Applicant: Hazissa – Institute for the Prevention of Sexualized Violence Karmeliterplatz 2, 8010 Graz, AUSTRIA Duration: 01.02.2015 – 31.01.2017 Project: “European Flirt Experts” Partners: Foundacion Indera, Barcelona, Spain Young Partners, Bucharest, Romania Nowa Kultura i Edukacja, Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland Main activities: preventive projects with adolescents, development of products and materials by the adolescents to reach their peer group, distribution of these materials, creation of a manual for multipliers, survey on the sexual health of adolescents, homepage Target groups: Adolescents from the minimum age of criminal responsibility to the age of majority (Austria: 14 to 18 years) and their peer-groups, Multipliers of the partner-organizations, Multipliers The project “European Flirt-Expert” wants to contribute to the prevention of sexualized violence, especially sexualized infringements among adolescents. International studies and criminal statistics show, that a majority of sexualized infringements are committed by young people on young people. The reasons are complex and based – among other things – on a lack of sex education, a culture of boarder-violations, traditional gender roles and a lack of possibilities for adolescents to deal with issues like love, relationship, sexuality, to develop a positive attitude and to face competent representatives with their questions. The consequences of sexualized violence are complex and individually different. They can appear over the short to media and long term, they can manifest in psychic and physical level. The consequences could influence the whole life time. Problems in relationships, sexual malfunctions, addiction diseases, adjustment disorders, depressions, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, etc. affect the life of many adults which experienced sexualized violence in their childhood. In this context the benefit of preventative measures is not just individual but also enormous from a macroeconomic point of view. This fact is taken into account in other parts of health prevention for a long time. Sexuality is a human’s right. Children and adolescents have to be supported in their right on sex education and development of their sexuality. Protection of those rights, information and education of children, adolescents and adults about the existence of those rights is a fundamental attitude of the work of Hazissa and of this project. The Project “European Flirt-Expert” is based on the interaction of science and practice. Hazissa is endeavored to implement new research in practical work. As contribution to prevention science a survey about the sexual health of adolescents is conducted. The aim is to answer following questions: How informed are adolescents about sexuality? From where do they get their information? Do they have reference persons to talk to about love, sexuality and relationship? Are or have they been confronted with sexualized violence? Etc. The survey allows insights in the living conditions of adolescents, in their experiences and needs. Through this survey the situation in the different countries can be compared and needed actions like the increasing of preventative measures and sex education, the implementation of adult education or special institutes for prevention could be recognized. The survey can and should be the base for further international projects and cooperation. Second element of the project is the development and implementation of preventative projects with adolescents in the participating countries. The multipliers develop methods and concepts to work participatory with the adolescents on following issues: Where and how do they get to know each other? What do they like in flirting and what not? Are they influenced by role models in their behavior? Are they confronted with violence? Which competences do they have in reacting to violent situations? Etc. The adolescents get space (partially in gender homogenous settings) to share and discuss their realities, wishes and needs. They are supported and leaded by qualified trainers. The trainers also give information to the adolescents like behavioral strategies, where to get help and support, legal basics about sexuality and sexualized violence. After this part the adolescents should develop materials, which refer to the peer group with preventative messages. This could be videos, comics, pictures, etc. – the creativity and initiative of the adolescents is promoted. The workshop-course and methods are described in a way that multipliers can implement it with adolescents. Beneath the course and methods the manual will contain basic knowledge and advice.