Resilience through capacity: combating gender-based violence among IDPs living in collective centers, and women and girls from compact Roma settlements

About the project

The project aims to prevent and combat gender-based violence against Roma women and girls, as well as internally displaced women and girls living in collective centers and other vulnerable conditions in the Zakarpattia region.

Special attention is paid to economic, physical, and sexual violence, early and forced marriages, human trafficking, economic exploitation, and other forms of human rights violations, the risk of which is exacerbated by poverty, displacement, lack of documents, limited access to education, employment, legal aid, and social services.

The project combines direct support for women and girls with systemic changes. Participants will receive free legal consultations, assistance with document restoration or processing, help in cases of violence, career guidance, training, support in job searching, and development of financial independence.

In parallel, the project will strengthen the capacity of police, social services, Roma and women's civil society organizations to respond more effectively to cases of gender-based violence. It includes developing a referral system for victims, training representatives of relevant services, supporting community initiatives, and advocating for the inclusion of specific mechanisms to combat violence in regional and local policies.

Target Audience

The main target audience of the project includes:

Roma women and girls living in compact settlements of the Zakarpattia region;
Roma women and girls who are internally displaced persons;
IDP women and girls living in collective centers;
victims or individuals at risk of economic, physical, or sexual violence, early and forced marriages, and other harmful practices;
women and girls without documents or with an unregulated civil status;
women in need of legal, social, professional, or economic support.

Other project participants will include representatives of the police, social services, local authorities, civil society organizations, Roma and women's initiative groups, and institutions providing assistance to victims of violence.

Partners

Department of Social Protection of the Population of the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration
Zakarpattia Regional Association of Roma Youth "Luludya"
Roma Association "Romani Cherkhen"
Coalition "1325-Zakarpattia"

Expected Results

Roma women and girls, as well as IDP women and girls, will better understand forms of gender-based violence, their own rights, and available protection methods. They will have more confidence and practical opportunities to seek help, make independent decisions, and resist violence and exploitation.

Victims and women from at-risk groups will have better access to confidential legal aid, phone consultations, mobile services, judicial protection, and a referral system to relevant institutions. Legal support and assistance with document processing will help restore their access to education, employment, medical, social, and other public services.

Through career guidance, training, and financial literacy development, participants will strengthen their ability to earn their own income, plan finances, and protect themselves from economic violence and fraud. This will create better conditions for reducing dependence on abusers and exiting exploitative relationships.

Police, social services, and other aid providers will better understand the needs of Roma women and girls and will apply more culturally sensitive and victim-centered approaches. Strengthening inter-agency coordination and updating the referral system will contribute to a more timely and comprehensive response to cases of violence.

Mechanisms for preventing and combating gender-based violence will be integrated into at least three local implementation plans of the Strategy for Promoting the Rights and Opportunities of the Roma National Minority. This will create institutional prerequisites for the continuation of relevant measures after the project's completion.

Roma and women's civil society organizations and initiative groups will strengthen their ability to represent the interests of women and girls, conduct advocacy campaigns, influence local policies, and monitor the fulfillment of government obligations. The established network will contribute to more sustainable coordination of assistance and more active involvement of Roma women in decision-making.

In the longer term, the project will contribute to the formation of safer communities where Roma women and girls and IDP women will have more opportunities to live free from violence, exercise their rights, receive assistance, and achieve economic independence.