The project is funded by the National Program of Bulgaria under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014-2020 with the financial support of the European Union and the budget of the Republic of Bulgaria.

 

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a prevalent human rights violation both globally and on the European level. SGBV has both physical and psychological forms, it includes domestic violence, sexual harassment and violence, harmful traditional practices, exploitation and trafficking in human beings. Women and men, girls and boys and LGBTQI people can all become victims of such violence.

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the capacities of existing national support services for sexual and gender based violence to coordinate better and make these systems available for refugee, migrant and asylum seeker victims and potential victims of SGBV. The project also aims to raise awareness among and empower these communities.

The project is implemented by 12 IOM country offices (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Spain) and eight NGO partners, Legebitra (Slovenia), Le monde selon les femmes abl (Belgium), Fundación EMET Arco Iris, Asociación Rumiñahui, Movimiento por la Paz (Spain), Arq Psychotrauma Expert Groep, Rutgers, and Pharos (Netherlands) between October 2018 and March 2020.

The project has the following specific objectives and activities that will be implemented during its 18-month project cycle. Most of the activities will be tailored to specific national context.

  1. Strengthen and adapt existing national support services for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) to coordinate better and include refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers.
  2. Build capacity for professionals who work with and for refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers with the aim of identifying and addressing the needs of victims and potential victims of SGBV more effectively.
  3. Empower and inform refugee and migrant communities and asylum-seekers of SGBV and its prevention through a regional awareness-raising campaign.

By the end of the project the following outputs will be produced:

  • SOPs/Guidelines developed / reviewed / contributed to in 8 countries
  • Empowerment Handbook (Bulgaria)
  • 120+ trainings organized in 12 countries
  • 13 000+ information materials distributed
  • 200+ information session organized on SGBV prevention
  • 1 animation film available in +20 languages

Status: COMPLETED

Start date: 01 October 2018
End date: 31 March 2020
Term of implementation: 18 months

For further information, please contact: +359 2 93 94 774

Read more about the project on the website of the Regional Office for the European Economic Area, the European Union and NATO here.

 

The Mapping Report on Legal Framework and Assistance Available to Migrant Victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence has been finalized. You can download the full report following the link below.

On the link below, you can access the final English version of the “Handbook for specialists working on the empowerment of women and girls asylum seekers or beneficiaries of international protection, survivors of gender-based violence”, elaborated within the framework of the project.

IOM Bulgaria organized three trainings within the framework of the project, for a total of 60 first responders, specialized and general service providers. 

You can find the poster for the project in English here.