Holding safe spaces for women and girls’ empowerment

An AMIF initiative committed to empowering and facilitating the social and labour integration of third-country national women and girls facing vulnerability, including survivors of violence and trafficking.

GA number: 101100732

Funded by: AMIF Duration: 01/04/2023-31/03/2025

Challenge

Trafficking in human beings (THB) is a horrifying reality and human rights violation rooted in gender inequalities. The most recent findings of the fifth EU-wide data collection on THB for the years 2017-2018 show that 14.145 victims were registered by EU member states, of these over half were trafficked for sexual exploitation (60%) and nearly three quarters (72%) were female.

In Greece, sexual exploitation is the main form of trafficking and, according to the recent National Referral Mechanism’s report for 2021, 73 victims (VoTs) were identified, among which there were 50 women and girls and the majority of VoTs were from Africa and Asia.

Rising numbers are evident, fueled by the Ukraine refugee crisis, with the UNHCR reporting over five million refugees, 90% women and children, fleeing Ukraine, escalating the risk of trafficking and gender-based violence (UNHCR, 2022). Research has underlined the need for the creation of women and girls’ safe spaces (WGSS) as a key strategy for the protection and empowerment of VoT women and girls.

Innovation

The general objective of the Safe Hut project is to support the social and labour integration of women and adolescent girls’ victims / survivors of trafficking by establishing safe spaces i.e. places where women and girls are supported through processes of empowerment.

🌐 KMOP inaugurates a Friendly Space for women and girls

Action

The developed Public Evaluation Report will include findings from WGSS piloting and outcomes from feedback sessions with the beneficiaries. The report will provide a credible basis to advocate for the sustainability of the WGSSs and lobby for its replication across the EU.

The country-specific briefs on WGSS will present the findings from the assessment with local authorities and community members, and recommendations for WGSS establishment, providing contextual ground for other organisations willing to replicate the model.

A curriculum for capacity-building activities will be available for those willing to implement capacity building on Gender-based violence (GBV); Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS); Certified Protection Professionals (CPP); World Health Organisation (WHO) standards on working with victims of violence; diversity & inclusion; as well as capacity-building for cultural mediators and for educators on child care services.

This document describes recommendations for launching WGSS and the activity plans developed by the women and victims/survivors of trafficking in collaboration with the WGSS staff. This document will be publicly available and promoted during lobbying meetings with policymakers at national and international level for possible replication of WGSSs in different contexts, therefore supporting the long-term concerted efforts of key actors for Third Country Nationals (TCN) women VoT’s integration.

This document will include all presentations delivered during the international conference in Athens that will be widely promoted across Europe and beyond, presenting the WGSS model and further advocating for the importance to establish, run and sustain safe spaces for women and girls victims/survivors of trafficking and violence.

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

CESIE, Italy
(Coordinator)

Safe Hut

Holding safe spaces for women and girls’ empowerment

Challenge

Innovation

Action

Public evaluation report on the effectiveness and importance of WGSS

Country-specific contextual briefs

Curriculum for capacity building of the WGSS staff

Tips and hints for launching WGSS and activity plan development

Conference proceedings

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

Leave a comment
or ask for help

Holding safe spaces for women and girls’ empowerment

Challenge

Innovation

Action

Public evaluation report on the effectiveness and importance of WGSS

Country-specific contextual briefs

Curriculum for capacity building of the WGSS staff

Tips and hints for launching WGSS and activity plan development

Conference proceedings

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

Leave a comment or ask for help

Leave a comment
or ask for help