Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies
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The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS) is a non-profit organisation which promotes and contributes to projects of social, political, and economic themes relating to gender with an emphasis on the Mediterranean region. The Institute recognises the multilayered levels of discrimination against women and accepts that this discrimination takes different forms. It is committed to the elimination of this discrimination using a combination of research, advocacy and lobbying, as well as trainings, conferences, and other activities.
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[edit] Aims
To stimulate interest in gender research in the Mediterranean region and identify key areas of concern and action in the area, systematically address, analyse, and conduct research on, for, and by women; review and use existing information on women and the gender system such as research, statistical information and other available data and make relevant recommendations on policy and practices in related areas, support gender research through library and documentation services, including the introduction and promotion of a system of data collection by gender, identify the need to develop new legislation that corresponds to the new conditions and protects women’s rights effectively, increase awareness of gender issues in civil society and facilitate the capacity for action by providing all interested parties with information and organising training, campaigns, seminars, workshops, and lectures, support and promote educational programmes, including post-graduate work, in related areas in collaboration with research Institutes and universities, develop methods and take initiatives on peace-building and conflict transformation as these relate to gender issues,support regional, European, and global initiatives and programmes concerning issues affecting women’s lives, such as domestic violence, substance abuse, trafficking, war, and the labour market and create and support networks with other non-governmental organisations in related areas.
Thus, MIGS aims to act as a main contributor to the intellectual, political, and socio-political life of the region as this relates to issues of gender and to do so using a multidisciplinary approach and in collaboration with other institutions.
MIGS is closely affiliated to the University of Nicosia, the largest academic institution in Cyprus. The institute has been actively involved, both as a coordinating institution and as a partner, in the administration and implementation of a number of projects related to issues of gender. More specifically, the institute has conducted work in the area of the media, interpersonal violence against women and girls, migration, leadership and decision making, ethno-political conflict, employment and economic life. The institute has received funding from the European Commission, the United Nations Office for Project Services, the British Council, the European Journalism Centre, the Embassy of the United States of America and the National Machinery of Women’s Rights in Cyprus as well as from various other national, regional, and international organisations.
[edit] Memberships and Networks
MIGS works with a broad network of scholars and researchers with expertise in gender related areas and has strong links with a wide network of organisations working on gender in the Mediterranean region and the European Union, particularly civil society organisations, research institutes, and universities. MIGS is a member of several large European networks. Please view a list below:
European Women’s Lobby (EWL) The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest co-ordinating body of national and European non-governmental women’s organisations in the European Union, with over 4000 member associations in the 15 Member States.
Women’s International Studies Europe (WISE) MIGS has recently assumed the secretariat position of WISE. WISE, was founded in 1990 and is a European feminist studies association. It is grounded in women’s studies organizations throughout Europe and stands for the promotion of women’s studies research, teaching and publication in Europe; and the defence of women’s studies on a European and international level in all appropriate institutions and organisations.
Women Against Violence in Europe (WAVE) MIGS is a member and the Cyprus focal point for WAVE, a network of European women’s non-governmental organisations working in the field of combating violence against women and children (women’s refuges, counselling centres, SOS hotlines/helplines, organisations focusing on prevention and training, etc).
Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) MIGS is a member of AWID, an international membership organization connecting, informing and mobilizing people and organizations committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights.
Network Women in Development Europe (WIDE) The Mediterranean Institute for Gender Studies is a member of WIDE which is a European network of development NGOs, gender specialists and human rights activists. WIDE monitors and influences international economic and development policy and practice from a feminist perspective.
European Network Against Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation (ENATW) The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies is now a member of ENATW. European Network Against Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation is a network of organizations committed to the prevention of trafficking in women for sexual exploitation and to providing support and assistance to victims.
ATHENA III During the Sixth European Gender Research Conference that took place in Lodz, Poland, it was formally announced that the European Commission has granted funding for the continuation of Athena for another three years. The aim of Thematic Network ATHENA3 is to further unite experts, scholars, teachers, and stakeholders from civil society and public institutions in the field of gender and diversity.
ATHENA II ATHENA is a Socrates Thematic Network Project in which 80 Women’s and Gender Studies Programmes at universities, research institutes and documentation centres in Europe participate.
European Network against Racism (ENAR) – Cyprus Coordination The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies has recently become a member of the European Network against Racism (ENAR) – Cyprus Coordination.
Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies has recently become a member of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures.
The Institute engages in the regular exchange of information with these organisations and networks through newsletters, mailing lists, country reports on gender related topics, as well as information on new publications, training seminars, workshops, and conferences.
Through its projects MIGS has established expertise in project management and administration including the drafting of technical and financial proposals, the implementation and supervision of activities including research and training, as well as the conceptual and logistical organisation of events such as conferences, seminars, workshops, press conferences, awareness campaigns and others. MIGS has also acquired substantial knowledge of the rules and regulations of various EU funding bodies, particularly the European Commission.
[edit] Areas of activity
A. Civil Society Programme MIGS promotes initiatives which strengthen and enhance civil society participation and that empower women, especially in the processes of governance. Priority is given to issues of involvement of women in local and national government; engaging minority and socially excluded groups in training and debate in order to help promote diverse public dialogue; combating gender discrimination and domestic violence; enhancing and promoting social empowerment, human rights and people’s diplomacy. Within the framework of this program MIGS is and has been involved in the following activities:
B. Education and Leadership Programme The dynamics of political leadership are explored through two approaches used in conjunction to one another: scholarly and experiential learning [through training, workshops, conferences, meetings and so on]. Emphasis is put on younger women, potential leaders, and other female leaders in the social and political domains who will work directly with international academics and specialists in dealing with traditional and contemporary decision-making processes. Particular focus areas are young women’s development and organising; information technologies and the media and, women’s political participation. The Institute can potentially support female students whose post-graduate work is related to the Institute’s areas of competence and concern. Within the framework of this program MIGS is and has been involved in the following activities:
C. Trans-national Peace Initiatives Given the transforming global political climate and conditions in South Eastern Europe, the Near East, the Middle East, and the whole of the region, priority is given to the following areas: Gender and Peace-making, Peace-building, Peace-Keeping; Preparing for Peace; Policy Making and Ethnic Identities; The Role of Culture in Reaching agreements; The Role of Women in Peace; The Role of Violence during Peace Processes; Minority Rights; Conflict Management and Conflict Resolution; Demilitarisation; Development and Conflict; Media, Gender, and Conflict; Post-Conflict Conditions. The above areas have attracted the attention of various funding agencies and scholarly work both in Europe and elsewhere. Within the framework of this program MIGS is involved in the following activities:
D. Archival and Publications Programme The progressive development of a well-organised, informative web-page on the activities of the Institute, a specialised collection of publications at the Institute’s offices and its function as a reference centre for academics, students and other interested parties in its areas of competence are important channels of information and networking. We are currently developing such a programme with the aim of collecting the works of influential thinkers in any area of gender studies. This library will specialise in archival material on Cyprus and the region that relates to gender studies and publications with reputable works, which relate to the Institute’s programmes and activities. Within the framework of this program MIGS is and has been involved in the following publications:
The Institute encourages diverse approaches, creative activities, and a variety of methodologies, and epistemologies in order to promote its broader objectives of an egalitarian, non-sexist, pluralistic, democratic, and tolerant society.
[edit] Projects and Partners
The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies is currently involved with various European Union programmes and has conducted projects relating to issues of gender in collaboration with Intercollege, the United Nations Office for Project Services, the Council of Europe, the British Council in Cyprus [and in close collaboration with offices in various Mediterranean countries], the European Centre for Common Ground, the European Journalism Centre, the Embassy of the United States of America in Cyprus, as well as various other regional, European and international organisations. The projects involve research, training, lectures, seminars, workshops, and conferences.
[edit] Criteria for the Development of Programmes
The criteria which need to be considered for the implementation of the programmes stated above, should include the following:
1. Participation of women and institutions is an integral part to the process of building and sustaining civil society projects and central to the institute’s aims and objectives.
2. Sustainability: Given the critique against past efforts of dealing with issues of gender especially in Cyprus, the long-term commitment of the institute [through the project leaders] must be confirmed in order to ensure a transformative and sustainable effect of the project and activities. In order to do so, the projects need to be accumulatively transformative and have more of a sustainable rather than a corrective approach to creating an egalitarian, pluralistic, non-sexist society.
3. Civic Institutions are essential in linking the individual to society and can thus potentially have an effect to the state’s processes. The institute thus promotes and systematically encourages the creation, development, and communication amongst such institutions in order (to give women access to a voice and presence) at all levels of governance.
[edit] Publications
Publication of Research Report on “Mapping the Realities of Trafficking Women in Cyprus” This report is the result of a research project conducted by the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies [MIGS]. The main aim of the project was to gain and share awareness, knowledge and understanding on the phenomenon of trafficking in women in Cyprus for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
Reference Sources on Trafficking in Women / Guide to Websites on Trafficking in Women MIGS is pleased to make available its Guide to Reference Sources on Trafficking in Women and its Guide to Websites on Trafficking in Women.
Shadow Report 2006 for CEDAW The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (the CEDAW Convention) is a human rights treaty for women. CEDAW is one of the most highly ratified international human rights conventions, having the support of 182 States parties.
Leaflets/Posters on Trafficking in Women The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies has published awareness-raising leaflets and posters on trafficking in women. This effort has been funded by the National Machinery for Women’s Rights with the aim to inform and sensitise the public and relevant stakeholders on trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual and labour exploitation.
Honour Related Violence The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies has participated as a partner in a project, entitled “Prevention of Violence Against Girls and Women in Patriarchal Families” coordinated by Kvinoforum, an organization in Sweden and funded by the European Commission within the framework of the Transnational Exchange Programme Phase II.
Reference Guide to Gender and Women in Cyprus The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies has prepared a Guide to Reference Sources for Gender and Women in Cyprus.
The Gender & Media Handbook The Gender & Media Handbook: Promoting Equality, Diversity & Empowerment was published within the framework of the project “Gender, Conflict and the Media: Working Toward Egalitarianism and Peace”, a bi-communal project which was supported with a grant from the Bi-Communal Development Programme, funded by USAID and UNDP and executed by UNOPS.
To view all of our publications please visit [1]
[edit] Contact Details
For more information projects and activities please contact:
Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies 46 Makedonitissas Ave., P.O. Box 24005, Nicosia 1703, Cyprus Email: info@medinstgenderstudies.org Website: www.medinstgenderstudies.org Tel.: +357 22 351 274 Fax: +357 22 353 682
