits within 36 months;
- at least 36 journalistic publications (texts, photo stories, video stories) on human rights issues will be produced;
- 18 podcasts will be created (12 in Lithuanian, 6 in Russian), where representatives of different social, ethnic and religious groups express their views;
- at least 10 open meetings with journalists working in the regions and at least 15 regional journalistic debates will be organized;
- at least 10 publications on human rights issues will be produced in cooperation with regional journalists;
- at least 36 publications on human rights will be reprinted in at least 10 regional media outlets.
By working purposefully, the Nanook team hopes to change the Lithuanian media''s perception of discriminated groups and to create a civic community acting to promote real changes.
Summary of project results
According to the data of the social support information system for families, in 2019 there were 5,469 cases of possible violence against children in which 5,122 children actually may have experienced child abuse. This makes up the 1,03 % of children currently living in Lithuania. Meanwhile according to the PSO data (WHO, 2020), 9,6 % of children in the European region experience sexual, 22,9 % physical and 29,1 % psychological abuse. This shows that in Lithuania, adults and children close to the child lack basic knowledge and skills on how to recognize violence and how to seek help. Currently, there is no prevention program in Lithuania that would teach children how to recognize, protect and report different types of violence that could also be consistent and adapted to children of different ages and abilities. In order to effectively protect all children from violence, not only is a prevention program needed but also a well-organized comprehensive assistance to children and their families.
In Lithuania the problem of availability of specialized and professional services remains, especially in remote areas from Vilnius.
The aim is to empower children and families in two ways: to develop and implement a prevention programme for children and and families, and expanding the availability of specialised services for children and families affected by violence. The introduction of the new service model will enable children at risk of violence to recognise children who are at risk of violence will be able to identify dangerous situations, and children who have already experienced violence will be able to report it and receive appropriate help. This will reduce the incidence of repeat violence and increase the detection of ongoing violence. Disclosure of violence will provide children and families with specialised, timely and tailored support professional support. A coherent and age-appropriate approach will be developed prevention programme, so that as children grow up, they can continue to receive training and familiarisation for their age group challenges relevant to their age group.
The aim is to develop and implement a service model for violence prevention and intervention. The project achieved its objective.
All project objectives were fully met:
1. To carry out an analysis of the situation of violence against children and the needs of children and families in Lithuania;
2. To develop and implement a prevention programme for children and parents "I am safe";
3. Provide qualified and specialised assistance to children and their families affected by violence;
4. Ensure the dissemination and sustainability of the project results.
The objective of the project « Empowered children and families: model of prevention and intervention services” was to develop and implement a model of violence prevention and intervention services. The main target groups: children with developmental disabilities and their families; children that have experienced violence and their families; children who have a higher risk of experiencing abuse and their families; professionals providing help to children and their families; municipal communities; the general public. Results: children and their families are more able to recognize and respond appropriately to happening violence; an innovative violence prevention program “We Are Safe” that meets the needs of children and their families has been fully developed and implemented (2035 children and adults participated in prevention program); children and families were involved in the development and implementation of the prevention and intervention model, advocacy for their rights; children and their families were provided specialized assistance because of violence (400 people received help).
Summary of bilateral results
The cooperation with the Norwegian organisation Voksne for Barn (VFB) has been successful. VFB is an experienced and well-known organisation working in the field of mental health promotion for children and young people in the country and internationally. The partner''s participation in the project is particularly important due to its international expertise and long experience in the field of children and youth involvement. In the project, VFB has provided training to Lithuanian NGOs on youth involvement, provided guidance on the development and implementation of a prevention programme, participated and presented at the opening and closing conferences of the project, organised the partners'' meeting in Oslo, and participated in the partners'' meetings. The partnership has contributed to improving the quality of the project and will continue in the future through the exchange of good practices, joint projects and training.