The "Equal(c)ity" project, led by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), was the first European initiative aimed at combating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among individuals with a migration background and integrating migration and intercultural issues into urban services in Europe. The project was funded by the European Union's Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020). Over a period of 24 months from November 2019 to the end of 2021, the project took place in four cities, with each city focusing on a specific category of individuals at risk of or affected by SGBV.
In the project, Luxembourg addressed violence against migrant women, Gothenburg focused on violence within families, particularly honour crimes, and Rome targeted violence against unaccompanied minors. In Brussels, the RainbowHouse, in collaboration with Equal.Brussels, represented the project and concentrated efforts on LGBTQIA+ migrants. The project aimed to establish sustainable safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals with a migration background through the development of a toolbox, which included a guide of best practices, a manual for managing safe spaces, training programs for relevant organisations and associations, and a sensitisation campaign on gender-based violence and the existence of safe spaces.
Throughout the project, theoretical and field research was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of safe spaces in various contexts, assess the needs and challenges of the target group, and gather best practices for professionals and volunteers working with them. Interviews were held with frontline workers, affected individuals, and professionals from institutions and public services. Training sessions were also conducted to evaluate needs and pedagogical effectiveness. Moving forward, the project planned to develop the four components of the toolbox and organise focus groups to ensure the effectiveness of the sensitisation strategy. Independent experts would provide feedback on the tools to enable their replication at the European level.