Annually about 2,000 women from the Baltic States become victims of trafficking. Finland is one of the primary destination countries for many trafficking victims from Latvia. Gender inequality and gender stereotypes in both, countries of origin and countries of destination provide a favorable environment for gender based crime. This is why the root causes of trafficking in women have to be dealt with in cross-border co-operation. An effective way of preventing trafficking is to adopt methods that help the young generation to resist the influence of traditional gender roles and to make their own choices based on knowledge, individual values and beliefs. The GGBGNetwork project, carried out by the Åland Islands Peace Institute, Åland, Finland, and the Resource Center for Women, Marta, Riga, Latvia, highlights the importance of youth empowerment as a tool for promoting more respectful gender relations and thereby reducing the risk of gender based crime. During the project, as described in work package 4, Girl group and Boy group activities, the young men and women taking part in the GG and BG activities will be empowered through involvement in non-formal free time activities based on the unique Nordic Girl and Boy group method. The activities consist of weekly meetings of groups of 6-8 members between the age of 13 and 16 years, where the young participants can freely express themselves in a safe surrounding. The participants will be provided with knowledge and tools enabling them to question prejudices and gender roles. The BG and GG groups provide the young people with a base from where they can form their own individual opinions on how to act and make choices in everyday life. Group work will lead to enhanced social skills and social networks, this strengthens the participants' possibilities to become active citizens and reduces the risk of them being marginalised. In work package 3, training activities, group leaders are educated to be able to guide participants towards a better understanding of gender patterns, better self-esteem and towards managing conflicts both intra-sexes and cross-sexes. To ensure sustainability leaders are educated as trainers, who can educate new group leaders in respective country. In work package 2, information and communication, authorities and the broad public are targeted through round table discussions and information campaigns, making the links between empowerment, gender equality and gender based crime more visible. Within work package 5, research, analysis and documentation the impact of the GG and BG method on social identity structure, self-esteem, self-efficacy, gender stereotypes and attitudes, tolerance and inclusion in society is assessed employing techniques developed by the researchers exclusively for this project. The research results will will allow for comparative insights an will be spread widely. Achievements: The GGBGnetwork promoted better gender equality and highlighted the importance of questioning the existing gender roles in youth work in order to reduce the risk of gender-based violence, discrimination and other social risks. Young men and women were empowered through involvement in informal free time activities based on the unique Nordic Girl and Boy group method. By training about 60 girl and boy group leaders on Åland and in Latvia, the project established a network of group leaders. Researchers monitored the group members during the project to assess their personal development and the change in attitudes, values and self esteem compared to control groups. To ensure sustainability, the group leaders were educated as trainers, who can educate new group leaders in their respective countries.