SOS Rijeka- center for nonviolence and human rights

SOS Rijeka – centar za nenasilje i ljudska prava/SOS Rijeka – Center for Nonviolence and Human Rights is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation situated in Rijeka, Croatia which provides help for victims of violence and other people in need for over 25 years. The organization achieves its goals through three interconnected and intertwined program areas: 1. Direct work with victims of violence and other persons in crisis situations, which includes providing psychosocial assistance, support and free legal aid to victims of violence. Most of our users are victims of gender based violence (women), but we provide help for all victims (regardless of sex, gender, age etc.) of all types of violence. 2. Education and prevention of violence which includes cooperation with educational institutions and educational courses and workshops for young people. We believe that the causes of violence and preventive work should be systematic, especially with young people, so we strive to, through education, prevent victimization and transfer of violent patterns to the next generation. Depending on the project, we also carry out educational programs for other members of the society / public (volunteers, adults, professionals). 3. Public awareness and advocacy The problem of violence cannot be solved without continuously informing the public about its causes, occurrences and consequences, about protecting and supporting victims of violence, about condemning violence and about the (un)effectiveness of the system. Therefore, through activities such as publicly celebrating important dates (for example, National and International Day against Violence against Women), organizing exhibitions and various other events, we strive to contribute to raising awareness of (non) violence SOS Rijeka is also running a volunteering program which is recognized by volunteers and other organisations as of quality and important for our community. In its latest strategic plan, SOS Rijeka has focused its capacities towards education for working with victims of sexual violence and launching a special section within our Counseling Center. In Croatia, there is currently only one center for victims of sexual violence (in Zagreb, the capital), which is not enough. To achieve its objectives, the Association shall engage in the following activities: - organising and providing various social services and providing social, free legal and humanitarian aid and support to victims of all types of violence and persons in crisis situations (counselling and assistance, psychosocial assistance, stay, accommodation, organised housing, prevention of violence, professional assistance and support, primary legal aid, short stay, playrooms, workshops, clubs, psychosocial assistance in crisis situations, improving quality of life and health of socially excluded persons) - organising and holding lectures, gatherings, schools, congresses, workshops, seminars, presentations, public discussions, round tables and other forms of informing and transferring of knowledge and skills - preparing, creating and distributing expert, scientific, educational, informational and promotional materials and publications using information and communication technologies - preventing violence and promoting nonviolence, preventing and protecting against discrimination - promoting and developing volunteering, and organising various volunteering activities and activities related to volunteer management - informing the public, participating in the media, creating media content, following public policies, public lobbying and advocacy for change and encouraging participatory democracy - promoting the development of local community through the development of civil society and good management, and encouraging social solidarity - international and intercultural cooperation and development - education and care of children and youth, and the implementation of extra-institutional activities for children and youth for the purpose of educating them to actively participate in the development of democratic culture, to protect and promote human rights, as well as healthy lifestyles and sustainable development - encouraging, developing, establishing and directing social entrepreneurship - activities including preventive action to improve and protect health and enhance the quality of life. Since 2008, we are continuously conducting the program « Savjetovalište za žrtve nasilja u obitelji« (Counseling Center for Victims of Domestic Violence) funded primarily by the Croatian Ministry of Demography, Family, Youth and Social Policy. Within the program, we provide free psychological assistance, free legal aid (since 2016) as well as others forms of assistance (e.g. assistance with employment search, exercising social rights and other forms of integration activities) to all victims of domestic violence in the wider area of Primorje-Gorski kotar and Lika-Senj county. This program is supported and expanded with several smaller projects which are focusing on other victims of violence (outside of domestic environment, e.g. violence in shorter-lasting relationships that are not considered to be domestic violence, mobbing, bullying). In its latest strategic plan, SOS Rijeka has focused its capacities towards education for working with victims of sexual violence and launching a special section within our Counseling Center. In Croatia, there is currently only one center for victims of sexual violence (in Zagreb, the capital), which is not enough. SOS Rijeka has wide experience in developing and implementing projects and programs combating violence from different angles. Apart from working directly with victims of violence, we are involved in numerous projects that aim to prevent violence and promote non-violence among children and youngsters. In this regard, we would highlight the following projects: „Ljubav voli, a ne boli“ (Love loves, not hurts; funded by the Ministry of Science and Education), the project is focused on education and workshops with young people on the topic of violence in relationships defining and recognising violence and different types of violence, identifying signs of bullying and informing young people about institutions and other places where they can get help and support if faced with violence. „Operacija mladi - #OM“ (Operation Youngsters, funded by the Ministry of Science and Education and the Ministry of Demography, Family, Youth and Social Policy) aimed at preventing violence and hate speech as well as raising awareness of human rights among young people. The program provided psychological and legal counselling and support for youth faced with violence. „Humano obrazovanje - odgovornije društvo“ (Human Education – Responsible Society, SOS Rijeka is one of the partners, ESF) Overall objective of this project is to improve the knowledge and skills of the students of the University of Rijeka for active civic participation in the area of gender equality and related human rights in the sense of building a more humane society. „RI CONNECT“ (funded by the Ministry of Demography, Family, Youth and Social Policy; SOS Rijeka is one of the partners) is a youth club which has seven programs that give young people from Rijeka the chance to educate, inform, consult, make new friendships, show their creativity as well as develop and discover their interests.