Freedom House

Vulnerable groups, such as indigenous peoples, refugees and migrants, women and LGBTQI people, are increasingly having their rights infringed in many countries around the world. The scope for civil society to operate has diminished in many places and hatred, threats and violence are used in order to silence those who defend or represent these groups. The Postcode Foundation therefore, together with Freedom House, wants to carry out a pilot project to develop a sustainable methodology for women’s rights organizations’ work with psychosocial well-being in order to strengthen civil society’s capacity to operate.

Organizations and human rights defenders who represent a vulnerable group, for example women, often face threats and attacks which creates a great negative emotional, mental and psychological impact. Women are often employed by these organizations and their vulnerability is doubled as they are threatened both for their line of work and for their gender identity. Pursuing women’s rights issues as a woman can be very psychologically stressful, as threats can come both from resourceful actors such as governments but also from one’s own society and family. Studies show that women’s rights defenders suffer greatly from stress, burnout, depression and trauma. There is currently a lack of continuity in women’s rights organizations to ensure psychosocial well-being for their staff, members and volunteers. Working preventively so that they can continue their work is important for achieving long-term change for women’s rights and Agenda 2030.

The Postcode Foundation supports the project with SEK 5,460,000.

Vad händer i projektet?

I projektets första del kommer Freedom House genomföra en gedigen urvalsprocess för att identifiera tre kvinnorättsorganisationer som partners i pilotprojektet. I projektets andra del kommer partnerorganisationerna i sin tur att lära ut metodologin till fyra andra kvinnorättsorganisationer i landet och bistå dem med ett års riktat stöd. Projektets tredje del innefattar två seminarium för erfarenhetsutbyte mellan de tre nätverk av kvinnorättsorganisationer som skapats inom projektet. Efter projektet kommer Freedom House att utforska möjligheter för replikering eller uppskalning av detta pilotprojekt till andra länder.

Varför fick projektet stöd?

Detta projekt bidrar till att uppfylla Postkodstiftelsens stadgar om att ge stöd till barn och vuxna i utsatta situationer eller katastrofer.