Launched in 2016, “Building a Safety Net for Refugee and Migrant Women” is a project which is funded by the European Union – Daphne Strand and implemented through 5 partners in 3 different countries.
The aim of the project is to enhance the active intervention of relevant actors with a focus on identification, support and protection of women at risk of or survivors of GBV, as well as to the prevention and risk deduction for them.
With the aim of fostering international cooperation and exchanges in the field of protection and response to GBV the project has been conducted by organizations and actors from Italy (Differenza Donna), Spain (Fundació Surt) and Greece (CRWI DIOTIMA, KETHI and GSGE).
In this context, 4 awareness raising seminars have been organized for auxiliary staff working with GBV survivors. Two took place in Athens, Greece, while one was delivered in Barcelona, Spain and one in Rome, Italy.
Non-specialized staff working within the context of migration in southern Europe need to have a broad understanding of what Gender Based Violence is and how it might affect women and girls as well as men and boys.
While this type of professionals (support/auxiliary staff) are not charged with providing case management or protection services to GBV survivors, they often are permanent presences in the survivors’ lives, therefore, it is of high importance that we work with them to increase their awareness about the causes and effects of gender inequality, GBV, as well as helping them cultivate attitudes that do not condone any form of GBV.
This guide can be used as a companion to capacity building workshops offered to auxiliary staff or it can act as an introductory, sensitization package on GBV.
This guide has been designed for both state and non state actors.
More specifically, it can offer guidelines to auxiliary, support staff working with and for female GBV survivors and women at risk while also increasing their awareness and knowledge of the phenomenon.
The guidelines can be used by a variety of settings and context as a whole or can be adapted to the specific needs expressed during different occasions.
The reader can find within basic terminology and concepts related to GBV, guidelines of operation when working with GBV survivors as well as basic communication techniques that can be used by professionals regardless of their role.
Main objectives
- Sensitize support staff at accommodation related services about appropriate ways to work with GBV survivors.
- Codify core concepts and definitions related to GBV.\
- Help actors in the field of protection and migration to share guidelines of working with GBV survivors with staff who comes in contact with beneficiaries.