In line with the #InternationalDayForTheElimanitationOfViolenceAgainstWomen #November25th and according to the Transnational Report that is prepared in the framework of the Erasmus+ KA2 project RoW POWER – Enhancing support for Roma women victims of GBV we want to share the main conclusions with the public:
The Desk research was carried out between March and June 2024 on literature and scientific references as well as online references using mainly data and information from the last three years [2021-2024]. The Online Survey and field research was conducted between March and July 2024. The National Report focuses on highlighting the Transnational framework [existing policies and mechanisms] for combating gender-based violence, faced by Roma women and women in all six (6) implementing project countries and to provide an important insight into the challenges and lack of knowledge and skills faced by both Roma Mediators and professionals in the field of combating gender-based violence to serve Roma women GBV victims or at risk of GBV. At the same time, this report hopes to summarize if there are good practices, training programs or training seminars for Roma Mediators & GBV professionals to specialize in serving Roma GBV victims as well as training programs for cooperation between them.
The following conclusions can be drawn from the above survey and the data collected from the six (6) participating countries (Germany, Greece, Ireland, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Spain):
Τhe fragmentation of the implementation of any policy to combat gender-based violence is a result of the specificity and intensity of gender-based violence in the Roma community and deserves special attention and care
Causes of all the above are:
rare or no cooperation between the two main actors, GBV Professionals and Roma Mediators that can effectively support Roma women victims of GBV violence.
their lack of cooperation is a result of their insufficient knowledge, skills and contact with the Roma community (for GBV Professionals) and their ignorance of gender-based violence issues and approach of the victims (for Roma Mediators). Also, the fact that GBV Professionals do not exactly know the the scope of action and the services that Roma Mediators are providing, and Roma Mediators do not fully understand what the GBV structures can provide to a victim of GBV.
Recommendations:
From all the above it is clear that both GBV Professionals and Roma Mediators should be trained in order to cooperate effectively with each other. Βut also the strengthening of knowledge and skills at the points where they emerge.
Τhe effectiveness of their cooperation can be achieved by drawing up a cooperation protocol on which they will rely to offer their services to Roma women victims of GBV.
Τhe empowerment of Roma women themselves and the awareness of the wider Roma community, and not only women, on issues of gender-based violence is also of great importance.
For more visit the project web site: https://row-power-project.eu/ where soon we will publish the Transnational Report.
