Childcentre - Baltic Sea Region INFORMATION ABOUT Latvian Gender Problem Centre

The Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS" is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 1994, in Riga, Latvia. Legal NGO status earned in 1996. One of the main aims of "GENDERS" are to develop preventive strategy and measures against AIDS/STD among prostituties, trafficking in women, lobbying policy makers for improving legal situation for women. In all activities, from management training and organizational development to mobilization on a grassroots level, "GENDERS" recognized the differences between women and men. Gender differences are used as a tool for change and for constructive, efficient, quality improvement. "GENDERS" influent men and women at all levels in society, governmental, non-governmental and the business sectors, to look through gender glasses. "GENDERS" has also elaborated and initiated new forms of civil society co-operation with these sectors. Since the beginning, "GENDERS" has developed non-traditional, forefront methods, which successfully have been implemented in many national and international projects on gender issues. Communication and information creating public awareness of the existence of prostitution and trafficking is also a part of our aim. We often get enquiries from pupils, students and the media wanting general information or asking specific questions regarding law issues, human rights, etc. Students are welcome to visit our organization, reading materials in the library and talking with one of our social workers. Then "GENDERS" also publishes leaflets and articles sometimes aiming at the public, sometimes aiming specific at the prostitutes - e.g. information on safe sex. We are trying to be as visible as we can in the public space.

The aims and objectives of "GENDERS" are:

· To develop new methods based on theoretical research and practical knowledge in core groups of women

· To move and collaborate between within all levels of society through a broad network of contacts

· To increase women's and men's participation in change processes through resource mobilization and motivation

· Stimulate women's and men's possibilities and willingness to improve themselves and their world

· To promote a healthy lifestyle, safe sex education and prevention of STD and HIV infection

· To develop a functioning network of experts, both locally, nationally, and internationally in the field of violence against women and children

· To prevent STD and HIV infection among prostitutes

· To support female prostitutes in solving health problems and social problems

· To assist victims of trafficking by helping them in situations of crisis

· To develop methods in working with health problems and social problems among prostitutes

· To work in co-operation with other organisations and associations in the field of different issues

In head of president the Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS" is a member of the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) and UNAIDS Team Group, we also a member of the following networks International Network against Trafficking of Women: http://www.qweb.kvinnoforum.se and European Network for HIV/STD Prevention in Prostitution: tampep@xs4all.nl or info@mrgraaf.nl

· Article "Prostitution in Riga, Latvia - a socio-medical matter of concern" by Dr. Tatjana Kurova from the Health Support Centre "SEMMES", Latvia and Per-Anders Märdh from the Institute of Clinical Bacteriology, Uppsala University, Sweden. In the Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1998; 77: 83-86. © Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1998 - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica ISSN 0001-6349. Printed in Denmark - all rights reserved.

· Article "Health care of female commercial sex workers" in The European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care 1999; 4: 165-180

· Article "A Survey about Prostitution in Latvia" by Dr. Tatjana Kurova and Inna Broņislava Zariņa. In the book Gender Equality in Latvia at the Threshhold of the New Millennium. Publishers: Latvian Women's Studies and Information Centre/LSPIC with Institute of Economics Latvian Academy of Sciences support. UDK 316(474.3)(082)+342.7(082)-165.

· Article "The MoonLight project in Latvia" by Dr. Tatjana Kurova in a newsletter Research for Sex Work, No. 3 (June, 2000) for XIII AIDS World Conference in Durban.

"GENDERS" carried out a three-day action in the border region, which included informational campaign and providing free HIV tests. We have organized safe sex education for businessmen at their working places. We have organized together with Czech organization "R-R" working in the field of prostitution night party "Condom evening". We provided two-day HIV testing for vocational students by free.

· November 1998 - November 1999 - Project "Crossing borders against Trafficking in Women and Girls"

The project was carried out in partnership with Kvinnoforum (Sweden), Monika - Multicultural Women's Association (Finland) and Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS" (Latvia). The European Commission's DAPHNE Initiative and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded this project. The aims of the project was to build a network of NGOs in the Nordic and Baltic States working against trafficking in women with focus on preventive and rehabilitative work. Now the network is open for other interested parties such as research institutions, government organisations and individuals that are currently working in trafficking related areas or interested in incorporating the issue in their work/research. The role of "GENDERS" was to provide expertise and knowledge on situation of trafficking and prostitution in Latvia and measures to prevent trafficking, locate NGOs and others in Latvian and Lithuania, who work against trafficking or are interested in the issue, gather and spread information on trafficking and NGOs in the region of the project, act as a regional information point for the project, act as a link between NGOs and Project Manager/other NGOs, participate in the one-week training in Stockholm, take part in the planning of the travels of the expert group, setting up a meeting programme for the expert group in Latvia and Lithuania and take part in the documentation of the meetings.

· May 1999 - November 1999 - Project "Trafficking of Women: A New Threat in Latvia"

Matra Small Embassy Projects Programme the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Riga funded this project. The aims of the project was to educate and increase awareness among the population of Latvia about the trafficking issue, to gather statistics on the numbers and circumstances of trafficking victims in Latvia in order to further educate young women their friends and family members, to reduce the potential AIDS and other STDs. In the frame of this project we have a few important meetings with Latvian television and mass media, Ministries of Welfare and Alien's Police, Human Rights Bureau and Women's Rights Institute, Riga Police Department, Interpol, IOM International Organisation for Migration, and with other NGOs. We also have an opportunity to travel to Russia and visit two Russian towns Moscow and Irkutsk. The goal of this trip was to study ways of trafficked women from Siberia to Latvia and abroad through Latvia, including national minorities, who live in Siberia. We shared of experience and collected information about trafficking of Latvian girls in Russia. We met and talked with 16 non-governmental organisations, which are working in the field of youth and women's rights, health education, lifestyle, and crisis management. We spoke with local mass media representatives. We also has an opportunity to participate in a Russian television program "Актуальное Интервью" ("Urgent Interview") on the topic of trafficking in women. We participated in two Siberian conferences: First Interregional Conference "Women's Initiatives of Baical Region" and Internet Conference on the issue of trafficking. We have meeting in Moscow with Eric Batsie, Chairperson of Russian Office, NGO "Project Harmony" to discuss the very large problem of trafficking in Russia. More than 12 articles have been published in Latvian and Russian newspapers regarding problem of trafficking. 4 Radio programs featuring Dr. Tatjana Kurova on the subject of trafficking were aired on Riga Radio stations. More than 146 telephone calls have been received by our newly installed answering machine from young women or family members and friends of young women who want to receive information about trafficking. "GENDERS" also presented informational materials about trafficking at the First tree-day International Sexual Exhibition "EROTS'99".

· November 1999 - November 2000 - Project "Training and Capacity Building against Trafficking in Women and Girls in the Baltic Sea Region"

The project was carried out in partnership with Kvinnoforum (Sweden), Monika - Multicultural Women's Association (Finland), Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS" (Latvia), PRO-Centret (Denmark), AIDSI TUGIKESKUS - AIDS information and Support Centre (Estonia) and Lithuanian Women's NGO "PRAEITIES PEDOS" (Lithuania). The European Commission's DAPHNE Initiative and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded this project. The general aims of the project was to enhance the capacity of work related to trafficking among local NGOs interested and working with women at risk of being trafficked or victims of it in the Baltic Sea Region and to develop the network between these organisations in the Baltic Sea Region. Being the Nation Focal Point (NFP) for Latvia "GENDERS" carried out the following activities:

- Analyzing the needs in terms of training in trafficking and networking in Latvia and suggest accordingly focus for the work.

- Participating in planning meeting in Stockholm in March 3^rd - 5^th 2000 and summing up meeting in Riga.

- Organizing of two-day training workshop on the issues of trafficking and prostitution for government and non-government representatives from within Riga and other parts of Latvia. The main aim of the training workshop was to set up working groups on different aspects of trafficking e.g. prevention, advocacy, and rehabilitation.

- Networking. As the NFP we have network with other NGOs and organisations locally and regionally.

- Maintaining the contact with the project co-ordinator (Kvinnoforum) and keep them informed on the development of the project.

During the period of implementation of the project new contacts were established with the Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division, the Danish Centre for Human Rights, National Criminal Investigation Department in Sweden, European Network of Policewomen - Bulgaria, National Commissioner of Police in Denmark.

This project is carrying out in partnership with TAMPEP International Foundation (Holland) and the Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS" (Latvia). The Matra Programme Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs financially supports this project. Project objectives are:

- to introduce and develop an effective and realistic model of multifaceted prevention strategies based on non-discriminatory policies and to promote these prevention policies in co-operation with local governmental and non-governmental health and social services

- to create a strong commitment for promotion of prostitution policies based on principle of treating sex workers with dignity, respect and confidentiality and to promote their health, safety and civil rights

- to develop a common quality standards of HIV/STD intervention among sex workers which could be applied in other countries of the region

- to support the creation of basic community projects by directly involving sex workers in the activities of the intervention strategies

· August 2000 - February 2001 - Project "LightHouse - Shelter for prostitutes and women victims of trafficking"

This project was carried out by "GENDERS" and financially supported by AIDS Foundation, Foundation Fondsenwervingsacties Volksgezondheid and Queen Juliana Foundation. The aim of contribution was the towards the costs of reconstruction & renovation and internal design & equipping of the First Shelter. A variety of services will be offered in women's refuge: informational service, educational service, social service, medical and psychological service, legal assistance. The main purpose of Shelter is to support, protect, and treat the victims of trafficking.

· November 2000 - Project focusing on cross border prostitution and trafficking in women.

Financially supported by the Centre for Gender Equality in Norway and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Norway. One aim of this project is to raise the awareness and the knowledge of cross border in Norway. The financial support was suggested to those NGOs, which are dealing with information work directed at girls and women at risk

· UNIFEM Launches Project to Prevent the Trafficking of Adolescents in Latvia

This project is carrying out in partnership with International Organisation of Adolescents (USA), the Youth Health Centre Council of Latvia (Latvia) and the Latvian Gender Problem Centre "GENDERS" (Latvia). This project is financially supported by UNIFEM. The project consists of a nationwide education campaign to raise awareness on the prevalence of human trafficking, as well as the incorporation of a special module on the issue of trafficking into the educational programs of teenage centers through Latvia. Project partners will also work with local NGOs and government organisations to develop a National Action Plan for the prevention of trafficking.

The aims of the refuge are to support, protect and treat the victims of trafficking and prostitutes.

A variety of services already offered by Latvian Gende

Published by		Latvia, Centre Against Abuse: , Strauta Agnese(Latvia)
Created		20.06.2002