Migrant/refugee women are exposed to a cycle of precarity related to gender-based violence (GBV), while also facing challenges in disclosing GBV incidents, intensifying underreporting. Similarly, women residing in rural areas experience difficulties in reporting GBV. Women in smaller towns are then faced with the lack of or inadequate services, and migrant/refugee women in Athens encounter persistent barriers to accessing available services, yet not tailored to their needs. Durable solutions to those common needs can be found by drawing from holistic and inclusive support models, using a survivor-led approach. The project aims to promote this approach as a viable alternative when proper services are either not-accessible or not in place.

The project foresees the provision of direct services to migrant/refugee women for the prevention of and response to GBV through a survivor-led approach, which will serve as a pilot for the creation of an educational package for CSOs in Patras, aiming to empower them to optimize the local services.

The planned educational series includes three stages:

– on-the-job training,

– an experiential workshop,

– and individual support for professionals.

The target groups of the project are migrant/refugee women at increased risk of exposure to GBV, professionals and community representatives from Patras and the wider region of Achaia, as well as survivors in Patras and the local society as a whole.

Melissa Network, as the implementing partner with expertise in GBV experienced by women facing multi-faceted marginalization, undertakes the direct provision of services and the creation of educational material. Cyclisis, as a partner based and operating in Patras with expertise in educational programs, will coordinate the recruitment of trainees and the formation of groups, while providing feedback on local needs to better tailor the material.

The project “From her, for her: Expanding survivor-led approaches” is implemented under the PREVENT programme, by Melissa: Network of Migrant Women in Greece and the implementing partner Cyclisis. The PREVENT programme (“Preventing gender-based violence and violence against children”) aims to prevent and combat gender-based violence and violence against children by supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) in Greece and Cyprus that are active in these fields, while also strengthening their knowledge, capacity, and sustainability. PREVENT is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, the Bodossaki Foundation, and the NGO Support Centre, with a total grant amount of €2.3 million. The programme is operated by the Bodossaki Foundation (Greece) in partnership with the NGO Support Centre (Cyprus).

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Commission, the Bodossaki Foundation or the NGO Support Centre. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission or the Bodossaki Foundation or the NGO Support Centre can be held responsible for them.

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