Professor Janine Natalya Clark provides an update on the work of Association XY, the NGO she works with on the Changing Attitudes to Sexual Violence through Education and Awareness-Raising in Bosnia-Herzegovina project.

Association XY organized a working meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth in Sarajevo Canton

On 25 September 2020, Association XY organized a working meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth in Sarajevo Canton and principals from 11 high schools within the Canton. This meeting was initially scheduled for March, but it had to be postponed due to COVID-19. Participants in the meeting were briefed on the BLS project ‘Changing Attitudes to Sexual Violence through Education and Awareness-Raising in Bosnia-Herzegovina’ and on the importance of widening Association XY’s existing programme (‘Programme Y’) in schools to include issues relating to sexual violence and stigma. Some of the teachers / pedagogues who are experienced in implementing Programme Y took part in the meeting as advocates for the project.

Association XY organized a working meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth in Sarajevo Canton

The school principals responded positively and expressed a readiness for teachers from their schools to participate in trainings related to the project. Two trainings, led by Association XY, for 40 high school teachers in Sarajevo Canton are planned for October. These trainings will focus on project materials addressing sexual violence, sexual violence prevention and stigma.