To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Agnes Kende

Changing attitudes towards LGBTQI people

INCLUSIVE SPACES is A two-year education project, in partnership with some of the most prominent LGBTQI organisations in the country aiming to reduce bullying of LGBTQI students at school and discrimination against LGBTQI people in the workplace. The initiative’s objective is to reduce harassment, negative or hostile attitudes towards LGBTQI people and discrimination in schools and workplaces in Hungary.

Promoting tolerance and acceptance

Its aim is to raise awareness about the situation and everyday experiences of the LGBTQI community and discrimination against sexual and gender minorities, in order to increase social awareness and more accepting attitudes. In order to achieve these goals, they conduct situation assessment research on the experiences of LGBTQI youth in schools and LGBTQI employees in the workplace.

The impacts of The Propaganda Act on tolerance programs in schools and the workplace include:

• Developping a methodological materials for teachers and a guide for schools on addressing the harassment of LGBTQI students.
• Providing training for teachers about creating an inclusive school environment.
• Organisin sessions and workshops in schools about inclusion
• Providing e-learning materials for students and employees.

Find out more about the initiative

Photo by Freepik

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Agnes Kende.

A local organisation with a wide range of activities

In Hungary, the Budapest Bike Maffia has been paying close attention over the years to the situation of women who are homeless. Before the pandemic, the volunteer organisation, started in 2011 by socially conscious inhabitants of Budapest, was already raising awareness and collecting basic needs products – like hygiene products – from various places around the city (cafés, pubs and clubs, community spaces,…). During the pandemic, the local organisation continued these activities, combined with a more ambitious project: a gynaecology clinic was set up in partnership with the Budapest Methodological Centre of Social Policy and Its Institutions (BMSZKI), which is the largest homeless service provider in the city. The clinic, which opened in October 2022, is aimed at homeless and vulnerable women. The ambition is to give the possibility to those who have been unable to go to a gynaecologist – because of being barred from facilities, trauma and/or a fear of humiliation – to finally do so in a safe and trusted environment.

This is a service that will provide care for hundreds of women: they will be examined for gynaecological problems, given medicines to help them recover and will also be able to undergo cervical cancer screening.

A successful initiative with a long-term impact

In addition to the furnishing and construction of showers, waiting rooms, examination rooms, handwashing facilities and toilets, the first six months of operation were pre-financed to obtain the licence to operate. Funds were obtained through donations. After the base period of six months, the clinic will be financed by the National Health Insurance Fund (NEAK). In the meantime, however, the Budapest Bike Maffia still has to provide the doctor, nurse and social worker’s fees, medical equipment, medicines to be given to the patients, etc.

The initiative was made possible by a successful collaboration between the Budapest Bike Maffia, who equipped and furnished the clinic and the BMSZKI, who is operating the clinic, as well as NEAK will take over funding.

Find out more about the initiative

Image from rawpixel.com on freepik

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. The initiatives currently cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This societal initiative has been collected by: Agnes Kende.

COVID-19’s impact on the workplace: different repercussions on different minorities

In Hungary, WeAreOpen partnered with Amnesty Magyarország, Bagázs Egyesület, Háttér Társaság and Salva Vita Alapítvány to produce a report on the impact of the pandemic on minorities in the workplace.

“What can employers do? COVID-19 Impact Report on Women, LGBTQ+, Roma & Disabled People” is a collaborative project aiming to demonstrate the different impacts the pandemic is having on different minority groups, including among employees. The report includes useful information, resources and concrete tips for employers on how to handle specific situations.

To get an overview of the scope of inequalities during the pandemic, each participating non-profit organisation focused on one subject, relying on years of experience and expertise ; Amnesty International Hungary provided information on gender equality and the role of women in domestic and care work, Háttér Society shared their expertise on LGBTQ+ inclusion, Bagázs Association provided insights on Roma communities in Hungary, and Salva Vita Foundation
focused on the challenges faced by disabled people because of social distancing and remote work.

A collaborative process

Participating organisations are disseminating the final report jointly: they are sharing it with the more than one thousand employers belonging to the OPEN Community, and making it available for all on their websites and social media channels. They hope that, by highlighting some of these insights, they can help companies and organisations ease the negative effects of the pandemic on diverse employees and communities.

The report is a first step in the right direction: the partners now encourage all organisations, companies and experts to join the project and contribute their own ideas, stories, best practices etc. and inspire others.

WeAreOpen is a non-profit organisation that creates campaigns with a coalition of businesses to promote diversity and inclusion for millions, and helps companies become more open by offering services, workshops, talks and consulting.

Click here to access the full report