With Education Against Violence Toward Girls

The challenges of violence, human trafficking and the Covid 19 pandemic follow us in 2021. Here is what we have done to prevent violence, educate and empower girls and women despite the pandemic.

Campaigns

Campaigns we designed and implemented through social networks:

• Feminist vocabulary

• Successful women

• Recognize human trafficking and report it

• Recognize violence

Conference on Violence against Women and Trafficking in Human Beings during the Covid Pandemic 19

2020 was a challenge for all of us, so the Center for Girls gathered institutions from 4 cities at the conference, and they talked about the challenges in these fields in an unprecedented situation when the whole world was at a standstill and when due to various factors due to the pandemic violence over women and human trafficking had fertile ground to flourish.

The conference was held in two parts for the safety of the participants. On February 23, the topic of violence against women during the Covid 19 pandemic was addressed, and the problem of human trafficking during the February 24 pandemic.

The conference was attended by 21 people from 4 cities in Serbia (Nis, Pirot, Leskovac, and Prokuplje). Speakers from Pirot, Leskovac, and Prokuplje participated through the Zoom platform.

In the first part of the conference, representatives from the Basic Court, the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office, the Center for Social Work, and the Police spoke about violence against women.

In the second part of the conference, representatives from the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office, the Center for Social Work, and the Police spoke about the problem of human trafficking.

At the conference on violence against women during the Covid 19 pandemic, it was said that statistics indicate that young people aged 19, 20 show a huge degree of aggression towards an emotional partner and that in 2020 the number of crimes of persecution but also abuse and torture increased among emotional partners. In 90% of cases, there is not only a threat to security, but also physical violence.

The conference on the problem of human trafficking during the Covid 19 pandemic concluded that it is too early to say how much and what impact the impact of Covid has on this crime, and that we will be able to see the consequences only after the pandemic ends.

Planting trees

Japanese cherries in Nis as part of the global campaign One Billion Rises Against Violence Against Women, which in 2021 is dedicated to preserving the mother, the planet Earth. The Center for Girls donated 9 new tree seedlings to Nis and contributed to the reduction of pollution in the city. We planted three Japanese cherry seedlings at three locations, in the park near the Legal and Economic, in Chair between the stadium and the pool, and inside the Chair Pool complex. We know that 9 seedlings are not enough to solve the problem of pollution, but we believe that it can inspire someone else to take action of this type. This is our first action in a row with the goal of reducing pollution in the city.

Planting was made possible by JKP Mediana sector "Greenery" Nis.

Earth Day

We marked Earth Day by planting another Japanese cherry seedling, this time on the Byzantine Boulevard, and then cleaning nature from garbage near Nisava. If you want to join us on one of the following actions, let us know.

Exhibition of works by the VI Feminist Art Colony

We opened an exhibition called Boys Don't Cry and Girls Are Beautiful. Below is the text of Smiljka Jovanovic, one of the participants in the Feminist Art Colony.

Feminism in practice

The feminist art colony Sicevo has been going on for six years and this is the second one I have participated in, but it is as if I have been a part of it and its continuity from the beginning. As a feminist and visual artist, I feel not only pride but also satisfaction and fulfillment that I am part of a project that is unique in its concept in the region. The very thought that my works will become part of a collection that will inspire and empower young artists personally inspires and encourages me in my work.

The collection that grows with age is a trace of the time of women's creativity. Every year it is richer by dozens of paintings, collages, watercolors.

I would like every woman to be able to feel what I felt during my participation in the art colony Sicevo. An atmosphere of women's togetherness and mutual support, a feeling of sincere joy when someone does a good job, a unique sense of creativity and creativity in the community.

I would like to thank the organizers as well as all participants of all six feminist art colonies Sicevo for creating this unique feminist-artistic platform which gave me the opportunity to experience feminism and women's community in practice.

Two trainings for peer educators

16 fantastic girls from Smederevo, Belgrade and Nis, Nova Pazova, Arandjelovac, and Kursumlija acquired the knowledge and skills necessary for peer workshops, through training on the topic of PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS. The trainings were led by Marija V, and they were held in Vrnjacka Banja and Niš, organized by the Center for Girls Niš. The project is supported by the Global Fund for Women.

For women's human rights

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we organized a street action where activists performed a dance performance with the song "Break the chain" as part of the global campaign "One billion rising up against violence against women."
With the message "For women's human rights" and dance performance, we wanted to draw attention to the fact that March 8 is a day of struggle for a better position of girls, girls, and women in society. Passers-by sent comments of support, and some joined the dance, applauded, and took photos as a sign of support. The street action was seen by over 1500 people

23rd birthday celebration

Centric celebrated his 23rd birthday in a beautiful ambiance and with wonderful company. We continue to count.

Day of Remembrance of Women Victims of Violence

On the occasion of May 18, Day of Remembrance of Women Victims of Violence, we organized and performed a street performance Women's Cemetery.

In the last 10 years, 338 women have been killed. FEMICIDE is the murder of a woman by a man, motivated by hatred, a sense of superiority, ownership of a woman and her body.

The names of the murdered women in the last 10 years were heard from the loudspeakers, and the activists wore inscriptions of some of the murdered women on their chests and backs. The performance was seen by over 3000 passers-by. We received a lot of supportive comments.

Yoga

We held four yoga workshops as part of the month of women's health in order to take care of ourselves.

Peer educators on the topic of violence against girls

Peer educators of the Center for Girls, Petra, Masha, Milica, Stasa, Andjela, and Jelena, organized and conducted a total of 19 workshops on the topic of prevention of violence against girls in the School of Economics, Law, and Business, Svetozar M High School, Vocational High School, and Mija S. Electrical School.
Due to the current situation with the Covid 19 virus, workshops have been adapted, and some have been held outdoors.

The activities are carried out within a project supported by the Global Fund for Women.

9 girls conducted 35 workshops on violence against girls with 296 girls.

Some of the evaluations of the girls from the workshop:

• I learned that violence against women is not a private matter, but a social one. The bully is not disturbed, because he has no diagnosis and can use it against us in court. That we should be careful on social networks. And I liked the workshop and I would like to continue to be educated like this.

• I think that the workshop is very useful for girls and that as many girls as possible should be involved because no one is obliged to suffer violence.

• I didn't like the way the girls thought some deserved violence. I liked that I understood some things about violence. I don't like that the girls don't support each other.

• I liked that we talked about real things and that I managed to share what has been bothering me for years. The only drawback is that the workshop lasted shorter than I wanted.

• I liked that I felt safe, to share my opinion with others. I also liked the conversation in which I sympathized while we were talking.

Peer educators on the topic of human trafficking

Our peer educators Mila S. and Danica S. did workshops with a dozen girls and children on the topic of human trafficking prevention. The project is supported by ASTRA and the European Union.

Some of the evaluations of the girls from the workshop:

• The workshop on the prevention of human trafficking was extremely interesting and useful for me. I am glad that I expanded my knowledge and learned important information on how to recognize human trafficking and protect myself.

• The workshop is useful and educational, no matter how much we think we know about this topic, we can always learn more!

• An informatively good concept I completed my knowledge I realized I needed to be more careful.

Messages sent to girls through jingles

We filmed jingles about violence against girls with our peer educators (Masha, Milica, Jelena, Jan & Petra) which you can soon see on our social networks, Instagram profile, and FB page. 5 of them, who also peers educators, in this way gave their contribution in the fight against violence against girls, girls, and women and sent a message to their peers on how to recognize some forms of violence.

SOS

From mid-February till mid-June, we had more than 50 services provided in the domain of SOS.

Panel "Gender and European integrations

Our executive coordinator, Tatjana N. spoke at the Panel "Gender and European integrations: Approaches and Practices from Kosovo and Serbia". Our Tatjana talked about Gendering the EU agenda: New Directions with dr.Vjollca Krasniqi.

Support to potential victims of organized sexual exploitation in Jagodina

Activists of the Center for Girls and Marija J. from City Smart Radio were at a meeting of the Independent Women's Group on the occasion of the Jagodina-Palma case, which is heard in the media. We went to give support and information to the girls and women of Jagodina who are potential victims of organized sexual exploitation. To tell them that we are here for them, that they can anonymously call Astra's phone 011 785 0000 and get information about their rights.

Stay with us.

Stay tuned.

♥