Project Description
The SWIM project – SafeWomen In Migration – is committed to fight against genderviolence and contribute to the protection of migrant women, girls and asylum seekers who are victims of violence, or find themselves in a situations of risk.Women and girls are more exposed to the danger of trafficking, exploitation, discrimination and abuse during their migration and especially when forced to travel alone.The phenomenon of gender-based violence can occur at every stage of migration: it may be the reason for leaving home, it can happen during the long journey, or even when arriving in Europe in emergency and hospitality centers.The European Directive 2012/29 /EU guarantees equal access to justice to all victims of violence and abuse, regardless of their legal status, but often fear and the lack of knowledge of legislation prevent migrant women from accessing their rights and be protected.
Vulnerable people protection
With respect to the dignity and equality of every human being, the project adopts a gender approach, respecting all cultures dealing with particularly delicate and personal issues, such as female genital mutilation, gender equality and early marriages.Following the principles set by the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, further attention is given to the rights of girls, who are even more exposed to gender-based violence. Intervention areas are three: •The training of more than 500 professionals working in the migrant hospitality sector, in 5 different member countries of the European Union, to enable them to identify the situations most at risk and to guarantee adequate support to all women and girls who must access the judicial system in each of the member countries of the European Union.• Punctual and widespread information aimed at 300 migrant women and girls at risk, or victims of gender-based violence, so that they can know their rights and are able to use them.• The drafting of the EU Gender Sensitive Charter, a document establishing a system for denouncing gender violence against migrant women and girls, which can be promoted and adopted by local, national and European institutions.
Partnership
The project involves 7 partners from 5 European countries: France, Italy, United Kingdom, Romania and Sweden. All countries affected by the phenomenon of migration. Italy with its coasts represents the first access to Europe, France and Romania see migrants transit on their territory and the United Kingdom and Sweden are two of the main destinations of arrival. The project thus strengthens the entire migration cycle through work at local level in each of these countries.
