PL: Fundacja @SayStop

They are the first foundation acting for women in uniformed services in Poland. They deal with the problem of mobbing, unequal treatment, and harassment, including sexual harassment, in uniformed services. The Foundation is made up of persons who have had this kind of difficult experience while working in the services: founders Kaśka and Aśka – a former soldier and a former policewoman – and four volunteers. It started with Aśka, who told her story. She did not receive any help or support, but after the publication of her story, other women who had had similar experiences started coming forward.

“Though gals” from the uniformed services need support

The establishment of the Foundation is an expression of opposition to the violence suffered by its members from colleagues and superiors. This is an objection to the scale of the problem, sweeping it under the rug or taking retaliatory actions against women who report harassment or mobbing. “Everything takes place in a hermetically closed, male-dominated world of uniformed services, where civilians and institutions are not able to intervene in any way”, say the Foundation’s members. They want to inform, train, activate and integrate women working in the services, they want to conduct advocacy activities and provide assistance to officers experiencing violence in the workplace.

Let us end the pact of silence!

Using the funds from the mini-grant, the group wants to create an educational film “Let’s end the pact of silence!” on mobbing, harassment, and gender-based discrimination in the uniformed services. The film is intended to be part of a broader social campaign showing the reality of women working in the services and the patriarchal work culture steeped in sexism. They want to be heard, so that a change in social awareness is also followed by a change in the law, so that actually protects women from violence.

Grant amount: PLN 4,400.00

Image credit: @SayStop Foundation
Photos: @SayStop Foundation
Photos: Emilia Oksentowicz / .kolektyw