The Latvian Gender Problem Center "GENDERS" is a non-profit, non-governmental
organization founded in 1994, in Riga, Latvia. Legal NGO status earned in
1996. One of the main aims of "GENDERS" are to develop preventive strategy
and measures against AIDS/STD among prostitutes, trafficking in women, lobbying
policy makers for improving legal situation for women. In all activities,
from management training and organizational development to mobilization
on a grassroots level, "GENDERS" recognized the differences between women
and men.
Gender differences are used as a tool for change and for constructive,
efficient, quality improvement. "GENDERS" influent men and women at all
levels in society, governmental, non-governmental and the business sectors,
to look through gender glasses. "GENDERS" has also elaborated and initiated
new forms of civil society co-operation with these sectors.
Since the beginning, "GENDERS" has developed non-traditional, forefront
methods, which successfully have been implemented in many national and international
projects on gender issues. Communication and information creating public
awareness of the existence of prostitution and trafficking is also a part
of our aim.
We often get enquiries from pupils, students and the media wanting general
information or asking specific questions regarding law issues, human rights,
etc. Students are welcome to visit our organization, reading materials
in the library and talking with one of our social workers. Then "GENDERS"
also publishes leaflets and articles sometimes aiming at the public, sometimes
aiming specific at the prostitutes - e.g. information on safe sex. We are
trying to be as visible as we can in the public space.
The aims and objectives of "GENDERS" are:
To develop new methods
based on theoretical research and practical knowledge in core groups of women
To move and collaborate
between within all levels of society through a broad network of contacts
To increase women's
and men's participation in change processes through resource mobilization
and motivation
To stimulate women's
and men's possibilities and willingness to improve themselves and their
world
To promote a healthy
lifestyle, safe sex education and prevention of STD and HIV infection
To develop a functioning
network of experts, both locally, nationally, and internationally in the
field of violence against women and children
To prevent STD and HIV
infection among prostitutes
To support female prostitutes
in solving health problems and social problems
To assist victims of
trafficking by helping them in situations of crisis
To develop methods in
working with health problems and social problems among prostitutes
To work in co-operation
with other organizations and associations in the field of different issues
The main activities of our
organization at present:
projects,
seminars,
training workshops,
lectures,
exhibitions,
membership of professional bodies,
publications,
communication with mass media representatives (cooperation with society).
Seminars: every year our organization participates in different
local and international seminars, which are connected with our work in the
issue of trafficking prevention. Our organization every week organizes training
seminars for the street workers. The most important thing is that our organization
not only participates but also organizes seminars for the local NGO’s and
organizations, official bodies and Latvian Government officials,
who are dealing with the trafficking and local and international prostitution
prevention. Our organization is UNAIDS Theme group member. The seminars
for members are organized once a month.
Training workshops and lectures: every year our organisation participates
in different local and international training workshops, which are connected
with our work in the issue of trafficking prevention. The most important
thing is that our organisation not only participates but also organizes training
workshops for the local NGO’s and organizations, official bodies and
Latvian Government officials who are dealing with the trafficking and local
and international prostitution prevention.
Exhibitions: every year our organization participates in Latvian Exhibition
“EROTS”! Also we take part in all exhibitions in Latvia, which are connected
with the theme of trafficking, and international and local prostitution.
Membership of professional bodies:
In head of president the Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS" is
a member of the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) and UNAIDS Team Group,
we also a member of the following networks International Network against
Trafficking of Women: http://www.qweb.kvinnoforum.se and European Network
for HIV/STD Prevention in Prostitution: tampep@xs4all.nl or info@mrgraaf.nl
Article "The MoonLight
project in Latvia" by Dr. Tatjana Kurova in a newsletter Research for Sex
Work, No. 3 (June, 2000) for XIII AIDS World Conference in Durban.
Article „Moon Light
- A Project to Creat Conditions for Safe prostitution” in the youth training
magazine „Coyote”, issue 5-January 2002.
Article "The trafficking
situation in Latvia" by Dr. Tatiana Kurova from the Latvian Gender Problem
centre “GENDER” in the Resource Book for Working Against Trafficking in
Women and Girls in Baltic Sea Reagion. Printed in Sweden - all rights reserved,
by Kvinnoforum/Foundation of Women’s Forum..www.kvonnoforum.se
Article „Moon Light
- A Project to Create Conditions for Safe Prostitution” by natalja Jurkova.
In the youth training magazine „Coyote”, Issue 5- january 2002.
Article „The Trafficking
Situation In Latvia” by Tatjana Kurova. In the updated „Resource Book For
the Working Against Trafficking in Women and Girls in Baltic sea Region”.
Publisher: Kvinnoforum, Stockholm, February 2002.
Communication with mass media representatives (cooperation with society):
Regular cooperation and society’s information about our work and achievements
throughout TV,
Radio and newspapers.
Our projects:
1998 - Project "Anti-AIDS Marathon'98"
"GENDERS" carried out a three-day action in the border region, which
included informational campaign and providing free HIV tests. We have organized
safe sex education for businessmen at their working places. We have organized
together with Czech organization "R-R" working in the field of prostitution
night party "Condom evening". We provided two-day HIV testing for vocational
students by free.
November 1998 - November 1999 - Project "Crossing borders against
Trafficking in Women and Girls"
The project was carried out in partnership with Kvinnoforum (Sweden),
Monika - Multicultural Women's Association (Finland) and Latvian Gender
Problem Center "GENDERS" (Latvia). The European Commission's DAPHNE Initiative
and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded this project. The aims
of the project was to build a network of NGOs in the Nordic and Baltic States
working against trafficking in women with focus on preventive and rehabilitative
work. Now the network is open for other interested parties such as research
institutions, government organizations and individuals that are currently
working in trafficking related areas or interested in incorporating the issue
in their work/research. The role of "GENDERS" was to provide expertise and
knowledge on situation of trafficking and prostitution in Latvia and measures
to prevent trafficking, locate NGOs and others in Latvian and Lithuania,
who work against trafficking or are interested in the issue, gather and spread
information on trafficking and NGOs in the region of the project, act as
a regional information point for the project, act as a link between NGOs and
Project Manager/other NGOs, participate in the one-week training in Stockholm,
take part in the planning of the travels of the expert group, setting up
a meeting program for the expert group in Latvia and Lithuania and take part
in the documentation of the meetings.
May 1999 - November 1999 - Project "Trafficking of Women: A New Threat
in Latvia"
Matra Small Embassy Projects Program the Royal Netherlands Embassy in
Riga funded this project. The aims of the project was to educate and increase
awareness among the population of Latvia about the trafficking issue, to
gather statistics on the numbers and circumstances of trafficking victims
in Latvia in order to further educate young women their friends and family
members, to reduce the potential AIDS and other STDs. In the frame of this
project we have a few important meetings with Latvian television and mass
media, Ministries of Welfare and Alien's Police, Human Rights Bureau and Women's
Rights Institute, Riga Police Department, Interpol, IOM International Organization
for Migration, and with other NGOs. We also have an opportunity to travel
to Russia and visit two Russian towns Moscow and Irkutsk. The goal of this
trip was to study ways of trafficked women from Siberia to Latvia and abroad
through Latvia, including national minorities, who live in Siberia. We shared
of experience and collected information about trafficking of Latvian girls
in Russia. We met and talked with 16 non-governmental organizations, which
are working in the field of youth and women's rights, health education, lifestyle,
and crisis management. We spoke with local mass media representatives. We
also have an opportunity to participate in a Russian television program "Актуальное
Интервью" ("Urgent Interview") on the topic of trafficking in women. We participated
in two Siberian conferences: First Interregional Conference "Women's Initiatives
of Baical Region" and Internet Conference on the issue of trafficking. We
have meeting in Moscow with Eric Batsie, Chairperson of Russian Office, NGO
"Project Harmony" to discuss the very large problem of trafficking in Russia.
More than 12 articles have been published in Latvian and Russian newspapers
regarding problem of trafficking. 4 Radio programs featuring Dr. Tatiana
Kurova on the subject of trafficking were aired on Riga Radio stations. More
than 146 telephone calls have been received by our newly installed answering
machine from young women or family members and friends of young women who
want to receive information about trafficking. "GENDERS" also presented informational
materials about trafficking at the First tree-day International Sexual Exhibition
"EROTS'99".
November 1999 - November 2000 - Project "Training and Capacity Building
against Trafficking in Women and Girls in the Baltic Sea Region"
The project was carried out in partnership with Kvinnoforum (Sweden),
Monika - Multicultural Women's Association (Finland), Latvian Gender Problem
Centre "GENDERS" (Latvia), PRO-Centret (Denmark), AIDSI TUGIKESKUS - AIDS
information and Support Centre (Estonia) and Lithuanian Women's NGO "PRAEITIES
PEDOS" (Lithuania). The European Commission's DAPHNE Initiative and the
Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded this project.
The general aims of the project was to enhance the capacity of work related
to trafficking among local NGOs interested and working with women at risk
of being trafficked or victims of it in the Baltic Sea Region and to develop
the network between these organizations in the Baltic Sea Region.
Being the Nation Focal Point (NFP) for Latvia "GENDERS" carried out
the following activities:
Analysing the needs
in terms of training in trafficking and networking in Latvia and suggest
accordingly focus for the work.
Participating in planning
meeting in Stockholm in March 3rd - 5th 2000 and summing up meeting in
Riga.
Organizing of two-day
training workshop on the issues of trafficking and prostitution for government
and non-government representatives from within Riga and other parts of
Latvia. The main aim of the training workshop was to set up working groups
on different aspects of trafficking e.g. prevention, advocacy, and rehabilitation.
Networking. As the NFP
we have network with other NGOs and organisations locally and regionally.
Maintaining the contact
with the project co-ordinator (Kvinnoforum) and keep them informed on the
development of the project.
During the period of
implementation of the project new contacts were established with the Royal
Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division,
the Danish Centre for Human Rights, National Criminal Investigation Department
in Sweden, European Network of Policewomen - Bulgaria, National Commissioner
of Police in Denmark.
November 1999 - October 2002 - Project "MoonLight. Safe prostitution"
This project is carrying out in partnership with TAMPEP International
Foundation (Holland) and the Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS" (Latvia).
The Matra Programme Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs financially
supports this project. The project “Moonlight” combines research and prevention
work, actively involving sex workers. It is a model of cooperation between
NGO’s and state institutions. Project objectives are:
to reduce risk of HIV/STD
infection among female sex workers in Latvia
to introduce and develop
an effective and realistic model of multifaceted prevention strategies
based on non-discriminatory policies and to promote these prevention policies
in co-operation with local governmental and non-governmental health and
social services
to create a strong commitment
for promotion of prostitution policies based on principle of treating sex
workers with dignity, respect and confidentiality and to promote their
health, safety and civil rights
to develop a common
quality standards of HIV/STD intervention among sex workers which could
be applied in other countries of the region
to support the creation
of basic community projects by directly involving sex workers in the activities
of the intervention strategies
August 2000 - February 2001 - Project "LightHouse - Shelter for prostitutes
and women victims of trafficking"
This project was carried out by "GENDERS" and financially supported
by AIDS Foundation, Foundation Fondsenwervingsacties Volksgezondheid and
Queen Juliana Foundation. The aim of contribution was the towards the costs
of reconstruction & renovation and internal design & equipping
of the First Shelter. A variety of services will be offered in women's
refuge: informational service, educational service, and social service,
medical and psychological service, legal assistance. The main purpose of
Shelter is to support, protect, and treat the victims of trafficking.
First Shelter in Riga, Latvia.
The aims of the refuge are to support, protect and treat the victims
of trafficking and prostitutes.
A variety of services already offered by Latvian Gender Problem Center
"GENDERS" in a refuge such as: Informational service. Here women can receive all possible
information about human rights, the social system as it pertains to women
in Latvia, publishing, printing and distributing booklets, organizing public
campaigns, co-operation with mass media and government authorities Educational service (Library & Seminar room). Here we provide
lectures on health and gender issues both on site and I schools, holding
seminars and training courses on women's rights and reproductive health
and current threats as trafficking and violence against women
Social service (Refuge meeting room). Here the professionals of "GENDERS"
and other institutions provide social support for target group such as young
women, single mothers, victims of trafficking and violence, sex workers,
HIV-positive people and their relatives. Medical service (Doctor's office & med. nurse's room). Here
medical specialists provide consultations and medical examinations including
professionals such as gynecologist and dermato-venerologist. Their service
will be available for victims of family violence, sex workers, victims of
trafficking and sexual harassment. Family physician services for general
health evaluation also are available here. Psychological service (Consultation room). Here we provide psychologist
consultations including diagnosis and practical psychological methods for
helping individuals as well as a group therapy. Professionally trained
moderators will led psychological service. Short-term housing service (Refuge room & Refuge kitchen).
Here we provide temporary bed and board for victims of trafficking. (Search
funding) Administrative activities (Head office). Here is the heart of
the Latvian Gender Problem Center "GENDERS". The main activity of "GENDERS"
is carried out here. It is the general co-ordination and international
network, projects accounting, co-ordination and implementation, data analysis
and evaluation, report preparation, printing and distribution is carried
out from this office. Searching group
November 2000 - Project focusing on cross border prostitution and
trafficking in women.
Financially supported by the Centre for Gender Equality in Norway and
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Norway. One aim of this project is to raise
the awareness and the knowledge of cross border in Norway. The financial
support was suggested to those NGOs, which are dealing with information
work directed at girls and women at risk
UNIFEM Launches Project to Prevent the Trafficking of Adolescents
in Latvia
This project is carrying out in partnership with International Organization
of Adolescents (USA), the Youth Health Center Council of Latvia (Latvia)
and the Latvian Gender Problem Center "GENDERS" (Latvia). This project is
financially supported by UNIFEM. The project consists of a nationwide education
campaign to raise awareness on the prevalence of human trafficking, as well
as the incorporation of a special module on the issue of trafficking into
the educational programs of teenage centers through Latvia. Project partners
will also work with local NGOs and government organizations to develop a
National Action Plan for the prevention of trafficking.
January 2002, "Networking against Trafficking in Women and Girls in
the Baltic Sea Region", - the project by Kvinnoforum. One objective
of this sub-project is to update the “Resource Book against Trafficking
in Women and Girls in the Baltic Sea Region” firstly published in November
1999. The revised edition of the Resource Book will be collaboration between
six non-governmental organisations in the Baltic Sea Region, where from
Latvian side represented by Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS".
The Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS" in this project was done
the following: provided the chapter on the situation of trafficking in Latvia
and key areas of concern; updated the information on the list of Organisations,
Governmental Organisations and Research Institutions included in the Resource
Book.
The update of the “Resource Book against Trafficking in Women and Girls
in the Baltic Sea Region” were successfully done and published. Now it’s
available for the organisations and institutions, which are working in the
issue of trafficking prevention.
December 2001 - November 2002. Information to raise the awareness
of the public opinion to prevent and fight the trafficking of human beings:
dissemination of European approaches to care and to support for victims.
This project is by Arciconfraternita del SS Sacramento, Maria SS. e S. Gregorio
Taumaturgo - Caritas Diocesana di Roma and carrying out in the partnership
with the Latvian Gender Problem Centre “GENDERS”. The main objectives of
this project are:
To determine intervention approaches for women victims of trafficking
and forced to prostitution, once they turn to public or private services
for help. The research will investigate results obtained in terms of behavioural
changes of counselling-based actions (including follow up) taken by NGOs
and volunteer organisation, whether in collaboration with the institutions
or not
To foster co-operation among public bodies (ministries, services, police)
and NGOs and volunteer organisations, in the field of support for women
victims of trafficking and forced to prostitute themselves, through local
seminars to be held in each partner country
To encourage the exchange and dissemination of knowledge and experience
through an international conference joining partners in the project, and
a comprehensive, exhaustive and easy to access instrument (web portal),
suitable to reach the remaining European countries (i.e., other Member
States, as well as candidate and third countries).
European Commission financially supports the project.
February 1, 2002 - July 30, 2002. Informational campaign in the frames
of the IOM project: “Prevention of Trafficking in women in the Baltic Countries”.
This informational campaign was created for increasing the awareness
of the emerging problems of trafficking in women among the general population,
relevant authorities and NGOs’ in the Baltic States, and to discourage
and prevent future trafficking in the Baltic region. The activities of
the Latvian Gender Problem Centre “GENDERS” were:
In cooperation with
the IOM office in Riga to select and assign a consultant for the telephone
hotline providing advice for the persons going to work abroad, a lawyer
for providing appointment legal consultations for the telephone hotline
clients;
To follow up the satisfactory
fulfilment of activities agreed upon with the hotline consultant and the
lawyer;
To liaise with other
NGO’s as necessary for providing consultations and assistance to the hotline
clients;
To follow up proper
distribution of financial funds allocated for the activities.
Societal awareness of the
problem of Trafficking of Women was greatly increased throughout this Informational
compaign. During the period of February 1,2002 and May 1,2002 we provided
advice for the persons going to the abroad by the telephone hotline and
by the lawyer's appointed legal consultations for the telephone hotline
clients.
May 2002 - May 2003. “Light
House”: Information and Social Assistance to Trafficked Women and Girls.
This project is by Latvian
Gender Problem Centre “GENDERS”. The project aims to assist victims
of trafficking, to protect women who are in danger of being trafficked and
to increase understanding of the dangers and consequences of trafficking
among Latvian women and relevant authorities in Latvia, to discourage and
prevent trafficking women from and through Latvia. The project consists
of an information campaign that provides objective and credible information
to select target groups trough a number of mass and informal media. It also
provides a refuge “Light House Shelter” for victims of trafficking returning
home. Result of the project: a variety of services will be offered for these
women: informational service, educational service, social service, medical
and psychological service, short-term housing service and legal assistance.
The main purpose of the shelter is to support, protect and treat victims of
trafficking.
The Royal Danish Embassy in Riga financially supports the project.