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MONIKA Multicultural Women’s Association

ANNUAL REPORT 2007

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1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. SERVICES FOR THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION 3

2.1. MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTRE MONIKA 4

2.1.1. THE RESOURCE CENTRE IN HELSINKI 4

2.1.2. THE RESOURCE CENTRES IN REGIONS - VANTAA 5

2.1.3. THE RESOURCE CENTRES IN KEMI-TORNIO AND TURKU 5

2.1.4. THE RESOURCE CENTRE IN ESPOO 6

2.2. THE SHELTER MONA HOME 7

2.2.1. THE CLIENTS AND ACTIVITIES 7

3. PROFESSIONAL KNOW-HOW AND INFLUENCE AT SOCIETAL LEVEL 8

3.1. STATEMENTS 9

4. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES 9

4.1. SUPPORT PERSON EDUCATION 9

4.2. SEMINARS AND LECTURES 10

5. INFORMING 10

5.1. VISIBILITY IN THE MEDIA 11

6. PROJECTS 11

IDENTIFYING THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VIOLENCE AND HELPING VICTIMS

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FAMILY WORK IN THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE 12

THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FROM

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 12

PREVENTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN AND YOUTH 12

DEVELOPING THE WORK WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH 12

MULTICULTURAL RICHNESS (MOKURI) 13

7. MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS 13

8. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 13

9. PERSONEL AND OFFICE ROOMS 14

10. THE ECONOMY 14

APPENDIX 15

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1. INTRODUCTION

The year 2007 was the ninth operational year for the MONIKA Multicultural Womens´s Association. In the end of the year the members of the association comprised of 14 nationally working multicultural organizations, through which about 20 000 personal members were reached. In the association were 25 multicultural whole-day employees. An increase in the demand for the services nationally was typical for the year 2007. The number of clients increased in all service provisions from the former years. In addition as a part of the development of the organization new offices were established in Mikkeli, Kajaani and Kemi-Tornio. More work than in former years was also done through all kinds of channels of experts and awareness rising. The association took part in the group of professional experts for the Program of Internal Security of the Ministry of the Interior and was the chairman for the organization ETNO (the Ethnic Relations Consultative Committee) in its working group the Politics of Integration and Ethnic Equality and the Finnish representative for the EU working group Equal Rights – Equal Voices of Migrant Women. The executive director Reet Nurmi attended the reception on the Finnish Independent Day 6.12.2007 invited by the President of the Republic. An important step of progress was experienced in December, when the Finland´s Slot Machine Association granted a general subsidy for the work of the organization. Becoming stable of the financing foundation makes possible the implementation and development of the activities following the rules of the association. The economical development of the organization was also in other ways positive in all service provisions, in project- and other financing the turnover of the organization grew.

2. SERVICES FOR THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION

The demand of the services has increased smoothly during the ten operational years. The increase has been especially strong during the annual year, the number of clients has increased compared to the former year from 443 clients to 625 clients. The growth has been particularly extensive in the number of contacts: during the last year there have been 4539 contacts from the immigrants, in the year 2006 there were altogether only 1934 contacts. YEAR 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 ALTOGETHER

CLIENTS 49 147 26 62 93 271 314 443 625 2030

CONTACTS 49 147 104 232 453 1307 1113 1934 4539 9878

The services have been offered in the Multicultural Resource Centres in Helsinki, Vantaa, Kemi-Tornio and Turku as well as in the Shelter for Immigrant Women - Mona Home. In addition the association has held a 24 –hour telephone helpline. The special characters of the services included crises and rehabilitation services in 19 languages. The services were provided by multicultural employees specialized in the field of social welfare and health care.

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2.1. MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTRE MONIKA

The Monika Multicultural Women’s Association established in the year 2001 the Resource Centre Monika for helping immigrant women and children facing domestic violence in Helsinki, with the support from the City of Helsinki and the Finland´s Slot Machine Association. In the year 2005 the Multicultural Resource Centre expanded its activities also to Vantaa and in the year 2006 to Espoo. Since the year 2006 the resource centres have offered easy access services also in Kemi-Tornio and in Turku with the funding from the Finland´s Slot Machine Association. The main aim of the resource centres is to offer easily reachable easy access crises services, to stop the circle of violence and support the woman´s independent skills of action and skills of controlling their own life. Other goals are the prevention of the marginalization of immigrant women and their children, the prevention of the re-occurring of the violence and realization of the human rights of the immigrant women and promoting their integration. New challenges for the aid work are honour related violence and trafficking. The services provided by the Resource Centre include:

- Reception for the immigrant women and children who have experienced violence

- Juridical counselling, support persons activity, guiding to basic services - Empowerment of the women in support peer groups, support in gaining control over their own

life

2.1.1. THE RESOURCE CENTRE IN HELSINKI

The Resource Centre in Helsinki had during the last year 347 clients and altogether 1781 client contacts. The number increased from the last year when the Resource Centre had 274 clients and altogether 1497 client contacts. Since the year 2006 altogether 57 women have been clients in the Resource Centre, some even since the year 2005. The increase in the number of clients tells that the operation of the centre is better known than before and the groups of women that are not easy to reach are reached more widely than before. Most of the clients of the Resource Centre are coming from Russia, but the number of women from other countries of origin is increasing constantly. During the last year the clients originated from altogether 42 countries. Services were provided in Russian, Finnish, Kurdish, Estonian, Spanish, Arabic and French. According to the statics of the Resource Centre the violence faced by immigrant women and children has brutalized. At the same time the violence experienced by particularly the children has increased. During the last year 28 cases of killing threat and 19 cases of honour related violence were worked with.

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Although trafficking as a phenomenon is still new for the workers, four victims of trafficking were identified in the Resource Centre. One of them was guided to the system of assistance services. Most of the clients were 35-44 years old. The number of young, 25-34 years old women has increased. The young clients are mostly second generation immigrants and women married to second generation immigrant men. In the year 2007 the share of electric transaction increased evidently. E-mail contacts have been coming from mothers with small children living outside the capital city area and having problems with travelling due to the distances. In the year 2007 the staff of the Research Centre included the coordinator for the client work, two supervisors and student trainees according to a contract. The operation was sponsored by the Finland´s Slot Machine Association (AK) and the city of Helsinki. The Resource Centre is located in the address Kinaporinkatu 2A 8, 00500 Helsinki

2.1.2. THE RESOURCE CENTRES IN REGIONS - VANTAA

At the Resource Centre Monika in Vantaa the number of clients increased during the annual year. In the year 2007 there were 108 clients and altogether 1317 client contacts, whereas in the year 2006 there were altogether 60 clients and 302 client contacts. Most of the clients came from the capital city area. Altogether 73,2 % of the clients originated from Russia. In addition there were clients from Finland and Estonia, but also clients from individual countries. The languages used in the services were Russian, Finnish, French and English. Most of the clients were 25-44 years old. Half of the clients had children under age 18. During the year 2007 the violence in the family was aimed directly at the child in ten cases. The guidance was then carried out in cooperation with a worker from the Child Welfare. In addition the Resource Centre had five male clients who came looking for aid because of their own violent behaviour or the violent behaviour of their spouses. These clients were guided to services aimed for men, for instance the Crises Centre for Men or the Men´s Line project. During the past year the Resource Centre in Vantaa did close cooperation with the immigrant actors in the area. The workers informed of their activities in several forums, attended weekly the women´s Cafe Myyring and were on duty once a week at the information point held by the MoniRinki. Two support persons worked at the Resource Centre in Vantaa. Guidance of the client work and planning of the work was supported by the client work coordinator of the Resource Centre in Helsinki. The activities were carried out with support from the social and health board of the city of Vantaa.

2.1.3. THE RESOURCE CENTRES IN KEMI-TORNIO AND TURKU

The activities of the regional Resource Centres increased and the number of clients grew during the annual year. In the year 2007 Kemi-Tornio Resource Centre was visited by 24 clients, in Turku there were 57 clients. Client work was done by telephone in Kemi 121 times and in Turku 858 times. In

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Kemi – Tornio (70%) as well in Turku (50%) most of the clients originated from Russia. Another abundantly presented country of origin was Estonia (Kemi-Tornio 8,3 %, Turku 24 %). The individual clients originated from countries like Kazakhstan, Burma, Iran, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus and Germany. The project for transferring the easy access service activities to the regions started in the year 2006 with the funding from the Finland´s Slot Machine Association. In the Multicultural Resource Centre in Kemi-Tornio the Crises Centre is situated in the premises of Turvapoiju in the connexion with the Intervention Project for Prevention of Domestic Violence. Kemi, Tornio, Simo, Keminmaa, Tervola and Ylitornio are included in the operational area. In the regional point there was one worker during the annual year. In addition the work was supported by a regional multidisciplinary supervisory group. The services were provided in English, Estonian, Russian and Finnish. In addition the national network of multiethnic support persons from the Monika-Women´s Association was used (16 different languages). In Turku the Turku region´s Ingrian Finns returnee migrants (TSIP ry) is responsible for the actual operation of the Resource Centre together with the Monika Women´s Association. The activity is taking place in the rooms of TSIP in Sepänkatu 5. In the Resource Centre in Turku the employees were one half-time coordinator and one support person. The clients and client contact us the year 2007 Kemi-Tornio the year 2007 Turku

Clients 24 57 Visits by clients 47 31 Telephone calls by clients /guidance 121 858 Working in the field (client accompanied 12 306 by a worker when visiting offices) Information / -visits 37 26 Media 3 -

Altogether 244 1278

2.1.4. THE RESOURCE CENTRE IN ESPOO

In the year 2007 the founding of the Resource Centre in Espoo was continuing with the funding from the social welfare and health care board. Annually 7-8% of the clients of the resource centres in Helsinki and Vantaa came from Espoo. Negotiations for founding a local service point have taken place with the authorities of the city actively during several years and the need for a local resource centre has been acknowledged largely. Rooms for a resource centre have however not yet been received. Getting the operation started requires employing a working pair that could in addition to the client work concentrate in creating a local network and spreading information. The association has trained 11

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volunteer workers with education on the social welfare and health care field and with immigrant background for supporting the work in Espoo.

2.2. THE SHELTER MONA HOME

Mona Home provides crises and special services for multicultural women and children who have experienced violence and are living under the threat of it. The inhabitants of the Mona Home are in immediate life threat among others because of domestic violence, threats of killing or honor related violence. Mona Home was the first refugee founded in Finland for immigrant women and children who have faced violence and the only refugee operating in a secret address. The services are registered in the register of private producers of social services in Southern Finland. Mona Home is functioning with financial obligations appropriated by the municipals. In addition the Finland´s Slot Machinery Association is supporting the development of the Mona Home in the form of a project. The operation of the Mona Home started in the year 2004. The forms of working of the Mona Home:

- Crises help - Psychosocial support (according to the possibilities

support conversations in the clients own mother tongue, creating social networks, helping in coping with the everyday life)

- Operating problem solving centred - Maintaining coping - Social rehabilitation - Organizing secure accommodation - Charting the situation of the client, planning the service

activities - Concrete guidance and support in dealing with

different authorities - Serving as cultural interpreters and bridge builders with

different authorities - Organizing the services after the residence period

2.2.1. THE CLIENTS AND ACTIVITIES

During the year 2007 there were 60 women and 29 children living in the Mona Home. The number of inhabitants grew from the earlier years: in the year 2006 there were 45 women and 41 children living in the shelter and one year earlier 26 women and 14 children. The increase in the number of clients appeared in the intensive growth of the charging degree of the Mona Home. The charging degree was at its lowest in May (46 %) and at its highest in February (143%). During the last year the average of the charging degree was 97%, in other words almost hundred percent. The clients came mostly from the capital city area, but also from other cities. In the year 2007 the clients originated from 21 different countries. Most of the clients lived in the shelter 1-50 days.

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The reason for coming to the shelter was all sorts of violence, which could be aimed at the woman but also to the child or children. In most of the cases the experienced violence was mental or verbal violence, physical violence, economic violence, threats of killing or violence or sexual violence. Often the violence experienced or the threat of it had been continuing, daily and the difficulties were often related to intoxicants. In most of the cases the violence faced by the client had lasted less than a year or 1-3 years. During the last year the activities of the Mona Home were developed by composing among others guiding directions related to identifying victims of honour related violence and trafficking and aid work. In the summer 2007 Mona Home was visited by the first client in Finland coming through the assistance network for helping victims of trafficking and was so the first “officially” recognized victim of trafficking in Finland. The knowledge of the shelter has improved and networking in the field of violence work /work related to violence has increased. The development project funded by the Finland´s Slot Machinery Association has made it easier to spread information concerning the activities to the basic services, like to the social welfare, to the Police, to the Office for Alien Affairs and to the organizations working with immigrants. Knowledge of the activity has also spread among the immigrants when old clients have recounted about the service in their communities. Increase in the employee´s professional knowledge profiting trainings and accumulating work experience has improved preparedness to reach the persons in need of aid. There were working in the director of the shelter, the social supervisor, the project coordinator, a psychologist/ supervisor and a supervisor in the Mona Home. In addition the supervisor was supported in volunteer work by volunteers with immigrant background who had been educated by the association.

3. PROFESSIONAL KNOW-HOW AND INFLUENCE AT SOCIETAL LEVEL

In the year 2007 professional know-how and advocacy work was continuing among the authorities and the communal decision makers through advocating in legislation, making propositions and statements, acting in national and international work groups (see the appendix 3) and in consultative committees in the field. The aim of the advocacy work was to enhance knowledge among different authorities and quarters working with immigrants in questions related to ethnic equality and recognizing violence and assisting the victims. Especially enhancing the welfare of the immigrants in the weakest positions, supporting their participation in the society and promoting societal equality were the topics presented in different contexts at the national and international level. One of the most important channels of advocacy activity was in the year 2007 the group of experts for the Program of Internal Security in the Minister of Interior and ETNO:s (the Ethnic Relations Consultative Committee) the Politics of Integration and Ethnic Equality of the Organizations – a work group, in which the managing director of the association served as the chairman.

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3.1. STATEMENTS

During the year 2007 the association gave altogether three statements. In addition the association took part in the joint statements composed by the Finnish Observatory on Violence Against Women and Amnesty´s Some Border – working committee.

- Operational Program for Sexual and Reproduction health 7 2007-2010 (Stakes 15.3.2007) - UN; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

(CEDAW), Finland’s fixed-term rapport (Ministry of Foreign Affairs 11.5.2007) - Adjustment of strategy for Human Trafficking (Ministry of Labour 20.11.2007) - The Finnish Observatory on Violence Against Women’s proposal on registration of so called

Woman’s Peace Paragraph to the government program (to government negotiator 11.4.2007) - Statement of The Finnish Observatory on Violence Against Women’s report on Centralization

of Coordination and Know-how of Prevention of Family Violence (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 23.5.2007)

- Contention of NGO’s to establish a Coordination Unit for Family Violence (for the ministers 20.10.2007)

4. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

During the past year the association organized education in different parts of Finland in questions concerning multiculturalism, ethnic equality and violence against immigrant women. The target group of the education was professionals in the field of social welfare and health care, different authorities and organizations, workers in the field of social welfare and health care who participated voluntarily in the operation of the association and women with immigrant background, for whom the organized support person education enhances their opportunities for employment.

4.1. SUPPORT PERSON EDUCATION

During the year 2007 the association organized altogether four support persons educations lasting 40 hours. Altogether 66 women with immigrant background and Finnish women participated in these educations. The educations were organized in Helsinki and Mikkeli. The educations give many-sided know-how concerning work against violence and preparedness to work as a support person for an immigrant woman who has experienced violence. The trainers were workers from the Monika-Women´s Association and other experts of violence work (shelters, health care, police, organizations). The education is free of costs for the participants. Trainings for support persons have been organized in different parts of Finland since the year 2005.

- Three educations were organized in Helsinki. The education were participated by 50 participants who spoke altogether 11 languages: English, Spanish, Indonesian, Italy, French, Swedish, German, Finnish, Turkish, Estonian and Russian. Altogether 15 volunteers of the participants of the education have taken part in the activities of the association for some four hours in a week. Other educated persons have participated less in the activities.

- In Mikkeli the education was organized in co-operation with the organization Omega ry. The education was accomplished by altogether 16 participants, who spoke altogether 17 languages, Arabic, Amhara, Dari, Dinka, English, Hindi, Italy, Persian, French, Swedish, Roma, Finnish, Tagalogi, Tamili, Tegulu, Russian, Estonian.

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4.2. SEMINARS AND LECTURES

In the year 2007 the association organized altogether nine educational seminars in different parts of Finland. The educations were aimed at authorities, workers of organizations in the immigrant and refugee field, journalists, students and larger public. The aim of the educations directed at authorities and organizations was to make violence faced by the immigrant women visible and provide tools for identifying victims of violence and helping them. A tool for education was the guide published by the association: “Immigrant Women and Violence. Guide for assistance work in the social welfare and health care” (Kyllönen-Saarnio & Reet Nurmi 2005). The seminar themes were:

- The special features of the violence directed at immigrant women (immigrant women in Finland, the special features of violence, the means of helping, the easy access service model of work for helping).

- Supporting an immigrant woman who has experienced domestic violence. - The immigrants as mothers – what the personnel in the day care should take into consideration

in cooperation with parents from different cultures. In the education practical advices were given for helping the multicultural encounters of the workers.

- The aim of the education was to provide the personnel with tools for understanding what the honor related violence is, how it is appearing and how to interfere in it.

- The special features of the violence directed at women in global Finland

The workers lectured during the past year as invited speakers in several occasions in different parts of Finland. The themes were among others the special characteristics of violence faced by the immigrant women, the principles of violence work and multiculturalism in a work community.

- The seminar of violence work in Kirkkonummi 14.3.2007 (60 participants) - Education for students 19.4. and 2.10. Helsinki Deaconess Institute (50 participants) - Education for the volunteers of the Women´s line 21.4.2007 - Education for volunteer workers, Parasta lapsille (the Best for Children organization) 15.9.2007 - Men´s Line – the final seminar of the project 25.10.2007 (120 participants) - Education for the students 15.11.2007, Adulta - Violence work seminar, Vantaa 23.11.2007 - Education for the workers, Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, 25.5.2007 - Different kind of learners – shop of multiculturalism, 15.11.2007 Helsinki (10 participants) - Education of multiculturalism, Diaconia Polytechnic 15.11.2007 (10 participants)

5. INFORMING

The goal of the information service is to support the activities of MONIKA, especially informing about the services and preventing enlightenment work. The target groups of the informing were the professionals of the social welfare and health care and other authorities, immigrant and refugee workers, organizations, teachers, students, journalists, decision makers and the immigrant population. The association produced a new general brochure and a brochure of the activities of the Multicultural Resource Centre for the authorities and the interest groups. The office of graphical design ZonaSur was responsible for the design of the brochures. The association produced brochures aimed at clients in different languages (Spanish, English, Tagalogi, Somali, Thai, Hindi, French, Kurdish, Persian).in order to reach the immigrant women.

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5.1. VISIBILITY IN THE MEDIA

The association was visibly exposed in different media during the last year; the workers were interviewed 13 times in newspapers and five times in television. The articles written by the employees were published in different media two times. Newspaper articles and interviews

- Violence; a serious problem of the immigrant women / journal Apu 16.2.2007 - The victim of honor related violence is badly in need of support / Equality 2/ 2007 - The shelter helps forward / Helsinki Info 2/ 2007 - Half of the immigrant women are suffering from violence / Pohjolan Sanomat 22.2.2007 - The prevention of honor related violence is important / Stadin Ruusu 4 / 2007 - An own ministry for immigrant affairs / Helsingin Sanomat 17.4.2007 - The immigrant children are suffering from violence / Suomenmaa 6.7.2007 - You have to leave immediately / Helsingin Sanomat 14.10.2007 - Presentation of an organization: Monika Multicultural Women´s Association / Kepa´s externet

/ Lokakuu 2007 - The violent actions must prevented by amending the law / Helsingin Sanomat 16.10.2007 - Presentation of the organization in Russian in the net page of the Office for Drug and Alcohol

Abuse of the city of Helsinki / October 2007 - The tradition of the honor related violence is strong / Länsi-Savo 10.11.2007 - The violence against immigrant women – an obstacle for integration / RIKU journal by the

Crime Victims Emergency Duty

Television and radio interviews

- TV 1 / 28.2.2007 - Mundo / 16.4.2007 - MTV3 News / 31.5.2007

- Police TV - YLE Morning-TV 5.9.2007

The big happening “Many kinds are learning – I learn, you learn, we are learning!” organized in Helsinki at the Paasitorni (6.-8.9.2007) was participated. It was the main happening of the Week of the Adult Student and at the same time the traditional seminar of the Finnish Diverse Learner´s Association on the UN Literacy Day. The association had in the event a presentation table of its own, where information of the activities of the organization was distributed. In addition the activities were presented in a multicultural workshop. The association participated in the festival World village Festival (26.-27.5.2007) organized by the Service Centre for Development Cooperation in Kaisaniemi in Helsinki. The association had its own presentation table at the fair.

6. PROJECTS

IDENTIFYING THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VIOLENCE AND HELPING VICTIMS

In the project there were organized educational events for identifying and preventing violence against immigrant women and girls and helping the victims. The educations were aimed at workers in the field of social welfare and health care, workers in the labor administration, workers in the reception centers, organizations working in the field of multiculturalism and the police. The trainings were organized in Kuopio, Kotka, Kouvola, Tampere, Jyväskylä and Kemi in cooperation with the local social welfare

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offices and organizations. The project was carried out with the support from the National Council for Crime Prevention of the Ministry of Justice.

FAMILY WORK IN THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

In the project there were organized 7 family club meetings for Iraq families and couples. The aim of the project was to enhance knowledge in the Iraq families concerning Finnish legislation and to prevent so far instance culturally inherited injurious customs (honor related violence, forced marriages). In the events there was an interpreter present, who made it possible to present questions and have conversation in the participants own mother tongue. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Monika Women´s Association and Iraq Women´s Association and with the support from the National Council for Crime Prevention of the Ministry of Justice. In the events there were speakers from among others the representatives from the Perheliitto (the Association for the Family), the Finnish League for Human Rights, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, the Iraq Women´s Association, Monica Women´s Association and the police. The family clubs were participated altogether by 81 Iraq men and women living in the capital city area. They attended the event with 34 children, for whom there was organized child care during the event.

THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The project had three organized seminars, one in Mikkeli and two in Pori about the special characteristics of the violence against women from developing countries. The seminars were directed to authorities, professionals in the field of social welfare, teachers, organizations and media. The themes of the educations were the psycho-social well-being of multicultural families, the special characteristics of violence against women and girls (female genital mutilation, honor related violence), their prevention and helping the victims. The seminars were planned and organized in cooperation with the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare Southern Finland district Amoral project, the KokoNainen project of the Finnish League for Human Rights, the Family Foundation Kotipuu project and local co-working partners. The seminars had altogether 207 participants. The project was carried out with the funds for development information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

PREVENTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN AND YOUTH

The project, which started in the year 2007, aims at providing families with immigrant background information in their own mother tongue of the legislation related to the prevention of violence and of the service system for helping victims of violence. A project coordinator was employed for the project, starting from November 2007. In the year 2008 there will be organized conversational events in Somali, Kurdish, Russian and Estonian for the families in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Turku and Kemi in the project. The project is funded by the National Council for Crime Prevention of the Ministry of Justice.

DEVELOPING THE WORK WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH

The work done among the children and the youth living in the Mona Home was developed in the project among others by organizing group and club activities and organizing a summer camp for children and the youth in Rymättylä in August 2007. The project was participated by altogether 28

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children and young people who had lived in the Mona Home during the last year. The project was part of larger development work concerning work with children and youth, which aims at attracting attention to the consequences of the violence from the part of the child and creating culturally sensitive methods suitable for children and youth of different ages and coming from different cultures for their rehabilitation from traumas caused by violence. The project was carried out with the funding from the Ministry of Education.

MULTICULTURAL RICHNESS (MOKURI)

The multicultural richness (MOKURI) – network project was supporting the immigrants in participating and influencing at societal level and promoting mutual cooperation of the immigrant actors for instance with visits of employees, meetings, publicity and other kinds of contacts. The project was carried out in cooperation with the member organizations of the Monika Women´s Association and other immigrant women activists in the network. The project started the reshaping of the internet pages of the association in order to make them serve better the member organizations, the immigrant organizations were listened about their expectations and needs, small scale advising and guiding related to associational activity was carried out and information material was produced for the use of the network. The project was carried out with the funding of the Ministry of Education.

7. MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

In the year 2007 the association had 14 nationally working member organizations (see Appendix 1.), through which about 20 000 personal members were reached. The member organizations promoted with their activities equality and multiculturalism and provided services and activities for people who had come to Finland. The cooperation with the member organizations was during the annual year quite small scale because the action had not separate funding. Cooperation was made through the operation of the Mokuri network, trough informing about the activities of the member organizations and listening to the opinions and proposals of the organizations among others when giving statements. The aim of the member association activity was 1) developing the networking of the member organizations in aiming at reaching the marginalized women or the women in danger of marginalization; 2) rising awareness among immigrants about the activity possibilities of organizations of citizens and volunteer work; 3) influencing the immigrant politics, enhancing the immigrants civic abilities and equal participation in the Finnish organizational activities; 4) promoting with the aid of informing (KORJAA) the integration of the immigrants in Finland; 5) securing the mental and physical coping of the immigrants, particularly of the women, and sustaining their motivation; 6) promoting the cherishing of the own language and culture as a positive resource; 7) enhancing nationally the cooperating among the organizations and with the authorities and actors in the municipal sector.

8. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

The Monika Women´s Association was collaborating internationally during the past year trough several projects and working of networks. The employees participated as invited speaker in following international meetings and seminars:

- The seminar of violence work, St. Petersburg 16.-18.2.2007, organized by the city of St. Petersburg - HIV / AIDS and Young Migrant – training, Romania, Brasov 21-22.8.2007, organized by the

Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe – organization

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- Strengthened cooperation against trafficking in women – from national to regional strategies – network meeting, Vilna 4.-5.10.2007, organized by the European Women´s Lobby

- Nordic workshop about violence against immigrant women, Oslo 20.-21.10.2007, organized by the Scandinavian Research Council for Criminology (NSfK) and The Norwegian National Crime Prevention Council (KRÅD)

The executive director Meri-Helen Forsberg from the Swedish National Federation of Immigrant Women Association, (RIFFI), visited Monika Women´s Association in 4.5.2007.

9. PERSONEL AND OFFICE ROOMS

The office personnel of the association (see Appendix 4.) increased during the annual year. As new officials started the financing secretary, the project coordinator for the undertaking the Violence Against Immigrant Children and the coordinator for the Mona Home. The main office of the association was situated in Helsinki, the local service points worked in Kemi-Tornio, Turku and Vantaa. During the year the national organizational activity of the association was developed and the district offices started their work in Kajaani, Kemi-Tornio and Mikkeli. The association rented office rooms in Helsinki from the Probation Foundation Finland. The main office is located in Helsinki in the address Kinaporinkatu 2 A 8, 00500 Helsinki and the Resource Centre in Helsinki in the address Kinaporinkatu 2 B 19, 00500 Helsinki. The Mona Home is located in a secret address in apartments of the size 130 m2, 20m2 and 86m2. The local places of service are located inVantaa in the address Liesitori 3, 01600 Vantaa, in Kemi Etelärantakatu 6, 94100 Kemi, in Turku Sepänkatu 5, 20700Turku. During the year development and network days were organized regularly for the personnel. In January network and education days were organized in Helsinki. The development days were participated by the personnel from Helsinki and Vantaa and cooperating partners from Turku, Kemi-Tornio, Oulu and Mikkeli. In August development and planning days were organized in Rymättylä. The planning days were participated by the personnel of the association from Helsinki and Vantaa and regional cooperating partners from Turku, Kemi-Tornio and Mikkeli. The themes discussed were the ongoing undertakings and projects, sexual violence: questioning, guiding and advising; the identification of trafficking victims and helping them, the central legislation; developing the networking and becoming acquainted with the co-working partners and bell-being at work. In December the employees gathered together to the development days in Tallinn. The days were participated by the personnel from Helsinki, Vantaa, Turku and Kemi-Tornio: the themes of the development days were among others the development and maintaining of the well-being in the work, the situation of the local undertaking and development of the networking co-operation.

10. THE ECONOMY

In the year 2007 the association received support for its operation altogether 354 400 E. The biggest supporters were The Slot Machine Association and the city of Helsinki. Other supporters were the city of Vantaa, the city of Espoo, Ministry of Justice, The Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Foreign

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Affairs, Stiftelsen Den 7:nde Mars Fonden and Soroptimists International of Finland. Accounting services were bought from the Laskentapaikka Oy. The auditing of the accounts was made by the chartered accountant office Ernst & Young.

APPENDIX

Appendix 1.

MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Africans and African-European´s Association Association of Nigerian´s in Finland Azadeh ry Finnish Thai Association Golis-Women Southern Kurdistan Women´s Association Iraqi Women´s Association Omega Women´s Centre in Oulu Monica Women´s Association in Oulu Finnish Philippine Association Finland-Sudan society Turku district Association of the Ingrian Finns Returnee migrants Wadajir Appendix 2.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The chairman Minna Sinkkonen

Teresita Ruutu, the Finnish –Philippines Association Sajiphan Koponen, Thai Association ry Secretary Merja Björn-Stenman, the Monika Women´s Association Elvi Sirkel, the Ingrian Finns returnees RY Ala Sayeed, the Iraq Women´s Association Amran Mohamed Ahmed, the Golis Women Association Fatima Usma, AFAES ry Miriam Attias, the Monika Women´s Association in Oulu Introducer Reet Nurmi Gathered together seven times. Appendix 3.

MEMBERSHIPS IN WORK GROUPS

APPOINTED BY THE

GOVERNEMENT AND GUIDING

GROUPS FOR DEVELOPING

COORDINATION AMONG THE

ORGANIZATIONS

The Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO), set by the Ministry of Interior The work section of ETNO (vice-president) Work group of ETNO for Organizations Integration and Ethnic Equality Politics (chairman) Internal Security Program -expert committee (Ministry of Interior) Direction group for the National Working Program for Preventing Trafficking (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Direction group Against Trafficking (Ministry of Labour) Information Work Group against Trafficking (Ministry of Labour) Direction group of Council of Europe on Campaign against Violence Against Women (STM) Communication group of Council of Europe on Campaign against Violence Against Women (STM) Immigration and Development – working group (Kehys ry) Nordic Baltic Pilot project – Assistance and Support to Women Victims of Trafficking – national work group (European Women´s Lobby EWL) Equal Rights – Equal Voices of Migrant Women – Representative of Finland in the EU network (EWL) The Finnish Observatory on Violence Against Women JOKU RAJA – Work Committee (Amnesty) The State Provincial Office of Southern Finland, Violence-Work expert committee Rasmus Women –network MoniRinki –projects work group SISTERS projects work group (Girl’s House)

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Amoral project direction group (the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare Southern Finland district) OVI –projects work group (The Finnish Association for Mental Health) The Finnish Adult Education Centre of the City of Helsinki board of management European Network of Migrant Women: WG3 Migration and development, WG5 Violence against women, WG6 Employment Appendix 4.

THE PERSONEL The administration The managing director Reet Nurmi The development manager Jenni Tuominen The information officer Kirsi Moilanen Financial secretary Miia And Office worker Ljudmila Putkinen Project coordinator Anna Piskonen The Resource Centre Monika in Helsinki Coordinator Natalie Gerbert Supervisor Ljudmila Kettunen Supervisor Nadia Anttonen Supervisor Nasima Razmyar Support person Aude Brisset The Resource Centre in Vantaa Support person Anita Boudeoud Support person Svetlana Valkovski The Resource Centre in Kemi-Tornio Coordinator Viktoria Karvonen

The Resource Centre in Turku Coordinator Elvi Sirkel Support person Le Thi Mai Trinh The Mona Home (the refugee) Correspondent Elen Nerman (27.12.06-27.12.07) Director Ljudmila Kettunen (1.12.07 alkaen) Social supervisor Nnenna Allinen-Calderon (1.12.06 alkaen) Social supervisor Kaija Grundell (1.1.-30.6-07) Project coordinator Elina Saaristo Supervisor Bassma Chaoki Support person Shahla Rostem Supervisor Natalia Shevkunova

Support person Neida Cabello Nousiainen (started as a trainer) Therapist Silja Westermarck 8 Trainers and students along the year Appendix 5.

THE COOPERATING PARTNERS Amnesty International The Law Firm Asianaiset Housing services, for instance, the Housing Affairs Division of the City of Helsinki, Valtion vuokraosuuskunta (VVO, SATO) Diaconia Polytechnic The Mother and Child Homes and Shelters The Ethnic Relations Consultative Committee, ETNO/The Advisary Board for Ethnic Relation Helsinki Deaconess Institute The Parish Union of Helsinki The Cities of Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo The Finnish League for Human Rights, the KokoNainen project The Finnish League for Human Rights International network in the Nordic Countries and the Baltic countries The Social Insurance Institution of Finland The Service Centre for Development Cooperation The Probation Foundation Finland The International Cultural Centre Caisa The Child Day Care and schools Laurea Polytechnic The Consultation Services for Foreigners, the Immigration Unit The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare Southern Finland district Amoral project The member organizations of the Monica women´s Association Multicultural Psychosociopedagogical Centre Myyrinki, open meeting place, Vantaa The League of Finnish Feminists The Women´s line in Finland NYTKIS, the Coalition of Finish Women´s Organizations The legal aid office The Ministry of Justice/The National Council for Crime Prevention The Ministry of Education

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The Administrative board of the city of Oulu the near distance areal collaboration in Kostamus The police The Victim Support Finland The Ministry of Interior The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health The social welfare authorities, the Child Welfare, the social workers, the Social Emergency Duty The Finnish Association for Mental Health The Finnish Refugee Council

TE-centre The authorities in the health care: the hospitals, the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, the health care centres, the doctors, the nurses The interpretation services / the volunteering interpreters The Ministry of Labour The Employment Service Agency The Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Family Federation The Family Federation, Kotipuu

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The MONIKA Multicultural Womens´s Association

www.monikanaiset.fi info@monikanaiset.fi

firstname.lastname@monikanaiset.fi Kinaporinkatu 2 A 8, 00550 Helsinki

PL 103, 00501 Helsinki (09) 7279 9999

The Resource Centre Monika

National 24 –hour telephone helpline Monday to Sunday 24h

(09) 692 2304

The Resource Centre Monika in Vantaa Liesitori 3, 01600 Vantaa

Open Monday to Friday 10-14 vantaa@monikanaiset.fi

(09) 839 35013

The Resource Centre Monika in Turku Sepänkatu 5, 20700 Turku

Open Monday to Friday 10-14 turku@monikanaiset.fi

(044) 564 0008

The Resource Centre Monika in Kemi Eteläranta 6, 94100 Kemi

Open Monday to Friday 10-14 kemi@monikanaiset.fi

(045) 114 7595

Mona Home More information

phone (09) 692 2304