MANEO – Summary

MANEO, the former “Schwules Überfalltelefon Berlin”, is an independent project of Mann-O-Meter e.V. existing since 18 years. It is the oldest, most experienced and distinguished gay anti-violence project in Germany. → Read: MANEO introduces itself .

MANEO cooperates with experienced victim support services
in Germany and Europe (www.euvictimservices.org , www.opferhilfen.de ). MANEO is held in high esteem in expert circles and has been awarded numerous prizes.

In the past 18 years, MANEO has initiated numerous unique initiatives and projects throughout Germany. One of the most significant project we have founded was Berlins Gay- and Lesbian Fair, a festival which is visited by some 350.000 people every year.

For all these initiatives MANEO has already received many awards, for example Berlins Gay-Pride-Award for Civil Courage. MANEO is less than optimally funded by Berlin’s Senate Administration.

MANEO is active in four core areas
• victim support services (annually more than 300 gay and bisexual youths and adults)
• recording violent acts (anti-gay acts of violence in Berlin are recorded)
•violence prevention (public relations work highlighting threats and supporting educational work)
•cooperation and commitment (civil commitment is mobilised, voluntary employees are recruited)

Since 2006, MANEO’s public relations work dedicated to the prevention of violence is being additionally supported for three years by funds from the Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin. Our information campaign, MANEO-Toleranzkampagne →www.maneo-toleranzkampagne.de consists of several different modules, for example:

MANEO-Werkstatt. In May 2008, MANEO will organise for the third time a European conference on the topic of “Homophobia and Violence Against Gays in Public Space”. In 2007, 150 experts, representatives of the police and anti-violence projects, as well as politicians from Germany and Europe attended the conference.

A great amount of attention was given by the results of the first MANEO Survey 2006/2007, the hitherto largest scientific study on experiences of violence against gays in Germany → MANEO Survey , in which 24,000 persons participated. 35% of those questioned had experienced violent acts in the past 12 months; 90% of the crimes were not reported to the police. The results are being checked by a second MANEO Survey currently being conducted.

On the occasion of the Football World Cup 2006, we developed a poster with two kissing football players directed against homophobia and violence based on hate in football → MANEO football campaign . Together with Berlin’s Governing Mayor and Berlin’s Chief Constable, and with the support of athletes, artists and the campaign “Gesicht Zeigen”, we presented the poster to the public prior to the World Cup.

In cooperation with the “German Film and Television Academy Berlin” (dffb) and supported by renowned filmmakers and producers, we developed two MANEO cinema commercials in 2006, which were shown to the public during the Berlin International Film Festival 2007 → watch MANEO cinema commercials . The commercials were appraised as outstanding by the international TEDDY jury and were repeatedly shown on TV and in various cinemas.

On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, which takes place each year on May 17, MANEO will organise actions. → see the resolution of the European Parliament, among others, the action “Protect every Kiss”, the travelling exhibition “Testimonials of anti-gay violence” documenting images and cases of violence against gays, and the Tolerantia Prize, which is awarded annually by MANEO together with its French and Polish partner organisation to persons and organisations of outstanding merit in regard to the struggle against homophobia and violence based on hate.

Personalities who have made acknowledging statements on MANEO’s work: → statements-PDF