Empowering Young People with Intellectual Disabilities against Gender-Based and Cyber Violence

forthcoming

The SAFE WORLD project is implemented by a consortium of 6 organisations from 4 EU countries – a social service provider for people with intellectual disabilities, a research & training center, and the Regional Centre for Supporting the Process of Inclusive Education to the Ministry of Education and Science in Bulgaria; Plena Inclusion Confederation in Spain; a non-profit social workers cooperative in Italy; and an international association advancing the rights of autistic people in Belgium. The overall objective of our project aims to equip young people with intellectual disabilities (YPID), professionals who support them & their parents/caregivers with the knowledge, skills and tools to recognize, prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) & cyber violence, thus advancing multi-actor coordination and systemic prevention to ensure safer social & digital environments for YPID of all genders. The main project activities & outputs include: • A unified three-pillar GBV & cyber violence prevention framework, informed by focus groups with 90+ stakeholders • GBV & cyber violence prevention toolkit for professionals, building the capacity of 178+ to raise awareness of GBV & cyber violence & promote safe behaviours among YPID • Gamified learning materials for safe online & social interactions, with 120+ YPID trained to identify and report GBV & cyber violence risks, and practice safe behaviour in physical & virtual environments • AI-driven Chatbot for support & anonymous reporting of GBV & cyber violence, used by 40+ YPID & 40+ professionals • Support & early risk response guide & reflection journal for parents/caregivers, with 40+ educated in identifying early warning signs and addressing GBV & violence issues, incl. Chatbot use. • SAFE WORLD Network of Professionals with 178+ members by project end. The project’s impact will be sustained through regular implementation of training sessions for YPID and active promotion of the SAFE WORLD Network across Europe.