Erasmus+ Together4Equality - Raising awareness about gender stereotyping

THE MAIN IDEA OF THE PROJECT

One in four young males and one in ten young females in Serbia believe that a slap across the face does not constitute violence, according to the research conducted during 2016 by the Autonomous Women's Centre.
Reasons why one in ten young males support the standpoint that there are situations in which it is justifiable to hit a female partner, and why one in 33 girls agrees with that, can be found in the upbringing and education of young people who primarily adopt the pattern of violent behavior from their parents. Considering that every other woman in Serbia has been subjected to some type of psychological violence, and every third woman to physical violence by their intimate partners, it is evident what kind of behavioral patterns boys and girls are exposed to while growing up.
One of the most significant social determinants of violence is gender inequality and its associated harmful gendered norms and beliefs, as it hampers the social, political and economic development of individuals, families, communities and broader society. Gender inequality helps to fuel and embed gender-based violence as ‘normal’ and acceptable behavior.

In Serbia, gender inequality is a deeply rooted issue and violence against women is still very much present. A report of the Republican Institute for Social Protection: The Work of all Centres for Social Work (CSW) in Serbia (2014), indicated that women make up 88% of adult victims of gender-based violence. According to the same data source, girls make up 80% of victims of sexual violence.
According to the data collected by UNICEF, through Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) only four years earlier, men and boys between 15 and 29 were more likely than women of the same age to believe there are justifiable reasons for beating women. Community-level research with young men in Serbia, conducted by Centar E8 found that 17% of boys and young men agree that sexual violence is caused by women’s inappropriate behavior.
The number of reported cases of violence against women is increasing. In 2016 the number of reports was 24 percent higher compared to 2015, which is as much as 57.8 percent higher compared to 2014. The Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence is being enforced, but there is uncertainty in terms of effects on the protection of women and other victims.
Research data obtained over different time periods, on different samples and using various methodologies show similarities and a consistent prevalence of violence against women. Almost every other woman (46.1%) had experienced at some point in life some type of violence, and every third woman (30.6%) was physically assaulted by a family member, and at least 6% experienced sexual violence. A research conducted in Vojvodina has confirmed these findings and contributed information on the exposure of women to the threats of violence (27%), economic violence (11.4%), persecution (18.6%) and sexual violence (9%). The number of reported cases is on the rise, and that is partially due to the increased willingness of women to report the attacks. However, they don’t always meet the response they might be expecting or hoping for. People working in relevant institutions might not always be sensitive to the needs of abuse victims, might not always consider them to be victims in the first place and might assume the victim somehow provoked the abuser. This should not happen.
The problem is there. It layered. It's complicated. It’s multinational, but it is also local. It affects both boys and girls, men and women. Both the general population and the decision makers.
The problem is there, but it is not unsolvable.
By carefully approaching youth workers, youth leaders, NGO activists, representatives of student organizations and all others working/dealing with target groups affected by gender related discrimintation, we believe we could make a step forward in finding the solution. Changing the way of thinking of young children. Raising awareness among teenagers. Adjusting the approach to victims by the first responders. And finally influencing the women themselves and empowering them to fight for their own rights.

With the main focus being on the talent discovery, building capacity, skills and maintaining a two-way learning process, by the end of this project, each partner organization will be capable of working on improving topic-related situation in their own country.
This project will include following topics:

● Relationship building and empowerment
● Time management
● Planning techniques
● Personal capacity building
● Professional skills development
● Interactive knowledge transfer
● Support human rights
● Types of discrimination
● No hate speech
● Prejudice, stereotype and tolerance
● Individual differences
● Intolerance online and offline
● Informing about discrimination and discriminated groups
● Responsibility and purpose of institutions
● Social behavior
● Exclusion of the individual or entities based on illogical or irrational decision making
● Social engagement
● Providing participants concrete practical knowledge and skills

Additional information can be found in the file attached.