Description
The project aims at decreasing domestic violence through information campaigns and initiatives for increasing awareness and knowledge among the Roma population and other vulnerable groups. The aim is to prevent domestic violence and promote zero tolerance for such violence. By disseminating information on domestic violence among vulnerable groups such as the Roma and raising the awareness of these groups on the problem and by informing the victims of violence of their rights, the victims will be empowered to seek protection and support and report incidents of violence in their families. The project will reduce domestic violence through awareness raising activities with a special focus on the Roma and other vulnerable communities.The target group of the project which is expected to benefit are victims of domestic violence (women and girls) belonging to Roma ethnic group and other vulnerable communities and children from Roma origin and other vulnerable groups living at risk of domestic violence.
Summary of project results
The project focused on the use of information channels, resting on one hand, active involvement of citizens in the community, and on the other hand, on volunteers and interactive approach to information. Providing specific and diverse information channels ensures broad access to the victims of DV and their relatives, and the effectiveness of the messages in the information events / understanding, reliability, credibility, etc. /. One of the key activities is to conduct public hearings / "Forums" / with the participation of all stakeholders on the issue DV. The objective was to find a solution by the stakeholders to improve coordination and cooperation at the local level so as to facilitate victims in finding information about their rights and options for protection and increase their trust in the institutions and motivate them to rely on them. The project corresponded to the need "to promote zero tolerance of DV among the Roma community" as the activities were aimed at families directly affected by the problem, and to their extended families, friends and acquaintances to neighbors, employers in neighborhoods, general practitioners and the entire local community. The impplemented activities included a radio information campaign where two radio clips speaking intolerance to DV were broadcasted for several months on a radio station popular among Roma community. A photo session with a popular face from the Roma community who also had at a later stage of the implementation of the project three concerts in three different cities so as to further promote the campaign. The campaign went under the slogan “My Home is Free from Domestic Violence”. Visibility materials from the photo session like leaflets, posters, calendars, were distributed among attendees at the promotional events. The same slogan was used for a competition on the Facebook where pictures were uploaded and the author of the most voted/shared/liked one received an award. Last but not least a door-to-door campaign was implemented by the volunteers. During the campaign about 1 600 people were visited by the preliminary trained volunteers. Moreover, volunteers offered consultations to the members from the community.
Summary of bilateral results