2020 Survivors’ Forum – Brave Together during the Pandemic as well
The pandemic has made domestic violence worse, by isolating many women together with their perpetrators and making it harder for them to access classical intervention services. Thus, the communities of survivors – #ȘiEuReușesc communities – prove ever more valuable, as they allow women to talk safely and help each other, guided by experts in combating domestic violence and providing access to psychological, social and legal assistance.
The 2020 Survivors’ Forum, taking place online in 25-27 November, will present the local communities in Bucharest, Sibiu, Brașov, Satu Mare and Cluj-Napoca, which are managed by A.L.E.G. and experienced local partners. We will discuss the impact of the communities so far, the efforts made to replicate this model in the Republic of Moldova with the support of UN Women Moldova, the Coalition “Life without violence” and the Embassy of Sweden in Chișinău, as well as new financial empowerment activities supporting women to face the economic crisis.
Domestic violence is part of a broader phenomenon of violence against women, which is deeply rooted in sexism and often overlaps with other forms of discrimination, such as ethnic discrimination. Alongside Ioana Bauer, from the organization eLiberare, and Alina Ursu, a survivor who is part of the Brașov #ȘiEuReușesc community, on the second day of the Forum, we will tackle the issue of couple violence sometimes interweaving with organized crime and of women’s courage to not only escape abusive relationships, but also the hands of traffickers.
The event will be live streamed on the ȘiEuReușesc Facebook page, as followers will find out what this programme offers and how it helps to be part of such a community if you’ve ever faced violence. People wishing to support ȘiEuReușesc communities will find out what are the most burning needs from the viewpoint of survivors, themselves experts through their experience.
PROGRAMME
WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 25th
6 p.m.-7.15 p.m. | #ȘiEuReușesc communities in Romania
7.30 p.m.-8 p.m. | Impact of #ȘiEuReușesc in the Republic of Moldova
THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 26th
4 p.m.-4.50 p.m. | Domestic violence and human trafficking – intersecting vulnerabilities
5 p.m.-5.50 p.m. | Why is it important that women help each other?
6 p.m.-7 p.m. | The role of psychologists and support groups
FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 27th
4 p.m.-4.45 p.m. | Financial independence. Future outlooks
5 p.m.-5.30 p.m. | Bright Sky RO App: the importance of having access to support services
6 p.m.-7.30 p.m. | Survivor’s Resolution 2020
This year’s edition is organized with financial support from the IKEA Fund for Gender Equality, managed by the Bucharest Community Foundation, from Vodafone Romania Foundation and in partnership with Ashoka Romania and Chapter4 Romania.
In Romania, the programme #ȘiEuReușesc is implemented by the Association for Liberty and Equality of Gender (A.L.E.G.), and present-day local partners are Pas Alternativ Association (Brașov), ANAIS Association (Bucharest), the #ȘiEuReușesc Cluj Community, Support Group for Abused Women – GR.AB (Satu Mare).
