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You are not alone

2021-2-LV02-KA154-YOU-0000384172021Youth participation activitiesfinalizedGood practice
Countries: LV|UA|CY · Grant: €55,076
Promoting gender equalityHuman rights and rule of lawCommunity development

Objectives

Domestic violence is one of the most serious and pervasive forms of violence against women. It exists in all Council of Europe member states and occurs at all levels of society. Domestic violence is most often perpetrated by men against former or current intimate partners, although it is recognized that violence is also perpetrated by women and occurs in same-sex relationships. Gender conflicts and domestic violence on the household level, especially in the field of women's rights, are rooted not only in the minds of people, but also in the traditions of society. It is a human rights violation and a major obstacle to overcoming inequality between women and men. Despite positive developments in law, policies and practices, it still occurs in every Council of Europe member state at all levels of society. Violence is used to exert power and control over another individual. Domestic violence typically comprises abusive and coercive behavior such as physical, psychological or sexual abuse. Violent behavior of this sort can never be considered a series of unconnected events as actual physical violence is often the end result of months or years of intimidation and control. Domestic violence leads to serious health damage, physically and emotionally, and may end fatally. Apart form physical injuries, it causes fear, distress and loss of self-confidence. Physical and sexual violence are employed to aggravate the feeling of vulnerability, lack of control over one’s own body and feelings of hopelessness and shame. As a result of this, it destroys the victim’s will power and prevents them from being free and safe. According to Latvian statistic data in 2020, 38.6% of women in Latvia have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15, but 6.3% - in the last 12 months, 32.1% of these women had not told anyone, which is more than twice as often as the EU average . 60% of women in Latvia have experienced psychological abuse from an existing or former partner, 14% - tracking. Very similar situation is in Cyprus and Ukraine. Due to COVID-19 pandemic stress, the disruption of social and protective networks, loss of income and decreased access to services all can exacerbate the risk of violence for women, means WHO. In many countries, where people are encouraged or required to stay at home, the risk of intimate partner violence is likely to increase. All partner organizations and our young participants, active volunteers of organizations, feel needs about this issues because it is a part of their regular activities and they face gender discrimination and domestic violence in daily life, working with abused women, especially young women - victims of domestic violence. All partner organizations are facing a victims of domestic violence in our regular work, we have special trainings of selfdefence and psychological support for women - victims of domestic violence. Some of our active youngsters in the organization are the victims of domestic violence in their family, they are overcoming their personal fears and problems and wants to help other people, especially young girls and women in similar situations. Domestic violence needs to be understood in a wider social context which permits the perpetrators to assume the right to use violence as a means of exercising dominance and control. Young people - volunteers and members of all partner organizations are ready to create a project teams and raise a topic of women rights and domestic violence to very high level with the aim to stop domestic violence against women, to raise awareness about European Union common values and fundamental rights among young people all over Europe. When we are able to prevent violence, or to support women survivors of violence, we help to safeguard women’s human rights, and promote physical and mental health and well-being for women throughout their lives. This also helps to alleviate pressure on already stretched essential public services, including the health system. The aim of the project is to reduce domestic violence and raise awareness about women rights and gender discrimination. Objectives of the project: the involvement of young people in the public dialogue and social activities on gender issues, especially in the field of women's rights, at all levels of decision-making, and an increasing in the role of active participation of young people in issues of infringement of rights and domestic violence using methods of non-formal education, especially based on principles of Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. This goal coincides with the general areas of activity of all partner organizations, because the issues of human rights, gender equality, and reduction of violence against women are among our regular activities that young people are interested in and actively participate - young members of the organization, volunteers and an invited target group.

Project partners (3)