The Intercultural Approaches to Prevent Harmful Practices (IAPHP) conference took place on February 6th in Lisbon, bringing together experts in the field to share knowledge and strategies.
The project provided first-line practitioners and migrant women with valuable tools to identify and respond to harmful practices. The event was especially significant as it coincided with the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, a critical issue that remains widespread globally.
The conference, organized by APAV in collaboration with other partners served as a valuable platform for discussing the preliminary outcomes of the project and sharing the newly developed intercultural digital toolkit – IAPHP Toolkit. This toolkit, designed to support professionals and migrant women, aims to enhance the identification and response to harmful practices.
The event was officially opened with welcoming remarks from José dos Santos Costa, President of IPV, and Sandra Ribeiro, President of CIG, who set the tone for the discussions and underscored the importance of continued collaboration and knowledge-sharing in addressing these critical issues.
Thanks to the project the partners together have:
- Delivered 26 trainings for 600+ frontline practitioners
- Hosted 17 awareness sessions for 300+ migrant women and community member
- Developed the IAPHP Toolkit—a practical resource for frontline practitioners tackling harmful practices
Several impactful presentations explored the experiences and challenges currently faced in the field of raising awareness about harmful practices. Among them, a dedicated case study highlighted the Portuguese experience in tackling these harmful practices, offering valuable insights into the country’s approach. The conference was in addition attended by Margarida Balseiro Lopes, Minister of Youth and Modernisation of Portugal, who shared her insights on the topic.
The panel discussion, moderated by Antonio De Martin (Senior Project Manager, VSE), highlighted the challenges and successes of training and awareness-raising initiatives focused on harmful practices. The panellists included Ana Neves (CIG), Harry Tabakis (PRAKSIS), Lia Lombardi (ISMU), and Larisa Spahic (VSE), who shared insights from their experiences.
The session began with an exploration of training programs aimed at closing knowledge gaps among EU professionals and communities, outlining their structure, objectives, and the challenges encountered. The panellists also reflected on key lessons learned and shared feedback from participants. The discussion then shifted to raising awareness among migrant and refugee women, using methods like community engagement, storytelling, and multimedia tools to address sensitive issues. Strategies for creating open, non-judgmental spaces were discussed, along with positive feedback and real-life examples of how these initiatives empowered women. The session concluded with confirmation of the availability of online training modules for further engagement.
Overall, the conference represented a crucial opportunity to discuss the key findings of the project and bring together influential figures in the field.
