Damjan Zdravev REACT! SHARE A STORY, PREVENT VIOLENCE

Background  Established in 2005  We provide timely and relevant research, propose evidence based policy alternatives, and strive to present our work in innovative, accessible and understandable ways.  Our main areas of work are Gender Equality, Youth and Urban Development, with Civic Engagement, Human Rights, Social Justice, EU Integration and Participative Decision-making as cross-cutting issues.  rodovreactor.mk civiengagement.mk skopjeraste.mk

Context Sociopolitical  Declining public trust and participation in formal politics, in addition to grave social problems, such as the rise of poverty, inequalities and social isolation. (Civic Engagement Surveys, )  Public opinion about citizens’ and CSOs’ ability to respond to the opportunities to affect decision making is rather low. (CRPM, 2013)  For the first time in 2013 the majority of the population (54.2%) has trust in the civil society sector. (TACSO, MCIC, 2013)  Strategies, legislative frameworks and instruments exist to secure participatory policymaking and decision making are in place, the institutions remain closed for “outsiders”.  Civil society organizations continue to operate in a difficult climate and report limited government commitment to dialogue. (EC Progress Report, 2014) Gender inequality  The number of women graduating in tertiary education is continuously higher than the number of man. (State Statistical Office)  Less than half of the women aged 20 to 64 are employed, while two thirds of men in the same age group are employed. (EUROSTAT)  Economic inactivity rates for man and woman aged 15+ are 36.8%(m) and 63.2%(w). (State Statistical Office, 2014)  Women are expected to perform their gender prescribed role of housewives. In Macedonia, the unpaid care work is almost exclusively done by women, only 6% are men. (REACTOR, forthcoming)  legislative framework on domestic violence is in place, but gender-based violence is not recognized as a specific type of violence in legislation. (REACTOR, 2012)

Gender based violence Violence against women includes physical, psychological and sexual harm which is directed against women because of their gender. Macedonian legislation does not recognize gender based violence. The findings are based on: 780 interviews with women in public spaces (390 per municipality), 28 structured interviews with relevant stakeholders, 8 safety audit walks with 29 participants, 7 focus groups with 51 participants (taxi drivers, sexual workers, waitresses, journalists, bus drivers and controllers, drug users), data from 296 unique visitors to the specially developed website ( bidibezbedna.mk) and 70 purposeful observations in public locations in the municipality of Centar. An additional validation meeting was held with 19 representatives of NGOs, local government, Ombudsman and Center for Social Work.

REACT! SHARE A STORY, PREVENT VIOLENCE

Users and Interaction  After the first month  5379 unique visits  31 incidents reported, 4 unapproved reports.  Most of the views came from Macedonia (88.8%), while 72.8% from Skopje.  85% of the traffic was referral.  In total  unique visits.  91 incidents reported, 11 unapproved reports, mapped out 85 public spaces.  Visits, traffic and reports declined dramatically in  Suggestions from users were implemented.

What we learned Define success Monitor, self reflect and adapt Everyone's’ opinion is important and relevant, invite feedback - INCORPORATE! Know you audience/users and choose an effective way to tell “your story” Always be open and responsive