By the time this article is published, the war in Ukraine has been ongoing for 84 days. At WAVE, we want to use this Thursday to amplify the voices of our members from the frontlines and share their stories with you. How have they been coping and what can you do to support them? Today, we want to introduce the work of our Romanian members A.L.E.G.
Meet our members A.L.E.G.
Since 2004, A.L.E.G. has been working on combating and preventing violence against women and promoting gender equality. Their work focuses on counselling and peer to peer support on overcoming domestic violence and its effects. A.L.E.G. also runs educational programs and awareness raising campaigns, for instance by educating students and teachers with the aim of overcoming gender stereotypes and preventing violence before it happens. Advocacy and lobbying activities focus on changing legislation for better legal instruments and safer solutions for violence-free lives. They also host information and training sessions for professionals in the field, such as police officers, psychologists, lawyers and social workers. And now, they also support women and children from the Ukraine.
Support for women and children
As of now, Romania has received well over 900,000 refugees from the Ukraine.[1] In total numbers, this is the second-largest influx of refugees from the Ukraine after Poland. How have our colleagues from A.L.E.G. experienced the last weeks and months? Camelia Proca from A.L.E.G. says that the dynamic changes constantly, as Romania continues to receive new refugees from the Ukraine, while others are attempting repatriation. To support those that are staying, A.L.E.G has designed a psycho-social support programme for women and refugees. This programme is composed of information sessions, support groups as well as individual counselling. Activities also include short creative workshops such as yoga, self-defence classes and cultural evenings. In all activities, prevention of gender-based violence as well as the well-being of the women and trauma relief are the main goals.
Ensuring a gender perspective in humanitarian response
Currently, our colleagues are setting up training modules for different professionals. The target groups include psychologists, social workers, volunteers and translators. They are receiving training on integrating a gender mainstreaming in humanitarian aid, but also on the human rights of refugees and how to support someone with a war trauma.
If you want to support our members and colleagues such as A.L.E.G. please donate to our fundraising drive: https://www.betterplace.at/support-womens-human-rights-defenders-in-ukraine/
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60555472
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash