Police statistics prove that the majority of sexual violence victims are female, while most perpetrators of violence are male. Research by the Ster Foundation shows that one in every five Polish women was raped, and 87% were exposed to sexual assault. Violence against women ties in with gender stereotypes and gender-assigned roles deeply rooted in Polish culture – the elimination of harmful feminine and masculine role models becomes an indispensable condition of preventing violence.
The project purpose was to raise awareness of social and cultural conditions of the sexual violence issue, and to counteract associated negative behaviour.
Activities allowed to design and distribute materials containing information of the gender-related dimension of violence; 4,690 persons expanded their knowledge of the field.
The project comprised the publication and distribution of a report on social and cultural reasons for sexual violence, media and cultural violence narratives used as case studies.
A spot showing the problem was produced; posted online, it yielded 1,451 hits. A project profile was set up in social media to promote sexual violence-related knowledge with the use of dedicated graphics and memes. Fifty-one educational meetings on sexual violence against women were delivered for penitentiary service staff, police officers, and juvenile detention centre inmates. Three conferences were organised, with journalists, non-governmental organisation and culture centre workers, and university journalism institute teachers in attendance.
Project beneficiaries included 807 persons; 590 male training course participants, 139 conference attendants, and 3,744 persons following the project profile in social media.
The partner organisation contributed gender equality-related research knowledge and experience, and was responsible for delivering the research section of the project. It also provided topical support in the draft and design of training course curricula and training materials.