Summary of project challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking
The project Challenging Gender roles for Prevention of Trafficking - a joint Åland-Latvian project aiming at combating stereotypical gender perceptions at a grass-root level in order to undermine conditions for development of gender related violence, human trafficking and sexual slavery - was formally closed in the end of February. Today, on the internatinal women's day 2012 a summary of the project is published in Swedish and English. The summary in English can be downloaded in pdf here.
The project has been focusing on preventive work through empowerment of young girls and boys, information activities and research. The project has been carried out by the Åland Islands Peace Institute, Åland, Finland, and the Resource Center for Women, Marta, Riga, Latvia.
Within the project consultant Mia Hanström wrote a method book for girl and boy groups. The manual (in Swedish) can be downloaded in pdf here.
The research report "Effects of the girl and boy group method – A gender and social psychology perspective on gender equality youth work on Åland and in Latvia" can be ordered from the ÅIPI or downloaded in pdf. Find out more here.
Also check out two short films, produced by Marta, about boy and girl group activities. You can find them here.
Closing conference and results
On the 15th of December a closing conference of the project Challengng Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking was held in Swedish on Åland.
At this conference the project results were presented.
Summary of project results:
- 29 girl and boy groups have been run within the project and all together approximately 230 young people have been involved in the group activities. - A new girl and boy group method manual has been produced within the project. The girl and boy group leaders have been involved in the process of writing the manual, giving comments and including practical exercises in it. The manual is available in Swedish and Latvian. Read more here. - The research conducted within the project is one of the first evaluating the method. The research report is available in English, Swedish and Latvian. Read more here. - Two information campaigns have been run within the project; “What is gender equality” and “FAIR SEX”. The Fair Sex campaign has been developed into a workshop, which will be given to all students in the second year of upper secondary school. Read more about Fair sex here.
In addition to project staff and consultants from Åland, two international guests held speeches. Ms Iluta Lace, Manager of Resource Center for women Marta in Latvia shared how the introduction and implementation of the girl and boy group in Latvia has worked out. The ÅIPI also welcomed Mr Magnus Sjögren, Swedish expert on gender issues and one of the initiators of developing methodologies for boy group activities.
On the Swedish version of this site pdf:s of power points in Swedish, presented during the conference, can be downloaded.
Research report about effects of girl and boy groups
As a result of a co-operation between researchers on Åland and in Latvia within the project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking, the ÅIPI can present the report Effects of the girl and boy group method – A gender and social psychology perspective on gender equality youth work on Åland and in Latvia.
It is an effort to initiate scientific knowledge and interest on the girl and boy group method that has been used in the Nordic countries and elsewhere for some time and where Åland has been an eager actor. However, not much structured and comparative documentation and evaluation has taken place. In the report the effects of praticipation in girl or boy groups in relation to gender norms, gender equality, social attitudes and empowerment.
Manual on the girl and boy group method in Swedish and Latvian, 2011
Within the project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking consultant Mia Hanström wrote a method book for girl and boy groups. The manual vas edited by Jenny jonstoij and Ulrika Navier and published in Swedish and Latvian in 2011 by the Ålands Island Peace Institute and Resource Center for Women Marta in Latvia.
The manual (in Swedish) can be downloaded in pdf here.
Closing conferences of project in December
The project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking is about to close, which will be marked through two closing conferences.
On the 8th of December there will be a closing conference in Riga, where project partner Resource Center for Women, Marta, has organized a programme where the project results will be presented. During the project time the Nordic Girl and Boy Group Method has been introduced in Latvia, and group leaders and project staff will tell about experiences made. In addition, the project researchers will present fresh results from research about the effectiveness of the method, a theme that has not previously been much explored.
On the 15th of December a closing conference will be held in Swedish on Åland. At this conference a newly published manual for boy and girl group leaders will be launched, and results from research will be presented to the audience on Åland. In addition to project staff and consultants from Åland, two international guests are invited to give speeches. Ms Iluta Lace, Manager of Resource Center for women Marta in Lativa will share how the introduction and implementation of the girl and boy group in Latvia has worked out. The ÅIPI is also happy to welcome Mr Magnus Sjögren, Swedish expert on gender issues and one of the initiators of developing methodologies for boy group activities.
The conference will be hled between 1 p.m and 5 p.m in the hotel Pommern in Mariehamn.
Diskussionstillfälle om tjej- och killgrupper, 3 oktober 2011
Inbjudan till diskussionstillfälle om tjej- och killgrupper - Förebyggande arbete bland ungdomar - för folkhälsa, fred och jämställdhet!
Måndagen den 3 oktober kl 15.00 i Folkhälsans Allaktivitetshus
Välkomna: Lagtings- och kommunalvalskandidater, tjänstemän inom landskaps- och kommunalförvaltning, skolpersonal, ungdomsarbetare, tredje sektorn och övriga intresserade. Samtliga partier har fått inbjudan.
Tjej- och killgruppsverksamhet - på Åland och som “exportvara”
Vad är tjej- och killgruppsverksamhet?
Varför tjej- och killgrupper?
Efterfrågan och effekter, gruppledarna berättar
Hur ska alla unga som vill kunna få möjlighet att delta i tjej- och killgrupper på Åland?
Visioner för framtiden
Arrangörer: Ålands fredsinstitut och Folkhälsan på Åland tillsammans med tjej- och killgruppsledare på Åland samt projektet Utmana könsroller för att motverka sexslaveri.
Utbildning för tjej- och killgruppsledare hölls i Riga
August 26th to 28th six girl or boy group leaders from the Åland Islands and ten from Latvia all partcipated in an educational session in Riga, led by Finnish trainer Mia Hanström. The education was organized within the project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking as a first step to teach leaders how to extend the network of leaders through education for beginners.
On Sunday 28th of October there will be a minifestation against Trafficking at the Square of Mariehamn on the Åland Islands. The manifestation has been initiated by Gun-Mari Lindholm, second deputy speaker of the Åland Parliament, who is also a member of the Steering Group of the project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking, lead by the Åland Islands Peace Institute (ÅIPI).
The manifestation will start at 7 p.m.
Radio features sexual slavery on Åland
On wednesday 6th of July 2011 an interview with ÅIPI intern Lovisa Helgoson Arlid was broadcasted in the Åland radio. The interview was the first one in an interview series named "Åland and sexual slavery".
Lovisa has during her six weeks at the ÅIPI - within the project "Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking" - mapped the situation on Åland concerning sexual slavery and prostitution. Through fact collection and interviews she has tried to assess what institutions and actors may be concerned with issues of sexual slavery and prostitution and what information and knowledge about those phenomena that is available on the islands. Her results are to be compiled in a report to be launched in the autumn of 2011.
The interviews (in Swedish) can be found on the home page of the Åland radio.
The second information campaign is now running in both countries!
One important part of the project “Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking” is to emphasise gender equality and show the link between gender norms and violence by information campaigns and networking. During the Autumn 2010 the first information campaign was running in both Latvia and on Åland. Now the second information campaign, which targets youth, has started in both counties. Both campaigns have the theme empowerment in common. We want to encourage young people to make their own, independent, choices and to listen to their own needs. The Alandian campaign is called FAIR SEX and aims to encourage to discussions about sex and relationships, mutuality, respect and gender equality among youths. Read more about the campaign here. The Latvian campaign aims to encourage young people to make their own choices and problematize gender norms. Read more about the campaign here.
Check out the FAIR SEX campaign
FAIR SEX Kampanjen
Hur vet man om man vill ha sex? Hur ska man förklara vad man vill och inte vill när det gäller sex och hångel? Hur vet man vad den andra personen vill? Spelar det nån roll vad andra runt omkring tycker?
Det är bara du som kan veta vilka svaren på de här frågorna är för just dig. Men har du funderat ordentligt på det? Ett bra sätt att få sitt eget svar på de här frågorna är att våga prata om dem. Det är just det den här kampanjen handlar om att våga prata om sex och relationer och vad som känns rätt och fel. Om man tränar sig på att prata om sex och relationer kan det bli lättare att veta och att tala om vad som känns bra och vad som känns dåligt för just dig. Vi kallar kampanjen för "fair sex" därför att sex ska kännas schysst, kul och härligt. Klicka dig vidare för att kolla in hela kampanjen och för att se våra roliga serieteckningar som handlar om, just det, sex! Läs här
A petition to change the Finnish legislation on sexual crimes
Gender Consultant, Mia Hanström, who works as an educator in the Peace Institute's project Challenging gender roles to prevent trafficking has launched a petition to change the Finnish legislation on sexual crimes. The petition will run until April 15.
Debate on the prevention of sexual violence, March 7
On March 7, 2011, just before the International Women's Day, a debate will be organized by the Åland Islands Peace Institute in the auditorium of the Åland Parliament at 6 p.m. The debate is about how to prevent sexual violence and it is organized in response to the current debate on rape and sexual crimes legislation on Åland. The Åland debate has centered on sexual crime laws, but not as much on society's perception of sexual violence, the norms associated with gender, on gender equality and on how to prevent sexual violence. During the debate on March 7th to the Åland Islands Peace Institute is offering a forum to "talk about it", and follow up the debate on sexual crimes legislation and, above all, to broaden the debate in order to discuss sexual violence as a social phenomenon, as well as to discuss how sexual violence can be prevented.
The project "Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking" managed by the Åland Island Peace Institute in Finland and Resource Center for Women Marta in Latvia, is now entering in its final year and can account for 48 trained leaders and 21 new girl and boy groups in Åland and Latvia. In total, over 100 youngsters are involved in group activities. We can also present a new project manager, a new project economist and two new Steering Group members.
On 17th of January the Peace Institute invited Ålandic medias to talk about how the project was progressing. The press conference resulted in an article in the newspaper Ålandstidningen, an interview in Ålands radio and that week the project manager, Jenny Jonstoij, was interviewed in the TV channel Åland 24.
Read a summary of project results and more here (in Swedish).
Deepening training for girl and boy group leaders
On 15th of January deepening training for the girl and boy group leaders were held on Åland within the project "Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking". The project is implemented in close partnership with Riga-based Resource Center for Women "Marta" and aims to implementing the unique Nordic Girl and Boy Group method, which provide self worth and autonomy, empowerment and equality among youths.
The project's Steering Group has received two new members, Peter Soderstrom, expert on masculinity issues, from Sweden, and Gun-Mari Lindholm, second deputy speaker of the Parliament of Åland and a member of the parliamentary working group on civil security and anti-trafficking in BSPC (Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference / Baltic MPs).
New Staff Members at ÅIPI
The Åland Islands Peace Institute has recruited two new staff members within the project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking.
Since December 13 2010 Jenny Jonstoij is the new Manager of the project. Jenny was born on Åland and has previously worked within gender projects in Sweden, among others as National Manager for the Swedish Red Cross' Allan groups.
Since the beginning of January 2011, Gunilla Björkman-Bobb is the financial manager for the EU project "Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking" handling the financial and administrative portions of the project. Gunilla is also working to a lesser extent with the overall financial administration of the Åland Islands Peace Institute. Gunilla is originally from Finland but has for the last thirty years worked as administrator within the non-profit sector in USA.
Girls and Boy Groups started on Åland and in Latvia
Twenty-one girl and boy groups have started on Åland and in Latvia and more groups are on the way. These girls and boys groups are part of the cross border project called "Challenging Gender Stereotypes for Prevention of Trafficking " between ÅIPI and the Resource Center for Women "Marta", in Riga (Latvia), which highlights the importance of youth empowerment as a tool for promoting more respectful gender relations and thereby reducing the risk of gender based crime.
Marta presents the social campaign "Buy a Girl - Save the State!" in Latvia
Resource Centre for Women "Marta's" social campaign "Buy a Girl - Save the State!" was organized with the aim to prevent trafficking in human beings and start a discussion in the society against legalisation of prostitution and for criminalizing the buyer of sexual services. Red more about Martas' description of the campaign.
Education for boy and girl group leaders in September
September 3rd to 5th the Åland Islands Peace Institute organizes a training for boy- and girl group leaders on Åland. The education is carried out within the INTERREG IV A project entitled "Challenging Gender Stereotypes for Prevention of Trafficking ". The project is 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. 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.
Why is it almost always men who buy and women who sell sex? Why is it most often women who are victims for sexual slavery? Is it the women's own fault? Are women so stingy with sex that some men have to pay or force women to have sex? Do men have incredibly strong sexual urges which they cannot control? Are women obliged to satisfy such urges? Do women mean yes even if they say no?
Is it OK to buy sex? Why do men buy sex? Why do men who already have a partner buy sex from others? Is it about power? Do men feel like they do poor women a favour if they pay for using their bodies? Do some women want to sell sex? Why do so few men want to sell sex? Why do so few women want to buy sex?
Do men have stronger sexual desires than women? Or are differences individual? Can a man be uninterested of sex? Can a woman be very interested in sex?
Is it OK to demand sex if the other person doesn't want it? Can women demand sex? Can men? Is it the man or the woman who takes the initiative to sex? Who should be active and who should be passive?
Are women categorized as whores or madonnas = those who have or have had many men, and those who only have one? Are men categorized in the same ways? What are men called who have or have had many sex partners? Are they sluts or whores? Is "womanizer", "Don Juan" or "player" positive or negative expressions?
Should salaries depend on gender? Do women have to be more "masculine" in order to earn more? Are women to blame themselves if choosing low-paid jobs? Do women have to abandon traditionally female professions in order to get higher salaries? Who should then take care of service and care for elderly, ill, and children? Would it be smarter to pay more for "female" professions? Do "male" professions have higher status than "female" ones?
What happens with salaries if women enter "male" professions? When women enter "male" professions, do they have to adjust to a "masculine" culture, or can they bring their "feminine" qualities and change the structure?
TELL MUMMY THAT TOMORROW SHE NEEDS TO SEND RUBBER BOOTS WITH YOU TO KINDERGARTEN!
Is it mothers or fathers who most often fill in the vacation lists and schedules at kindergarten, make sure that there are extra clothes, and that the kindergarten staff are informed of time schedules and illnesses? If staff is not informed, who is to blame?
Who does the staff approach with important information? Are fathers declared incompetent and over-looked, that is, do people think that they are unable to take responsibility for coordinating kindergarten life, work life, family life and free time?
Or are they actually incompetent? Do fathers suffer from learned helplessness? Have they never been taught to take responsibility for others? If so, how can they manage leading multinational cooperation or fill positions as heads of staff? What do you think? Join the discussion here!
STOP FOOLING AROUND, PELLE, YOU'RE NOT GAY, ARE YOU?
Can little boys play with dolls? Is it encouraged? Is there anyone who gives them dolls and shows them how to play with them? Is playing with dolls a way for a boy to practice child-care in order to one day share parental responsibilities in an equal family? Does playing with dolls make boys gay? Is it dangerous to be homosexual? Who feels threatened by it? Can a girl play with "boys'" toys? Will that make her a lesbian? Is it more OK for a girl to play with "boys'" things than the other way around? Is the "masculine" then valued higher?
Utbildningar för kill- och tjejgruppsledare på Åland
Ålands Fredsinstitut erbjuder utbildningar för dig som är över 18 år och vill bli tjej- eller killgruppsledare. Du behöver inga särskilda förkunskaper för att delta i utbildningarna, det räcker gott och väl med ett stort intresse och engagemang samt en förståelse för könsstrukturer i samhället. OBS Utbildningen för killgruppsledare är uppskjuten till september pga askmolnet. Om du från tidigare har en tjejgruppsledarutbildning men vill hålla tjejgrupper i Ålands fredsinstituts regi erbjuder vi en fortbildning för tjejgruppsledare lördagen den 8 maj (programmet är bifogat). Anmälan till fortbildningen för tjejgruppsledare sker senast den 3 maj till:
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eller tel: 23977.
Seminar and education for girl and boy group leaders
On 15th of April an introductory seminar for girl and boy group leaders will be held at Hotel Arkipelag in Mariehamn from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. The seminar targets people who are interested in gender issues and the personal development of young people. The seminar, as well as upcoming educational sessions for boy group leaders (23-25 April) and girl group leaders (8 May) will be held in Swedish.
Round table seminar on equality in youth work
On the 8th of March 2010 the Åland Islands Peace Institute will arrange a round table seminar on gender equality and youth work, calledDo boys also need gender equality? Challenging gender roles in youth work. the seminar is arranged within the interreg-project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking and deals with such questions as gender aspect in youth work, do boys also need gender equality and why and how should we challenge gender roles? Date and time: 8th of March, 14.30-16.30 Venue: Alandica, conference room No 203 The seminar is held in Swedish.
NB. The material on the website reflects the authors views and that the Managing Authority cannot be held liable for the information published by the project partners
On the 15th of December a closing conference of the project Challengng Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking was held in Swedish on Åland.
As a result of a co-operation between researchers on Åland and in Latvia within the project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking, the ÅIPI can present the report Effects of the girl and boy group method – A gender and social psychology perspective on gender equality youth work on Åland and in Latvia.
August 26th to 28th six girl or boy group leaders from the Åland Islands and ten from Latvia all partcipated in an educational session in Riga, led by Finnish trainer Mia Hanström. The education was organized within the project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking as a first step to teach leaders how to extend the network of leaders through education for beginners.
One important part of the project “Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking” is to emphasise gender equality and show the link between gender norms and violence by information campaigns and networking. During the Autumn 2010 the first information campaign was running in both Latvia and on Åland. Now the second information campaign, which targets youth, has started in both counties. Both campaigns have the theme empowerment in common. We want to encourage young people to make their own, independent, choices and to listen to their own needs. The Alandian campaign is called FAIR SEX and aims to encourage to discussions about sex and relationships, mutuality, respect and gender equality among youths. Read more about the campaign 
Gender Consultant, Mia Hanström, who works as an educator in the Peace Institute's project Challenging gender roles to prevent trafficking has launched a petition to change the Finnish legislation on sexual crimes. The petition will run until April 15.
On March 7, 2011, just before the International Women's Day, a debate will be organized by the Åland Islands Peace Institute in the auditorium of the Åland Parliament at 6 p.m. The debate is about how to prevent sexual violence and it is organized in response to the current debate on rape and sexual crimes legislation on Åland. The Åland debate has centered on sexual crime laws, but not as much on society's perception of sexual violence, the norms associated with gender, on gender equality and on how to prevent sexual violence.
On 15th of January deepening training for the girl and boy group leaders were held on Åland within the project "Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking". The project is implemented in close partnership with Riga-based Resource Center for Women "Marta" and aims to implementing the unique Nordic Girl and Boy Group method, which provide self worth and autonomy, empowerment and equality among youths.
Since December 13 2010 Jenny Jonstoij is the new Manager of the project. Jenny was born on Åland and has previously worked within gender projects in Sweden, among others as National Manager for the Swedish Red Cross' Allan groups.
Since the beginning of January 2011, Gunilla Björkman-Bobb is the financial manager for the EU project "Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking" handling the financial and administrative portions of the project. Gunilla is also working to a lesser extent with the overall financial administration of the Åland Islands Peace Institute. Gunilla is originally from Finland but has for the last thirty years worked as administrator within the non-profit sector in USA.
September 3rd to 5th the Åland Islands Peace Institute organizes a training for boy- and girl group leaders on Åland. The education is carried out within the INTERREG IV A project entitled "Challenging Gender Stereotypes for Prevention of Trafficking ". The project is 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.
Ålands Fredsinstitut erbjuder utbildningar för dig som är över 18 år och vill bli tjej- eller killgruppsledare. Du behöver inga särskilda förkunskaper för att delta i utbildningarna, det räcker gott och väl med ett stort intresse och engagemang samt en förståelse för könsstrukturer i samhället.
On 15th of April an introductory seminar for girl and boy group leaders will be held at Hotel Arkipelag in Mariehamn from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. The seminar targets people who are interested in gender issues and the personal development of young people. 
