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HEAL

HEAL: enHancing rEcovery and integrAtion through networking, empLoyment training and psychological support for women victims of trafficking

HEAL aims to facilitate the integration of third country national women victims of trafficking.

Grant Agreement Number: 863631

Funded by: AMIF        Duration: 01/10/2019- 31/09/2021   


Challenge

Trafficking in human beings (THB) is a criminal phenomenon and major violation of fundamental individual rights and human dignity. It is prohibited by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and addressed through a legal and policy framework which places focus on the need for human rights-based and gender-specific approaches, given that its most commonly reported form within the EU is for sexual exploitation (67%), with the majority of victims being women and girls (95%).

The illegal and highly isolating condition of women victims of trafficking (VoT) has two major repercussion on their well-being, as they do not have access to labour market through legal means and being under the control of their traffickers makes them more detached from the broader social system.

Southern Europe countries demonstrate high level of THB, while they lack the instruments to counter this phenomenon, which requires stronger and coordinated action at national and EU level.

Innovation

By developing a healing process comprising psychological recovery and employment-related skills acquisition, HEAL aims at facilitating the integration of third-country national (TCN) women victims of trafficking (VoT) for sexual exploitation in Italy, Greece, Spain and Romania.

Action

This action includes the mapping of the target groups (TCN VoT, employers), and needs assessment research, as well as the networking among key actors. The main activities are as following: focus groups with TCN women VoT, workshops with service providers and interviews with employers, local round tables.  The main goal of this activity is to collect best practices across EU.

A multi-faceted Recovery and Integration Programme will be designed and delivered to TCN women VoT, incorporating two parallel and complementary elements: a series of sessions of psychological support using an alternative methodology of healing from the trauma of trafficking targeted to women VoT, and a multi-disciplinary training on employment and entrepreneurship to foster their economic independence and access to the labour market.

Fanzines will be showcased, created by the women during the psychological support sessions in the respective country. Fanzines are an expressive tool, helping women elaborate their trauma using a combination of words and images to share their stories. Fanzines are informal, non-commercial, non-professional means of conveying feelings which are meant to stimulate women`s creativity and ensure their active role in their healing process, while following a psychological process in a safe and comfortable environment.

Women who directly took part in the Recovery and Integration Programme will be invited to participate as role models in 2 peer-to-peer sessions with other TCN women VoT from their personal networks or from the local community where project partners operate.

The topics discussed during the peer-to-peer sessions will be: the experience of human trafficking; the services of social, psychological and economic support they can benefit from; the skills needed to increase their employability; the HEAL programme and availability of the HEAL Database.

European Commission’s support for the production of this content does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Project Partners

KMOP – Social Action and Innovation Centre
CESIE (Project Coordinator – Italy)
Surt, Fundacio De Dones Fundacio Privada (Spain)
Peace Action, Training & Research Institute of Romania (Romania)
LIbera – Associazioni, Nomi e Numeri Contro le Mafie (Italy)

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