Break the silence – campaign for awareness, prevention and protection against domestic violence and violence based on gender

Project facts

Project promoter:
National association of municipal clerks in Bulgaria
Project Number:
BG12-0020
Target groups
Roma
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€55,030
Final project cost:
€47,442
From Norway Grants:
€ 36,293
The project is carried out in:
Bulgaria

Description

The project aims at decreasing the gender-based violence through information campaigns and initiatives for increasing the awareness and the knowledge among the victims of gender-based violence and among the society as a whole. The aim is to prevent gender-based violence and promote zero tolerance for such violence. The project will reduce gender-based violence through awareness and sensibility raising campaigns. The target groups of the project which is expected to benefit are victims of domestic violence and gender-based violence living at risk; and vulnerable communities with predominant Roma and Bulgarian-Muslim population. The role of the donor partner in the project, Norsensus Mediaforum (Norway), is to assist in the preparation of the overall strategy of the campaign, in the preparation of training and information materials, in the development of plan for information and publicity; and attending press conferences.

Summary of project results

It is necessary to talk about domestic and gender based violence(DV a. GBV) in order to increase the awareness and sensitiveness of the society on these issues, recognition of the "domestic violence" and public intolerance towards its appearance. Within the project a number of meetings, discussions and informational activities were held. In order to raise awareness of the society on DV and GBV, information days in 10 Bulgarian cities were held - Pleven, Sofia, Panagurishte, Mezdra, Goze Delchev, Nedelino, Targovishte, Sliven, St. Zagora a. Kozloduy. The major focus in the campaign was the art-exhibition "Break the Silence" which included T-shirts painted by children, telling in a unique way stories about/against DV and GBV. During the information days ten round tables were organized to discuss interinstitutional actions and cooperation against DV and GBV. The conducted public activities covered over 300 participants (representatives of institution on regional level, NGOs, media representatives, victims, citizens). Furthermore, a radio and television campaign was held. A number of radio and television coverages on national and regional media were broadcasted in order to raise awareness and public sensitivity on domestic and gender based violence. Two-day seminar was held by a Norwegian expert so as to introduce the project, the target groups and the specific aspects of information campaigns against DV and GBV. During the seminar the Norwegian experience and knowledge for establishing and conducting campaigns against DV and VBG was shared among 40 representatives of the stakeholders. A positive effect of the implemented project regarding DV and GBV issues is the attraction of the public attention and the increase of the public sensitivity,

Summary of bilateral results

The partner Norsensus Mediaforum Norway supported the beneficiary in the preparation of the campaign's overall strategy . The organization was responsible for the training of the teams on-site and the preparation of the training and information materials. The Norwegian experience and knowledge for establishing and conducting campaigns against DV and VBG was shared.