"Animus Association" Foundation

SAPE – Adult education to support victims: empowering male victims of trafficking and severe exploitation. Exchange of experiences and development of recommendations.

October 1, 2022 – July 1, 202

Funded by the “Erasmus+ Programme” of the European Commission

Supporting male victims of crime and trafficking can be seen as a relatively new area in need of development and knowledge sharing. In view of the great need for services for men, the Animus Association Foundation has become involved in the international project “SAPE – Supporting Adult Victim Education: empowering male victims of trafficking and severe exploitation. Exchange of experiences and development of recommendations”, in which we cooperate with organisations from Austria, Germany, Portugal and Romania. The project has the following objectives:

(a) Exchange of practical knowledge in the field of work with trafficked men and in the field of adult education for empowerment and reintegration.

1. b) Analysis of good practices, obstacles and difficulties.

(c) Identification of areas for training and empowerment of trafficked men.

1. d) Develop recommendations for the development of training, empowerment and reintegration activities for trafficked men, creating a digital guide.

Victims of trafficking find themselves in a marginalized and vulnerable position. Economic deprivation, discrimination, social and/or health problems, and lack of education are considered root causes of trafficking. These vulnerabilities are ruthlessly exploited by the perpetrators in recruiting victims through false promises and deception, creating a high dependency of the victims in order to exploit them severely. Human trafficking is a serious crime and violates fundamental human rights. It is often accompanied by systematic threats and violence against victims. Trafficking in human beings causes great harm to its victims, deprives them of their fundamental rights and dignity, causes despair, enormous psychological strain and trauma, but also high social and economic costs.

Victims of trafficking in human beings who are identified or who free themselves need comprehensive protection and a wide range of support in order to be protected, stabilised, restored and to find prospects for a life of safety and dignity. One of the aims of the project is to prevent re-victimisation while supporting the (re)integration, empowerment and participation of victims in society. Therefore, adult education and training for victims is one of the key elements, and existing educational needs must be well identified and met.

The need for education for adult victims of trafficking is widespread: for example, when victims receive comprehensive information about their rights and instructions on how to claim them (e.g. during criminal proceedings against perpetrators). Victims usually do not know much about their rights and lack practical knowledge to deal with the justice system. This is where adult education comes in.

The project will contribute to the further development of standards and knowledge on the educational needs of affected men that can be shared with relevant actors, NGOs and stakeholders in other EU countries and beyond. This will contribute to improving support and education activities for affected men.

Guidelines and recommendations

 

The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.