The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies within the framework of the Daphne III project Perspective organized an event entitled ‘It can happen to you: Youth Voices against Gender-based Violence’ on the 23^rd of March 2010 in Nicosia. The event was opened by Ms Stella Mishiaoulli, member of the Cypriot Parliamentary Committee on Education.

The main aim of the event was to present the results of the 3^rd Workpackage of the project which included a series of training workshops in three secondary education schools in Nicosia on topics such as bullying in school, gender-based violence in intimate adolescent relationships, gender identities and the mass media as well as training in peer education methods.

During the event presentations were made by Dr Christiana Kouta, member of the Committee on the subject of Health Education as well as lecturer at Cyprus University of Technology on the need for integration of Sex Education in Cypriot schools, and three students who participated in the training workshops and subsequently conducted training with their peers.

During their presentations the students emphasized the importance of including issues relating to gender socialization and healthy relationships within the school curriculum as well as the effectiveness of participatory methods.

During the event posters of the students who participated in the project were exhibited which included key messages on raising awareness about gender-based violence among young people. These key messages will be used in the next phase of the project which will involve an awareness-raising campaign on these issues targeting both youth and the wider public and which will be conducted in all five partner countries to the project.

For more information on the project please click here.