The Violet Project is underway

The Slovak National Center for Human Rights coordinates the consortium for the project “Violet: Towards Workplaces Without Sexual Harassment,” which we initiated this week with a joint meeting in Bratislava on May 27 and 28. Project is co-funded by EU under the CERV-2024-DAPHNE programme.

In the initial months of the project, we will focus on preparing research related to sexual harassment in employment relationships, which will encompass both legal analysis and an examination of the prevalence and utilization of available protective measures. Considering the various legal frameworks of the participating countries, such research will necessitate a deeper discussion and careful consideration. It is precisely with the acknowledgment of different professional challenges that an expert seminar will assist us, which will take place once again in Bratislava on September 16-17. During the meeting, we discussed the agenda, the necessary expertise of the guests and hosts, and the anticipated outcomes.   

The project aims to achieve the ambitious goal of creating workplaces free from sexual harassment through four pillars:

1. Comprehensive overview— including research activities;
2. Safe workplaces— involving cooperation with employers;
3. Strong institutional support for more effective collaboration among stakeholders;
4. General awareness— aimed at increasing understanding among various target groups. 

Ten organizations from six countries will collaborate on the project, with the consortium linking national equality bodies (Office of the Ombudsman, Equal Opportunities Inspectorate from Lithuania, Comissão para a Igualdade no Trabalho e no Emprego from Portugal, Komisioneri për Mbrojtjen nga Diskriminimi from Albania, and Komisija za sprečuvanje i zaštita od diskriminacija from North Macedonia), the civil sector (Plataforma Portuguesa para os Direitos das Mulheres – Associação from Portugal, Together for Life from Albania), and university expertise (Comenius University in Bratislava). The transfer of experience to the European Union level and cooperation with international actors will be supported by collaboration with the European Network of National Anti-Discrimination Authorities (EQUINET). 

After formal steps, such as signing the Consortium agreement and appointing the Project steering committee, we began a discussion on practical issues related to managing a large consortium, collecting results, presenting outputs, and addressing potential risks and their communication. Debate on project management tools led to a decision to explore options like Asana and ClickUp, ensuring an efficient workflow. 

The meeting highlighted the complexity of collecting data on vulnerable groups while ensuring compliance with the GDPR. Partners discussed inclusive data collection strategies, such as adding questions on participant demographics in registration forms and making events accessible through measures like sign language interpretation. 

From the outset of the project, it’s essential to establish a communication strategy that will not only enhance the visibility of the project’s outputs but, more importantly, raise awareness about sexual harassment in the workplace, provide information on protection against sexual harassment, and encourage individuals to take action when they witness such incidents. 

Our colleagues who were able to come to Bratislava in person appreciated the charm of our capital city and accepted our invitation to the Hana exhibition, which reflected the life and work of the writer and activist Hana Gregorová, held in the Apponyi Palace. This exhibition, with its feminist theme, beautifully complemented our day-long topics. 

We have set aside the second day of the meeting for identifying risks and addressing problems. The ambitious goals of the VIOLET project leave little room for a lengthy start-up; on the contrary, we face intensive months of work ahead. Thanks to the close cooperation and genuine interest of all partner organizations, we will be able to achieve the established project milestones gradually. 

We look forward to collaborating with colleagues from partner organizations and wish ourselves and the project a successful and enjoyable journey!