EN-HERA! The European Network for the Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Europe & beyond

OBJECTIVES

To set up a network for the Promotion of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers among different stakeholders involved in SRH for refugees and asylum seekers
To gradually expand the coverage by the network of the EU area to at least 13 EU Member States
To develop a framework for the identification of good practices in SRH policy development for refugees and asylum seekers, SRH services for refugees and asylum seekers and participatory approach of SRH of refugees and asylum seekers
To set a common research agenda on SRH of refugees and asylum seekers in the EU
To organise an international seminar on SRH of refugees and asylum seekers in the EU
To publish and disseminate the project results

ACTIVITIES

The setting-up of the Network: organization of three steering committees, in-country networking for identification of new members, expansion of the Network to other countries
The development of frameworks for the determination of good practices: for each framework a committee is responsible, local stakeholders are identified, two steering committee meeting are organizaed, a workshop is organized, results are reported
Setting a common research agenda
Organization of an international seminar
Publication and dissemination of the results
Development of a logo for the Network

RESULTS

EN-HERA! The European Network for Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Europe and beyond is set-up and a logo for EN-HERA! is designed.
In addition to the founding members the partnership includes new partners from Spain, Malta, Cyprus, UK, Lithuania, Austria and Iceland and others are still in the applying procedure. At national level of the steering partners a local network is set up. EN-HERA! Terms of Reference are developed.
Out of some 200 potential stakeholders, 60 European experts are selected as members of the Expert panel. This expert panel is involved in a Delphi process of developing the frameworks. The first loop of the Delphi is held and the 2 others will be held before November 2008.
A common research agenda is being set in different fields of Sexual and Reproductive Health of refugees and asylum seekers in Europe. A first project proposal aiming at prevention of SGBV against this target group as well as the professionals working in the reception and asylum sector is submitted to the European Commission.
A work seminar is planned for Mid-November 2008 in Ghent, Belgium. The framework in SRH good practices will be discussed and finalized there with the EN-HERA! members and the expert panel.
Publications on the research results as well as on the Framework are planned for the second half of 2008