About EVAM

Through the establishment of a unique approach, EVAM aims to reduce violence that originates, directly or indirectly, in the practices of actors and institutions. To achieve this objective, EVAM advises and accompanies the process of documenting situations of violence, draws the attention of actors or institutions to the harmful consequences of their actions and policies, and proposes to accompany them in identifying concrete measures for their elimination.

EVAM advocates an inclusive approach based on intermediation between field operators and institutions. The central hypothesis of the initiative is that no actor, or very few, would be reluctant to act to limit the harmful consequences of their practices. Provided that these situations of violence are clearly known and that the corrective measures proposed do not run counter to their objectives or interests.

EVAM promotes a pragmatic approach, which, instead of looking at drivers of practices and policies in place, focuses exclusively on their harmful consequences for migrants.

Ending Violence Against Migrants was conceived following months of consultations in Brussels with experts in the field of migration and forced displacement, human rights and humanitarian affairs.

Initially led by Médecins du Monde Belgium, the EVAM initiative became a non-profit association under Belgian law (asbl) in January 2019.

The EVAM initiative is built around the desire to put in place a methodology offering perpetrators of violence concrete solutions to put an end to it. It is structured around four key stages:

Identification of the operational framework of the targeted actor or institution (because at the origin of the situations of violence or in a position to put an end to it)
Construction of a documentation work with the support of field actors in contact with migrants
Highlighting 5 key levers to reduce violence.
Follow-up, with the institution, on the implementation of the recommended measures.

The EVAM methodology is declined in projects to tackle specific forms of violence and aims to produce an immediate impact on migrants.

Its systematization at a more structural level should make it possible to increase its impact, develop new projects and, in the end, reduce all forms of violence affecting migrants.

EVAM'S LAUNCH

KICK-OFF MEETING: Launch of the EVAM Initiative. On January 25, 2019 from 12.00 am to 2.00 pm.

Rue Botanique 75 – 1210 Brussels, Belgium

EVAM AT THE PARIS PEACE FORUM

PARIS PEACE FORUM: Presentation of the EVAM Initiative in 2018.

Pierre Verbeeren, Director of Médecins du Monde Belgique with Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger and Pascal Lamy, former Director of the World Trade Organization.

Edouard Rodier, President of EVAM with Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain.