Main goals at the beginning of the Project :
The “Sexual Abuse against Children at Residential Institutions” project, financed through the European Commission`s Daphne III Programme 2007 – 2013, aims at the prevention of abuse against children,youths, and women, as well as the support for groups at risk.
It is carried out within a two-year period, starting January 2009. In order to achieve a viable effect on both national and European levels, the project envisions coordinated action and partnership among organisations in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, and Bulgaria, with SAPI, Bulgaria, as team leader.
The project`s chief goal is to contribute toward the creation of national and European policies on the prevention of sexual abuse against children at institutions.
This goal will be achieved through in-depth research and analysis of the essence of the phenomenon “sexual abuse against children in institutions.” Some preparatory work toward the main investigation includes a situation analysis based on statistical data and other available research on the frequency and distribution of abuse against children at institutions, as well as on the relevant legislative framework in each partner state.
The main investigation focuses on the aspects, nature and essence of the phenomenon “sexual abuse against children at institutions.” To this end quantitative and qualitative measures are implemented, such as questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and case studies.
The next stage of the project will be to identify appropriate practices for prevention and support of children at institutions,who are victims of abuse.
On the basis of all these research results, the project will formulate and publish recommendations toward national and European policies against abuse of children at institutions. The project`s national coordination will occur at Support Councils, and the European one – at several coordinate meetings in each of the five partner states.
A website will further be created to help promote awareness and disseminate information on the problem of abuse against children at institutions.
It will, in particular, present the results and products of the project. In addition, a short educational film on this topic, subtitled in seven languages, will be created and distributed.
Outputs produced during the Project:
Good practices in Latvia for sexual abused children, 2010
Sexual violence against children in residential institutions, 2010
Recommendations to prevent sex violence against children in residential institutions, 2010
Research of the current situation in Latvia, concerning sexual abuse of children at residential institutions, 2009