RegioStars is an annual competition organized by the European Commission of Regions (DG Regio) since 2008 for EU-funded projects that demonstrate the impact and inclusiveness of regional development. During European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels the 2023 edition of the competition presented five finalists in all six categories, giving them the platform to introduce themselves to an international public.
In total, thirty projects have been picked by the Jury from a record 228 applicants. Each of them is unique and contribute to the innovation of Europe. Among the finalists of the Category 4, ‘a social and inclusive Europe’, we find a newly formed Czech organization ProFem 2.0.
Filling the void
In the Czech Republic, every tenth woman experiences rape, every second woman faces sexual violence, and every fourth man encounters sexual violence or harassment. However, there is often a lack of places where they can seek help. Additionally, they may face secondary victimization, hypocracy, and stereotypes. Services such as psychotherapy, specialized interviews, or legal assistance are not always readily available. The organization ProFem 2.0 is working to change that.
"The idea to create ProFem 2.0 emerged about three years ago," recalls coordinator Michálková, who presented the project in Brussels. The original ProFem has been operating in the Czech Republic for almost thirty years, but it specializes only in domestic violence.
"In that area, we have developed quality procedures to help clients. However, we are increasingly encountering the issue of sexual violence, and we felt that our established processes were not effective, so we wanted to innovate the entire approach," explains Michálková on the inception of ProFem 2.0. She adds that they aim to address this by establishing the first specialized center for victims of sexual violence in the Czech Republic.
The new center will be named Port, and the final construction work is currently underway. There is already significant interest in the services of the center.
"Most often, we have limited capacities for individual psychotherapy. However, we try to respond by, for example, hiring a new colleague and never refusing a client but proposing the earliest possible date."
In addition to psychotherapy, ProFem 2.0 offers social and legal counselling, both individual and group psychotherapies, mediation for a legal representative for the client in court, and crisis intervention.
"In the center, we will offer, for example, accommodation for victims in a psychological crisis after an attack or a specially adapted interrogation room for the police, which will simplify the testimony and evidence-gathering process for both parties," concludes the coordinator.
Voting on the winner
ProFem 2.0 is just the one out of thirty amazing projects competing to win the Public Choice Award, which will be traditionally decided by the public vote. You can find information about other projects on the EU Regional Policy website, in the section of the Projects - RegioStars awards.
The public vote for the Public Choice Award was open until mid-November on the RegioStars competition platform. Winners of each category are announced at the ceremony in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on 16th of November.
By Anna-Marie Hanzlíková and Peter Matis
Edited by Nina Bo Wagner
