“…let’s have that conversation and STOP violence against women”

Fighting for Safety: How SBBSL and Partners Tackled Gender-Based Violence in Suriname May – September 2021

At SBBSL, we’re deeply committed to creating a safer Suriname for everyone. In a previous project, “Let’s Have That Conversation and STOP Violence Against Women,” we joined forces with an incredible network of partners, including local government and civil society organizations. Our shared mission? To bolster crucial services for migrant sex workers, women, and girls who were facing the brutal realities of gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) across Suriname.

This campaign was a multi-faceted effort, reaching far and wide with public awareness campaigns, hands-on peer education exercises, and impactful awareness initiatives. A cornerstone of our approach was ensuring that survivors of GBV and IPV in Suriname received information that was not only empowering but also language and culturally specific to their needs. We built this campaign on a foundation of insights gleaned from past projects and continuous outreach, including vital counseling sessions in central Paramaribo and the challenging gold mining regions, often delivered via telehealth.

Our GBV campaign had several key components, each designed to provide comprehensive support and foster lasting change:

• Monthly virtual training sessions on GBV/IPV with other NGOs, fostering a collaborative network of support.
• A 24/7 helpline, offering a lifeline to those in immediate need.
• Two legal literacy training sessions, empowering individuals with knowledge of their rights.
• Access to crucial medical and psychosocial care, addressing both physical and mental well-being.
• A vibrant social media campaign and monthly press releases, ensuring our message reached a broad audience.
• Bi-weekly capacity-building training, continuously strengthening the skills of those on the front lines.

One of the most innovative aspects of our approach was providing confidential medical advice via telehealth. This allowed us to reach remote migrant sex workers in the interior of Suriname’s rainforest who were experiencing GBV and IPV, overcoming significant geographical barriers. Throughout all assessments, we meticulously ensured age, gender, cultural, and linguistic appropriateness, recognizing the diverse needs of the communities we served.

Central to our efforts was our peer education module. We dedicated ourselves to empowering survivors through evidence-based capacity-building sessions, making sure that migrant sex workers, women, and girls not only knew but truly understood their rights. The invaluable findings from this project were then shared with other civil society organizations, strengthening our collective efforts and fostering greater collaboration in supporting the health and safety of our target groups.

This project wasn’t just about providing services; it was about fostering resilience, building community, and creating a future where all women and girls in Suriname can live free from violence. The lessons learned and the connections forged continue to inform our ongoing work as we strive for a more just and equitable society.