Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Women’s Wellness Initiative in Sweden

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My name is Soror Lind. I am a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Welcome to the information page for the Women’s Wellness Initiative I am running in Sweden. I am a military wife and a member of our Sorority’s Military Initiatives Ad Hoc Committee Task Force. I am the lead for coordinating and maintaining contact with our active duty and retired Sorors and military family outside of the United States.

Since joining our illustrious Sorority in 2020, this is my first international service project. I chose Women’s and Girls Shelters across Sweden that serve domestic abuse victims. Why is this important? Here are some facts from the World Health Organization.

Violence against women

Key facts – Here is the source and link for more information.
  • Violence against women – particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence – is a major public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights.
  • Estimates published by WHO indicate that globally about 1 in 3 (30%) of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
  • Most of this violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one-third (27%) of women aged 15-49 years who have been in a relationship report that they have been subjected to some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner.
  • Violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health, and may increase the risk of acquiring HIV in some settings.
  • Violence against women is preventable. The health sector has an important role to play to provide comprehensive health care to women subjected to violence, and as an entry point for referring women to other support services, they may need.

Additional shelters to support may be added. Some shelters provide housing, while others offer different services. You are able to choose which shelter you want to support by either donating hygiene articles or money directly to the shelter.

In Sweden, women’s and girls’ shelters are organized by Roks.

Roks.se

Roks, the National Organisation for Women’s Shelters and Young Women’s Shelters in Sweden, is the largest member organization for women’s shelters and young women’s shelters in the country. Roks aims at safeguarding the common interests of the shelters in their work against male violence toward women.

Roks strives to shape public opinion, and actively works to make the public aware of the reality that the shelters face, as well as to conduct outward dialogues around the issues concerning the shelters. There are currently around 100 women’s and young women’s shelters within the organization.

Roks is a feministic organization working on the rights of women and young women’s rights and liberation, as well as equality on all levels. 
 

The Women’s Shelters

Each shelter is independent with its own working methods. However, what all the shelters have in common is an emergency helpline where women and young women can call if they need support. All callers can choose to remain anonymous should they so wish, and no one is registered.

The women’s shelters offer support based on the individual needs and wishes of each woman. Perhaps she needs to talk about her situation and her current relationship. She might even need advice about a police report or a custody dispute. It could also be about being the victim of sexual abuse, either recently or several years ago. The women working at the shelters provide conversational support and advice and can also go along as support when visiting the police, lawyers, and social services for example. Many shelters also offer sheltered housing for women and their children.

A number of shelters also have a separate legal hotline. Some shelters have text telephones to cater to women with impaired hearing. Other shelters specialize in receiving adults subjected to incest.

Find a Women’s shelter here.
 

The Young Women’s Shelters

There are approximately 30 young women’s shelters within Roks, of which around ten are independent organizations. The young women’s shelters work in much the same way as the women’s shelters but turn to younger women who, for example, have been subjected to threats, ill-treatment, and sexual abuse, or, for some other reason, need to talk to another girl. They also actively work towards making the public aware of the girls’ living conditions. The Young Women’s shelters have their own website at www.rokstjejjourer.se

How you can help regardless of your geographical location

If you are reading this, you may be in a position to help. Below, you are able to learn more about the shelters we are supporting.

You can read more about my Sorority Sigma Gamma Rho’s Women’s Wellness Initiative from this link: bit.ly/MIAHWWISE

You can donate directly to the shelter you would like to support. Those details are below.

You can purchase hygiene articles from Amazon from our list to be delivered to the shelter from this link: bit.ly/MIAHWWI2. Choose Cecilia Heikkinen’s Gift Registry Address for delivery.

If you are familiar with a women’s or girls’ shelter in Sweden we have yet to work with, please share this page with them and email me via adrianne.georgelind (at) sgrhoneregion.org. I am super happy to add them to our list if they accept our help.

Motala Kvinnojour is a non-partisan and non-religious non-profit association that works for a society free from men’s violence and oppression. The on-call service consists of a board, two full-time on-call women, and non-voluntary on-call women. Motala Kvinnojour’s mission is to be a refuge from violence by offering unconditional support for women and children. If you are in Sweden, you can make a cash donation: Swish 123 0298117 Bangiro: 439-6107. Please note SGRHO.
Alla Kvinnors Hus is a non-profit association that is religiously and politically independent. Our way of working is based on help for self-help. We do not register anyone; you can be anonymous and we have a vow of secrecy. We listen, give advice and support and support you in what you want to do. Alla Kvinnors Hus offers, among other things: Help and support if you are exposed to threats or abuse in any form Sheltered housing for those who have to flee your home Support calls and advice Self-help groups for women who have been abused, incest, and sexually abused Support for contact with authorities Education on men’s violence against women Study circles Information to other associations, police, social services and more. If you are in Sweden, you can make a cash donation: Bankgiro 5614-8190 Swish 123 149 81 46. Please note SGRHO.
The Women’s Association against Violence in Karlskoga / Degerfors works against men’s violence against women, girls, and children. We run sheltered housing, open support activities, and dissemination of information in our area. The activity is aimed at anyone who defines themselves as girls or women. Purchase hygiene articles from our Amazon list for direct delivery bit.ly/MIAHWWI2. You can purchase hygiene articles from Amazon from our list to be delivered to the shelter from this link: bit.ly/MIAHWWI2. Choose Cecilia Heikkinen’s Gift Registry Address for delivery. Or if you are in Sweden you can make a cash donation: Swish  1230927590 or Bankgiro 5115-3930. Please note SGRHO.
Stockholm’s girls ‘shelter is Sweden’s first girls’ shelter with 25 years of experience in supporting and strengthening girls and young women. We are a non-profit feminist association that is politically and religiously independent. The purpose of the association is to support and strengthen girls and young women and reduce repeated vulnerability. To us, anyone who defines themselves as girls and young women between the ages of 10-30 from all over the country can turn to us for support and help. We are available via email, chat, or phone. If you are in Sweden you can make a cash donation: Swish 123 5622 527 Please note SGRHO.
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is kvinnohuset-vasteras.png
The association Kvinnohuset Västerås consists of a women’s shelter, a girls’ shelter, and an open, outward-looking business. The women’s shelter and the girls’ shelter work with direct support for girls and women exposed to violence and their children. In the open, outward-looking activities, we work to shed light on men’s violence against women and power balances from different perspectives. We do this with the help of the association’s collective experience of meeting vulnerable girls, women, and their children. We work to highlight women in culture, for example by inviting female writers and musicians. The association also works actively to invite researchers and debaters in the field. If you are in Sweden you can make a cash donation: Swish 123 419 6762 Please note SGRHO.

Thank you! or tack as we say here in Sweden.

Thank you for choosing to support women, their children, and girls that seek help when they are in a domestic violence situation. Every bit helps the women’s and girls’ shelters serve them and us. I will update this page with donation totals.

Soror Lind

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