Åland Islands Peace Institute has started an INTERREG IV A project entitled "Challenging Gender Stereotypes for Prevention of Trafficking ". The project will be implemented in close partnership with Riga-based Resource Center for Women "Marta", to work on implementing the unique Nordic Girl and Boy Group method, informing the wider audience about the importance of making the links between empowerment, gender equality and gender based crime, as well as scientifically researching the outcome.

Background

Annually around 2,000 women from the Baltic States become victims of trafficking. Finland is one of the primary destination countries for many trafficking victims from Latvia. Gender inequality and gender stereotypes in both, countries of origin and countries of destination provide a favorable environment for gender based crime. This is why the root causes of trafficking in women have to be dealt with in cross-border co-operation. An effective way of preventing trafficking is to adopt methods that help the young generation to resist the influence of traditional gender roles and to make their own choices based on knowledge, individual values and beliefs.
The Project, carried out by the Åland Islands Peace Institute, Åland, Finland, and the Resource Center for Women, Marta, Riga, Latvia, highlights the importance of youth empowerment as a tool for promoting more respectful gender relations and thereby reducing the risk of gender based crime.
The BG and GG groups provide the young people with a base from where they can form their own individual opinions on how to act and make choices in everyday life. Group work will lead to enhanced social skills and social networks, this strengthens the participants' possibilities to become active citizens and reduces the risk of them being marginalized.

In the group youngsters can have activity on their own choice. This is an example from Lithuania.

This project plays a particularly important role on Åland, since the Åland is one of the largest and major transportation hubs in the Baltic Region. Apart from the main Partner in Latvia, the Project will work in cooperation with other organizations, dealing with similar issues in the Baltic Region, and Nordic Countries.

Importance of communication:

Both on Åland and in Latvia, the project cannot stress more the importance of conveying the information to the young people, educational institutions, authorities and the broad public by means of active discussions and information campaigns, thus making everyone aware of the links between empowerment, gender equality and gender based crime.

Press event for launching of the project. November 2009

The steering group of the project consist of:

Iluta Lace, Director of the Resource Center for Women "Marta", Latvia, Vivan Nikula, Expert of gender issues, the Åland government, Åland, Finland
Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark, Director of the Åland Islands Peace Institute, Åland, Finland, Jukka Rajala-Granstubb, Filmmaker, gender equality and anti-
trafficking activist, Finland, Lasse Suirula, youth work coordinator for the city of Helsinki, Finland.

Financing of the project:

The Project is financed within the framework of the INTERREG IV Programme of the European Regional Development Fund, as well as through the public contribution, that in total equals to 655,871 € for the Project.

On Åland, the Peace Institute budget for INTERREG IV project equals to 336,184€, which consists of ERDF Funding 252,138€, making 75% ERDF support rate, and National co-financing makes 84,046€, which is kindly provided by the Government of Åland.

In Latvia, the Association Resource Centre for Women "Marta" has a budget of 319,684€, where ERDF contribution equals to 271,734€, and National public contribution makes 47,953€.

Round table seminar on equality in youth work