Different Cultures – Equal genders

City: Nabran
- Country: Azerbaijan

English

Seminar

Educational project

The main theme: The purpose of this seminar is to explore and discuss cultural frames of different cultures and identify gender issues in that frames, pointing out main problems regarding promotion and development of gender equality affected by the cultural aspects in order to improve the youth work and participation on gender equality. Aims and Objectives: We want to learn about the role of young people in building of civil society based on equal opportunities, human rights respect and methods that can be used to make youth work efficient in this regard. Therefore we are going to tackle themes like: - Cultural heritage, position of women in traditional view of society, aspects of culture that are forming social image and roles of both genders (ethnicity, religion, media..) - Social models and stereotypes; (home, education, work, public engagement, - History of development of gender equality in different countries of Eastern and Western Europe; history of feminism and its development. - Human rights violation - Youth culture and gender We will aim to provide necessary knowledge in order to build the tools and methods which will increase the participation of youth and improve the effect of youth in promoting the fight for achieving gender equality. This tools and methods will be specially adopted for various cultural backgrounds. Explore and evaluate efforts that are made ‘till now to overcome problems of gender equality based on cultural obstacles, analyze and modify them to be tolerable for other regions. To encourage and motivate participants to become more active in their own communities and to promote human rights, anti gender discrimination policies and social cohesion of both genders. The program and the essence of the seminar will greatly contribute to the development of inter ethnic understanding, interethnic dialogue, thus emphasizing youth work and activism in solving gender equality issue and human rights as an important part in supporting of sustainable, democratic and diverse society development. The project will improve and support cooperation and dialog between youth for development of joint projects and ideas concerning gender equality and youth work. Methodology We will arrange lectures, workshops, discussion groups, panel debates, educational games, role play. Through different program elements we want to experience how democracy works and to give opportunity to participants to learn about cultural and political differences and to develop approach to program elements which will ensure equal opportunities for all. Complete program and day by day report of the event is attached to this report as Appendix 1

Whole initiative aimed to promote European diversity and cultural frames of different cultures and identify gender issues in that frames. Several debates and discussion were about the role of European institutions (CoE, EU) and their policies about gender violence issues and human rights. As well we have had a presentation of Council of Europe Youth Foundation work, Youth in Action programme and founding possibilities to the participants’ right before the identification of future European cooperation ideas (Open Space Technology workshop).

Concept of this project was to learn from each other as much as learning from the experts. During the first day, we organized getting to know each other games, group building games and expectation games. Further, during next days, we organised two international evenings where participants had time to present their country culture, meals and drinks. This is always the important part where everyone can take part presenting its background and sharing interesting cultural aspects of their country. As well we organised presentations of the participants’ organizations where everyone could present their organisations and activities they are involved with.

Lectures: History of the Struggle for Gender Equality Situation of LGBTQ Communities in Azerbaijan and Georgia Queer Theory Intersectionality and Different Systems of Dominance Workshops: Gender Terminology Regional Gender Situations Albatross Family Simulation Azeri Wedding Simulation Tools and Methods for Gender Equality in Youth Organisations Lecture and workshop: History of Human Rights – Diamond Ranking Game (Material: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women; African (Banjul) Charter on Human and People’s Rights) Violence Against Women – Case Study of European Conventions

Yes

Next to Compass we used Project management and Financial management T-kits during preparatory phase. It helped to develop project itself but also to increase knowledge and skills of prep team members that did not had, or had less experience. Furthermore, we used “It’s time to act” and “Gender matters”.

Yes

We used Compass for several sessions that we organized. Workshops dedicated to HR and Gender issues that were by aims matching our program. As being detailed explained with resources needed, time line, tips for facilitators it was easier to implement them.

Teo Comet begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting i Kortman, Finland, 23, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , CDN Executive Committee member Theresa Reintke, Germany, 23, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Young Greens of Germany Ilze Jece begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, Latvia, 27, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Green Alternative Latvia Tamar Zandukeli, Georgia, 30, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Georgian Young Greens Sarkhan Aliyev, Azarbaijan, 26, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , GreenAZ Stevan Petrovic, Serbia, June 11, 1982, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , CDN Office Vesna Jusup, Serbia, January 25, 1987, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it CDN Executive Committee member

A first preparatory meeting was held from 27 February to 2 March 2010 in the Young Greens’ office in Baku. A second meeting was held prior to the seminar itself, from 26 to 29 March. Additionally, the prep team had many Skype conferences throughout the preparatory period. We also communicated through a mailing list. Before the first meeting, prep team members Sarkhan Aliyev and Tamar Zandukeli visited several locations in and around Baku. Based on their report, CDN Executive Committee decided to organize the seminar in Nabran. Criteria used were conditions of work, accessibility and price.

Call for prep team members Application form – prep team Call for participants Application form – participants Participants list Minutes of the prep team skype conference Agenda of the prep team meeting Minutes of the prep team meeting Agenda – sharing of tasks Draft Agenda (after meeting of prep team) Final Agenda Info sheet Visa info Travel claim form Reimbursement form (sample) Seminar Evaluation form General financial rules of the conference How to survive a conference? (Guidelines for newcomers) Attached as Appendix 1

CDN office has been available around the clock for the prep team. It was guiding the prep team to follow guidelines of non-formal education, and it was also giving all possible technical assistance for the prep team in order to let them concentrate on program realization. All technical needs were fulfilled.

Each prep team member moderated a reflection group consisting of a small group of participants. Thus we got a deeper evaluation and were able to follow the development of the seminar from beginning to end. During prep team meetings we discussed outcomes of the reflection groups, evaluated the day both from perspective of participants and prep team, and made changes for the next days if needed. On the last day participants filled evaluation forms and gathered for the final reflection group meeting, where the seminar was evaluated and general conclusions were made on the personal achievements reached during the event.

All of the participants as well as some of the lecturers were involved in the evaluation. With previously named methods we involved everyone in this process and organized an evaluation session during which we also discussed technical issues and preparation work. After the seminar the prep team members met for a general evaluation of the project, sharing conclusions of the reflection group work and personal views on the success of the event. Furthermore, prep team members had meetings with host organizations GreenAZ and Azerbaijan Young Greens in order to evaluate achievements and discuss future involvement in CDN.

The project had a strong influence on participants. Most of the experts were participants as well and coming from the region. This gave an additional aspect of exchange of knowledge, contacts and future cooperation on gender and LGBTQ issues in the region. The feedback we got from participants indicates that this topic is relevant for their respective organizations.

At the end of the seminar we agreed that the organization of the seminar was good and that we managed to accomplish our most important goals. The previous experience and skills of the prep team members and CDN EC members were a crucial premise for the proper implementation of the project. Having two local organizations involved in the preparation and implementation of the project made technical and local tasks easier to be done. The work of the local hosts was very well coordinated by Sarkhan Aliyev and CDN Office.

From the educational side this event responded to the goals very well and the satisfied participants are our main source for such an evaluation. We used a variety of methods, and each presentation or lecture was followed by an interactive session, mostly organized in smaller groups so that each participant had the opportunity to reflect on what was previously heard. Conclusions from the group work were always presented to all participants. Prep team member Ilze Jece is a trainer of Salto and constantly supported other prep team members in planning and implementing sessions.

As a positive result of the event most of the participants listed gained knowledge on the Gender and LGBTQ situation in Caucasus region and especially in Azerbaijan. The participants have also better knowledge of international law, conventions and institutions and many of them stressed Queer theory as most valuable gained knowledge. However, we did not manage to meet the participants’ expectations to have more in-depth discussions about the different topics we tried to cover.

Getting input from people from different cultures was encouraging and motivating for future gender-related work in European youth organizations. We also believe that the methods that were used will be reused by the participants in their local organizations. Throughout the seminar, we had a high level of participation of almost all participants, possibly due to successful group-building and interactive methods. We still faced challenges related to varying levels of prior knowledge among the participants. The prep team believes that we managed to reach all participants in different ways and help them develop their skills, knowledge and motivation.

This seminar benefits CDN in the objective of strengthening CDN’s contacts with its member organizations and networking with other national and international youth organizations, as probable future members or partners of our network. Further the seminar raised level of knowledge on the subject among member organizations and will improve political work and participation of member organizations from Caucasus region in CDN activities. The seminar was very important for CDN Gender group and was opportunity for building future plans and involving more people in gender work.

Due to the political situation in Azerbaijan we couldn’t reach public. Any kind of protest, street action and public gathering with socio-political connotation proved to be impossible to organize. Furthermore, gender and LGBTQ issues are very sensitive topics for Azerbaijan society.

Working environment for civil society organizations in Azerbaijan is difficult and intensively monitored by state security institutions. We were asked by hotel management to translate the agenda of the seminar before we concluded the deal. During the seminar we had police visit when we were asked to translate documents used and to provide them with list of the people involved. There were civilian policemen present around the venue from that visit onwards.

The group atmosphere and communication among participants was excellent. We had a large number of participants who spoke Russian, which was an additional issue to overcome in the group-building process. However, after the first two days we managed to equally include everyone and make the general atmosphere inclusive.

We want to continue supporting the host organizations as well as to further plan how other local organizations can benefit from CDN projects. We also wish to improve the follow-up of future projects, this follow-up still being in process. CDN is growing and presently having two working groups and planning several more. We need good planning and coordination of how working groups can contribute to seminars.

Photos, videos and texts that were created during the conference will be printed and published on line and on the CD aiming to support future activities by participants and organisation to continue the work we have started. CDN Gender group gathered several initiatives from participants and presently are developing projects to implement, such as a gender manual and a study session on male roles in Eastern Europe. CDN as a network will support the participants to continue the work with democracy, human rights and gender issues in their organisations.

With this seminar CDN is continuing to support the cooperation and growth of organizations from the Caucasus. The host organizations had a valuable experience and their involvement on international level is increasing. Their members gained valuable organizing skills and useful contacts for future cooperation. Two important dimensions that were successfully covered were on one hand how to make internal structures of youth organisations more gender sensitive, and on the other hand the topics of LGBTQ and Queer theory, as these sessions provided the participants with fresh ideas. The evaluation and its conclusions provide a good base for future activities.

CDN Gender Group will continue to organize activities and seminars focusing on educating and involving young people, on enriching the understanding of human rights, gender roles, gender stereotypes and gender equality in Eastern Europe. Many of the skills and methods learned at this conference are going to help CDN in the everyday work. Furthermore we are developing a special section of the web site in order to publish all documents, presentations and texts offered by experts and prep team members.

During the session on violence against women, the European Convention on Human Rights was a central element. We devoted one working day to Human Rights and Human Rights Education. It is important that we are able to organize this kind of events outside of the EU, with most of the prep team members being from non-EU countries. We are determined to continue working in the Caucasus, as the two seminars we have organized in the region until now have had a big impact on the participants, both from the region as from elsewhere.