On this Valentine's Day APAV promotes a new raising awareness campaign about dating violence. This campaign was developed by the agency Carmen - YoungNetwork Group. This new campaign is focused on the social media and shares one message: “If violence tags you, you know with whom to share”.

APAV expresses its deepest sympathies with the victims of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, their friends and families. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the attacks. It is crucial that victim support is available to help these direct and indirect victims overcome these terrible events. We express our solidarity with all those affected by these horrific acts, as well as with our colleagues from Victim Support Europe, in Brussels.

Europe is facing an unprecedented migrant crisis. The movement of thousands of people, fugitives from conflict zones, are challenges to European countries.These migrants have suffered a long-lasting victimization process, initiated by a violent war which made them leave their homes, flee their countries and forced them togo through a tough journey, often with traumatic circumstances, to finally face an uncertain futurein the host countries. All these issues, in addition to the cultural differences, are a big challenge to professionals who will be in contact with these people and support them.

APAV recently participated in the elaboration of a manual, addressed to technicians who are or will be supporting the migrants arriving in Europe - Manual of Psychosocial Support for Migrants. This manual is a common initiative of APAV, the General Health Directorate and the Portuguese Red Cross. It essentially describes the issues of psychosocial impact and presents practical strategies on how to manage situations of suffering and psychological trauma. Among the many assistances that have emerged to help the technicians, the area of psychological trauma was one of the hardest information to find especially detailed guidelines.

The contribution of APAV reflects the experience gained over the years in supporting the migrant victims, victims of trafficking, as well as the knowledge of professionals who manage and support daily complex situations of trauma and intervene in various crisis scenarios. This experience, allied with the contributions of the Red Cross and the General Health Directorate, enabled the creation of a practical manual, with many suggestions of planned situations that may be placed during the support process. These guidelines can help minimize the impact on migrants, but also help the professionals who support them.

The manual was officially launched on February 25th at the National Portuguese Red Cross.

Manual de Apoio Psicossocial a Migrantes

The Association ADM Estrela promoted the 1st International Seminar under the theme of Gender Based Violence. The event took place at the Portuguese Cultural Centre of the Embassy of Portugal in São Tomé and Principe, between the 14th and 18th of March 2016.

APAV was present in the event, represented by Daniel Cotrim, technical advisor of the board. Besides providing training about Domestic Violence, our technical advisor also presented a communication at the International Conference.

At the end of the event, a set of conclusions and recommendations was presented on policies in the area of Poverty, Social Protection, Gender Based Violence, Equality and Gender Equity and Public Health of São Tomé and Principe, in order to increase comprehensiveness on the reality of the violence phenomenon in this country.