This transnational collaboration aims to encourage and empower migrant women to participate in civic and democratic action in Europe. Migrant women are for us all women, including gender non-conforming persons, who displaced between countries, trafficked or who have moved from a third or European country to a destination in Europe. WIDE+ is leading a consortium for a project of 2,5 years with between women-led and migrant women-led organisations with a shared mission to protect the rights of migrant women rights. Currently 7 organisations are included in the consortium. The project commenced in April 2022.
The first international training event of the WE-EMPOWER project was held on 21 and 22 March 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Representatives of project partners, experts, other feminist (migrant) associations and activists from the WIDE+ migration and gender working group, young mostly migrant volunteers, as well as Brussels-based organisations attended the training. 34 people in total took part. There was an introduction session for young volunteers on 20 March and the second WE-EMPOWER project meeting was held on 23 March.
The report from the training can be found by following the link: https://wideplus.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/WE-EMPOWER-Brussels-Training-Report.pdf
The second international WE-EMPOWER training was held on 18 and 19 October 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia. Representatives of project partners, activists from the WIDE+ migration and gender working group, members of the Advocacy Group of women with experience in migration gathered around Atina, and other migrant women came together to exchange and learn through a series of interactive workshops using the community of practice. The training gathered 7 members of NGO Atina and 25 learners – 12 representatives of the WEEMPOWER partner and collaborating organizations, 3 members of the Advocacy Group of women with experience of migration, and 10 migrant women who are taking active part in NGO Atina’s activities within the Asylum Center Krnjača in Belgrade.
The report from the training can be found by following the link: https://wideplus.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Participation-of-migrant-women-in-democratic-life-through-the-community-of-practice.pdf
The third transnational training was held in Madrid the 28th of February to the 2nd of March 2024. The meeting was organized by Red de Mujeres Latinoamericanas y del Caribe de España. The purpose of the meeting was the presentation of the results from the We Empower project whose objective is to support and strengthen the participation of migrant women in Europe. The presentation of the experiences was made the 1st of March at La Corrala in Madrid. GADIP was one of the panelist who presented their work with migrant women from Somalia living in Trollhättan and Gothenburg in Sweden.
The report from the training can be found by following the link: https://wideplus.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Red-Latinas-WE-EMPOWER-Report.pdf
The first national event hosted by GADIP as part of the project was a conference titled “Gender Backlash 3,” which took place in Gothenburg on Friday, April 29, 2022. The conference was also accessible online via Zoom. Invitations were sent through a Facebook event, email invitations to our members, and through our website. Attendees included migrant women from the Gothenburg region, academics, adult educators, members from other NGOs, students, and the general public.
The conference covered the topics of the progress and effects of the anti-gender movement in Sweden, how we can create a trans-inclusive feminist movement, how mobilization for change was possible in the movement for abortion rights in Argentina and Ireland, and the resistance from the feminist movement in Belarus, where many women are active in the peaceful initiatives for a democratic Belarus free from violence and terror. The event concluded with a communal discussion, where participants reflected on the key lessons from the day and explored ways to move forward together.
Read the report here: https://usercontent.one/wp/www.gadip.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Gadip-Gender-Backlash-3-2022.pdf?media=1697114356
ILGA Europe: A Trans-inclusive Feminist Movement
Mobilization for abortion rights in Ireland
Panelist: Ailbhe Smyth https://www.togetherforyes.ie
Mobilization for abortion rights in Argentina
Panelist: Maria Teresa Bosio President of the Catholic Organisation of the Right to Decide
The second national event hosted by GADIP as part of the project was titled “Women’s Voices 2.” The theme focused on empowering immigrant women to fully exercise their democratic rights. Held in Gothenburg in April 2023, the conference was also available online via Zoom. Immigrant women frequently face unique barriers to democratic participation that are often overlooked in integration policies. The conference explored how these barriers can be addressed through community-based learning.
Maria Nordberg and Nancy Contreras at second conference held April 2023 in Gothenburg, in cooperation with Wide+ and ABF Göteborg, co-funded by the European Union.
On May 6th, 2023, in the lead-up to the European Parliament elections, we organised a panel discussion as part of the project, featuring candidates from various political parties. The discussion focused on gender perspectives at the EU level and the role of foreign-born women in politics. The panelists included Hanna Gedin from the Left Party, Simona Mohamsson from the Liberals, and Evin Incir from the Swedish Social Democratic Party. Edmé Dominguez, President of GADIP, moderated the event.
The discussion addressed key issues such as the role of political institutions in facilitating migrant women’s access to education, employment, and democratic participation. It also explored strategies to combat racism and discrimination in Europe, the impact of new legislation on gender-based violence, perspectives on sex work legislation, and the approaches proposed to enhance the political participation of migrant women.
The discussion could be followed online via Facebook live: https://www.facebook.com/100059272194949/videos/2803779619790408
