We need to talk about domestic violence! That’s the motto of the Speak Out project, which opens up this topic in the Roma community, where it is still often taboo. Prevention also plays a key role, which is why we organized a summer school for young Roma women and men from the Manushe junior group this summer.
During the hottest days of August, we went to Chlumec nad Cidlinou for five days with thirty young Roma men and women to talk about communication, relationships and domestic violence. If we want to address domestic and gender-based violence in the Romani community, we need to discuss with the younger generation what behavior is acceptable and what is not. "Our aim was to make them recognise the first warning signs when something is wrong and to become more sensitive to situations in their environment," explains project coordinator Claudie Laburdová
During the five-day summer school, the topic of domestic violence was opened gradually. The participants, aged between 15 and 21, first discussed the socio-cultural specificities of Roma people, partner relationships, and then the forms of domestic violence. This challenging topic was led by a lecturer from the Rosa Centre, which provides assistance to victims of domestic violence. "The topic that resonated the most was that of toxic relationships, specifically, for example, the situation where a partner checks our mobile phones. Participants reacted a lot and asked questions, probably because they have experience with this," says Claudie Laburdová.
The summer school is one of the key activities of the Speak Out, project focused on working with Romani women. Based on our many years of experience, we know that violence against women in Roma communities does exist, even though it is often not talked about. Since January 2024, self-help groups of Roma women have been meeting regularly in five Czech cities to gradually and sensitively raise the topic of domestic and gender-based violence. At the same time, we are conducting research to find out how widespread domestic violence is in Romani families. Relevant data on this topic is still lacking in the Czech Republic.
Although the topic of domestic violence is very challenging, during the five days of the Summer School we realized how open the young generation is to discuss and share their opinions. "For me, one of the key conclusions of the project is that it makes sense to talk about domestic violence with young people. It's not just about them being able to stand up against violence themselves, but also to know how to react when they witness it," adds Claudia Labourd.
The "Speak Out" project, registration number CZ.03.02.03/00/22_044/0002151, is funded by the Operational Programme Employment Plus.
The project is funded by the European Union.
