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Domestic Violence – TRAINING The CAADA IDVA training Background and general information Name of the Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) Organization Contact person Hannah Fisher Period Since 2005 (ongoing) Context analysis In the UK, support services for victims of domestic abuse first developed with the refuge movement in the 60s and 70s. Today, the Women’s Aid Federation of England supports more than 500 domestic and sexual violence services nationwide.

In recent years, important changes have been made to the way in which victims of domestic abuse are supported to live in safety. In particular, more attention has been focused on keeping victims safe in their homes rather than being obliged to move to temporary accommodation.

A key part of this process has been the introduction of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA). IDVAs are specialist case workers who work with high risk victims of domestic abuse, those most at risk of homicide or serious harm. IDVAs work from the point of crisis on a short to medium term basis and play a key role in Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs). They work with the victim to assess the level of risk, discuss the range of suitable options and develop coordinated safety plans. IDVAs are able to access multiple resources on behalf of victims by coordinating the response of a wide range of agencies who might be involved with a case, including those working with perpetrators and children. IDVAs work in partnership with a range of statutory and voluntary agencies but are independent of any single agency. In common with other specialist domestic abuse services, their goal is safety. Within this context, the practice presented is of particular relevance.

The IDVA training course was established in early 2005 with the aim of giving practitioners in this field a recognised qualification and a common framework for their practice and the development of service standards for IDVAs. The effectiveness of the training is proved by the fact that the training model gained formal recognition: it is accredited by the Open College Network at Level 3. CAADA is the Home Office endorsed provider of specialist IDVA training, with a contract to provide training until 2015, which guarantees sustainability until then. The efficiency of the training is evidenced by the number of learners passing through the training programme: over the last seven years the organisation has trained over 1,400 IDVAs. The impact of the initiative is shown by evaluation research which indicates that more than half (57%) of the victims reported that the abuse stopped after the intervention of an IDVA, with a range from 44% for those receiving limited support to 67% for those receiving intensive support. The most significant reductions were in respect of physical abuse. IDVAs reported reduced risk in 79% of cases, backed up by 76% of victims reporting that they felt safer. Direct risks to children were also reduced. In terms of more general wellbeing, an improvement in individuals' social networks was reported for 47% of cases and an improvement in coping abilities in 63% of cases. In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all, it is based on a victim centred approach and hold perpetrators accountable for the violence they use. Moreover the training course has a strong basis in human rights and gender analysis and presents a clear, appropriate and comprehensive definition of domestic violence through a well developed training strategy, a balance of training methods and an appropriate length and time frame. The training is constantly monitored and evaluated.

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Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) The objective is to train IDVAs, with the aim of providing practitioners in this field Objectives with a recognised qualification and a common framework for their practice.

Alongside this, the programme has contributed to the development of service standards for IDVAs. IDVAs support those at highest risk of serious harm from domestic abuse contributing to enhance gender equality in the country.

Gender equality The final result of the course is to produce qualified professionals that have the results skills to help make victims of domestic abuse and their children safer, and this has been proven by evaluation research. The training programme provides professionals with a clear understanding of how to identify, assess and manage risk, to support clients, to advocate effectively and address the issues in a consistent and professional way.

Target groups Services / workers supporting high risk victims of domestic abuse.

Aims, methods and CAADA provides the only specialist foundation Independent Domestic Violence tools used Advisor (IDVA) training course in the UK, run in partnership with the Home Office.

The course provides IDVAs and domestic abuse practitioners with the skills and tools they need to effectively support high risk victims of domestic abuse. The course equips learners with a clear understanding of how to identify risk, support clients and address the issues that they face in a consistent and professional way.

The CAADA IDVA training has been designed to help build skills, knowledge and confidence, enabling professionals to provide the best possible support to improve the lives of high risk victims of domestic abuse and their children. The ultimate aim of the course is to make victims of domestic abuse and their children safer.

Motivating and empowering each client to make changes in their lives are key skills for effective IDVAs. The course aims to expand skills to respond to abuse by:  developing an 'IDVA toolkit' of practical skills;  developing expertise and confidence in identifying, assessing and managing risk;  providing expert input on criminal justice agency work;  helping draw upon a wide range of safety options;  building confidence around multi-agency working;  applying specialist tools, techniques and knowledge to respond to high risk victims of domestic abuse;  building understanding around risk management strategies, individually and in a multi-agency setting, such as MARACs, 'defensible decision making' - how to ensure accountability, and how to relate risk directly to individual client safety plans.

During the course, professionals have the opportunity to develop an essential 'IDVA toolkit' of skills including motivational interviewing, applying the stages of change, active listening, assertiveness, negotiation, and pro-social modelling.

In recognition of the research and reporting information from all the key agencies responding to domestic abuse, the main focus of the training is on work with women experiencing domestic abuse from male partners or ex-partners. However, some training is provided on responding to women and men experiencing abuse within lesbian and gay relationships, and men experiencing abuse from a female partner.

The course comprises 14 days of in-room training, delivered in five blocks, and the completion of five assessed worksheets which are submitted online. Block 1 • The IDVA role and toolkit • Self-care and vicarious trauma • Diversity considerations, Block 2 • Risk management • MARAC • Multi-agency skills, Block 3 • Criminal justice response to domestic violence • Case management • Individual tutorials, Block 4: • Civil law • Safeguarding children • Mental health and substance misuse, 2

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements

Block 5: • Housing • • BME clients • Sexual violence.

98% of learners said that they felt more confident in their role after receiving the training, and qualitative feedback reflects this and an intention to shift practice to improve the experience of victims of domestic abuse.

Many service commissioners specify CAADA-trained IDVAs as a service requirement.

The course is mapped to the UK National Occupation Standards for the domestic abuse sector and is accredited by the Open College Network (OCN) at Level 3.

Increased funding and greater access to resources could increase the scope and scale of the training programme, opening it up to greater numbers of learners.

The CAADA IDVA training programme has Home Office funding until 2015.

By sending staff on the course, services can demonstrate to funders that they are commissioning-ready by building the skills profile of their team in line with the needs of their service users.

The IDVA training programme is regularly updated so that the content reflects the sector, for example any changes in legislation, policy or best practice.

This ensures that learners have the most up-to-date skills and knowledge to support their clients and are able to use all available options to make them as safe as possible.

Over the next five years, CAADA aims to work in partnership to:  halve the number of victims experiencing high risk domestic abuse from 100,000 to 50,000;  halve the average time it takes victims to seek help from 5 years to 2.5 years.

To achieve this, plans include:  promoting the early identification of domestic abuse, in particular, to find ways to extend the reach of IDVA services to marginalised women who are not visible, or who are unwilling to access, the criminal justice system particularly by integrating them more with health services;  provide training, support and practical tools to shape service provision nationally (especially for victims with complex needs);  share and embed best practice both in terms of sustaining the multi-agency response and through the Leading Lights programme;  the CAADA Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme will assist in achieving these plans. The CPD programme offers additional training on particularly complex issues liked to domestic abuse and offers those who have graduated from our IDVA training further opportunity to specialise and develop.

Courses developed so far include, safeguarding children living with domestic abuse, substance misuse and sexual violence.

TRANSFERABILITY Success factors  Improved services for high risk victims of domestic abuse.  Over 1,400 IDVAs trained since 2005.  More than half (57%) of the victims asked reported that the abuse stopped after the intervention of the IDVA, with a range from 44% for those receiving limited support to 67% for those receiving intensive support. The most significant reductions were in respect of physical abuse.  IDVAs reported reduced risk in 79% of cases, backed up by 76% of victims reporting that they felt safer.  Direct risks to children were also reduced.  In terms of more general wellbeing, an improvement in individuals' social networks was reported for 47% of cases and an improvement in coping abilities in 63% of cases.

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Main obstacles

Actual replication or spin-off effects

LEARNING Lessons learned from the process

Sources

Contacts

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Public money has been saved by the work of IDVAs/MARACs. CAADA estimates that existing high risk services cost £70m to run and for every £1 spent, £2.90 is saved1.  Ongoing funding cuts to domestic violence services nationwide decrease the number of services operating and reduce the training budgets of surviving services.

Other training providers have developed further qualifications for professionals working in the domestic abuse sector. CAADA is working in partnership with specialist services to develop CPD courses on subjects such as substance misuse, safeguarding children, working with young people, sexual violence and mental health. As part of the Leading Lights programme (a programme that has developed and supported services to achieve minimum standards of service provision), CAADA training will be developed for domestic violence service managers.  The process has shown the effectiveness of multi-agency working in improving the safety of high risk victims of domestic abuse, as well as the importance to the domestic abuse sector of having highly skilled professionals with a clear understanding of how to identify risk, to support clients and address the issues in a consistent and professional way.  It has also shown the value of having a professionally trained independent advocate to represent victims of domestic abuse in a multi-agency setting.

CAADA (2012) A Place of Greater Safety. Bristol: CAADA CAADA (2009) Safety in Numbers. Bristol: CAADA www.caada.org.uk queries@caada.org.uk

CAADA (2012) A Place of Greater Safety. Bristol: CAADA

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Domestic Violence - TRAINING Curriculum “Violence Against Women and Children” – Victim Protection in Vienna’s hospitals (Curriculum “Gewalt gegen Frauen und Kinder” Opferschutz an Wiener Krankenanstalten) Background and general information Name of the  Vienna Women’s Health Programme Organization  24-Hour Women’s Emergency Hotline of the Vienna Municipal Department of Women’s Affairs (MA57)  Youth and Family Offices of Vienna (MA11)  Vienna Hospital Association (KAV) Contact person Beate Wimmer-Puchinger, Vienna Women’s Health Programme Period 2001, on going Context analysis The Federal Act on Protection Against Domestic Violence entered into force in May 19972. In the meantime several amendments of the concerned laws have been sanctioned and in 2009 a comprehensive second violence protection law package has been implemented3.

The State and its institutions do acknowledge that violence against women and children is a public concern and provide means for concrete protection measures.

The health care sector has increasingly been involved in the development of new intervention strategies in this field. Workers in the health care sector play a key role for identifying early signs of violence and for offering support measures for abused women and children. Women who have experienced violence and are suffering from injuries or health problems are much more likely to turn to an emergency room or to general practitioners than to a counselling centre, a women’s shelter or to the police. Therefore, health care professionals have contacts with a large number of victims of domestic violence4. That’s why in several provinces of Austria educational projects consisting in seminars, workshops and public informative events for medical personnel took place in recent years.

Within this context, and in particular with regard to the increasing importance given to the involvement of health sector in initiatives in the field of domestic violence, the practice here presented is of particular relevance because of its long term effects and the adopted global approach moving from a preliminary analysis of the specific training needs of health personnel to the design of a training curriculum and the implementation of training activities. The practice proved to be effective in sensitising health personnel inside hospitals on domestic violence. From internal evaluation (post training questionnaires) the training was in fact considered by participants a good opportunity to enhance their knowledge on the topic and skills to approach victims.

The practice was effective in terms of the number of trained professionals, thus increasing the possibility to detect early warnings and so for domestic violence victims to receive immediate and specialised support. It also produced an impact on the wider environment through the involvement of health institutions on the topic of domestic violence, and by increasing the coordination amongst agencies that give support to victims. The sustainability has been granted by the Vienna Women’s Health Programme and by the involvement, since its starting, of the City Councillors of Health, Women, and Children/Youth. In January 2012 a Federal Law

Logar 2005 Initiated by then Women’s Minister Johanna Dohnal and in close cooperation with Caspar Einem, then Minister of the Interior, an interministerial working group was convoked, composed of staff of women’s shelters, police officers, judges and lawyers and resulting in the Federal Act on Protection Against Domestic Violence. (Federal Chancellery – Federal Minister for Women and Civil Service 2008, 12ff.)

4 Federal Chancellery – Federal Minister for Women and Civil Service 2008, 121 2 3

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about children and victims’ mandatory protection groups in Austrian hospitals has entered in force5.

These groups should contribute to early detection of domestic violence and to raise the hospital-staffs awareness about violence against women and children thus contributing to the sustainability of similar actions in the future. Efficiency was guaranteed through a low-cost-approach: already existing personnel resources were activated as trainers: employees of the City of Vienna, of the women’s shelter association, of the Vienna Federal Police and of the University- Institute of Forensic Medicine trained the hospitals’ staff-members. In addition to all these elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all, it has a women/victim centred approach and it was implemented though a multiagency approach that involved several public and private organisations working in the field of violence in order to increase cooperation and achieve better results. Its well defined strategy was carried out in an appropriate time frame (four years of pilot projects) that allowed achieving important results.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality)  Improving responses to victims of domestic violence through early detection.

Objectives  Establishing treatment standards.  Streamlining internal communication processes.  Defining emergency treatment plan.  Communicating knowhow on extramural assistance resources.  Establishing victims’ protection group in hospital.

Gender equality During its first period of implementation (2001-2005), about 560 health results professionals working in emergency departments, internal medicine, ophthalmology, dermatology, surgery, ENT, gynaecology and psychiatry were trained. At the end of the project a total of approximately 880 staff completed the Violence Against Women and Children training scheme in Vienna: 110 at Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, 259 at Danube Hospital, 147 at Rudolfstiftung Hospital, 57 at Hietzing Hospital, and 200 at Vienna General Hospital. The advanced workshop on use of the trace preservation kit was attended by 110 staff of Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, Wilhelminen Hospital and Danube Hospital. In all three hospitals, a definite trend was that more women than men took part in the training scheme, with nurses accounting for the largest occupational group: around 70% of participants worked as nurses, 15% were physicians and 15% came from other groups.

After the pilot project had been completed in all hospitals of the City of Vienna, the hospitals of the Vienna Hospital Association agreed to offer internal training events on victims’ protection for their staff at regular intervals, modelled according to the Curriculum. This is an important step for a sustainable support of staff in their key role with regard to early detection of domestic violence. Nowadays, permanent interdisciplinary groups on domestic violence have been set up in 3 Wien hospitals and cooperation between hospitals and extramural institutions is strongly improved.

Target groups Hospital staff: physicians as well as nurses, midwives, psychologists, social workers and administrative staff from several hospital departments.

Aims, methods and tools used

The City of Vienna first launched its “Violence against Women and Children” Curriculum in 2001 at the municipal hospital SMZ Ost with the aim of:

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69th Federal Law: Change of the Federal Law about Hospitals and Convalescent Homes, § 8e, Childrens’ and Victims’ Protection Groups

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enhancing the sensitivity of health professionals in dealing with victims establishing victim-focused standards to of violence;  ensuring adequate support;  creating awareness and effective response among providers in all the main hospitals in the city of Vienna.

The Curriculum was drafted on the basis of the results of an analysis of the status quo and it comprises five modules:  forms and effects of sexual and physical violence against women;  forms and effects of sexual and physical violence against children;  securing of evidence and DNA analysis;  legal information;  implementation of the victim protection groups at Vienna hospitals.

The planning and implementation of the Curriculum was realised in four stages: Phase 1: Establishment of the steering group, development of the education and training concept, staff survey, preparation of information material.

Phase 2: Implementation of the training programme at two model hospitals, with 20 training units of 1.5 hours each.

Phase 3: Revision of the education and training concept on the basis of an analysis of the results of phase 1: adjustment of the training structure.

Phase 4: Implementation of the training courses on four of Vienna’s municipal hospitals.

The Curriculum was implemented over a period of five years, and all training courses were held in the individual hospitals with an interdisciplinary and interprofessional audience.

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Besides the curriculum, the Vienna Hospital Association, the 24-Hour Women’s Emergency Hotline, the Police and the Forensic Medicine Institute prepared a trace preservation kit that ensures uniform procedures in the preservation of evidence and was established as a treatment standard in hospitals of the City of Vienna when examining victims of sexual violence.

At the Danube Hospital a group of committed staff in the accident surgery department, as a direct response to the Curriculum, founded a victims’ protection group, motivated by the model of the already existing victims’ protection group at Vienna Wilhelminen Hospital, which had been presented as a good-practice example in the Curriculum.

A specific tool, that is a small pocket card, was prepared in order to provide health professionals the following essential checklist easily available:  check injuries, time and place of incident, perpetrator;  mention reasons for your suspicion and offer support;  inform about planned examinations and action;  examine routine examination, securing of traces and collecting evidence;  treat as outpatient or inpatient depending on indication;  document all injuries – size, localisation, age, statements by the patient;  clarify risk level, safety issues, possible assistance within social environment;  refer to in-house specialist departments, psychologists, social workers;  contact e.g. Women’s Emergency Helpline, women’s refuges, police;  inform about victim protection agencies, hand out information material.

The Vienna Hospital Association conducted an anonymous post-training survey among the Curriculum participants at two hospitals. From the feedback survey, it came out that participants were particularly satisfied of the training course with regards to the presentation of the subject matters as well as its practicability. Three months after the training, they said that the knowhow obtained in the Curriculum was very useful in practical daily work and that the information materials provided were of great help. Many of them indicated to be interested in further training 7

events on domestic violence, in developing better links among departments as well as other institutions and more active participation on the part of physicians.  External evaluation of the results obtained would have enhanced the practice value and potentials for transferability.  The formalisation of agreements amongst all the institutions participating in the training would have enhanced the sustainability in time.

Ways in which the good practice/activity could have been improved Plans to gather The training curriculum is available to all subjects that are interested in financial resources implementing it. and/or institutional arrangements TRANSFERABILITY Success factors  Close multiagency cooperation: the cooperation among health care institutions, abuse intervention centres, women’s shelters, police and welfare offices in cases of violence is strengthened to ensure further support for the affected woman.  Appropriate length and appropriate time frame.  Curriculum provides both training materials and checklist for early signs of violence against women that is a good approach to reach a wider range of women possibly affected by violence.

Main obstacles  Health personnel time constraints were a difficult obstacle to overcome. It needed a lot of efforts to fix the training agenda inside their working hours.  The mixing top/down strategy adopted to involve the hospitals personnel was successful but very costing in terms of time and energies.

Both these obstacles should be carefully taken into account in any potential transferability.

Actual replication or The Viennese training program was the first in Austria to sensitize the hospitals’ spin-off effects staffs. Many other cities followed the Viennese example. At least in 2012 a federal law about mandatory children victims’ protection groups in Austrian hospitals entered in force.

LEARNING Lessons learned from  The development of curriculum and establishment of a process for capacity building was particularly important to improve the response of the health the process sector.  The multi-sector efforts generated through the curriculum development process presented provide a good basis for strengthening prevention as well as providing assistance and care to those who are already in situations of violence.  Although the training program has been implemented with the support of all hospital directors in a top-down-strategy, finally sustainability depends from personal commitment of single staff members.

Sources Website: http://www.frauengesundheitwien.at/export/sites/fsw/diesie/downloads/broschueren/Violence_Manual_2006. pdf www.gewaltgegenfrauen.at Contacts Beate Wimmer-Puchinger, Prof. PhD Municipal Department 15 Public Health of the City of Vienna A-1030 Vienna, Thomas-Klestil-Platz 8/2 e-Mail: beate.wimmer-puchinger@wien.gv.at Barbara Michalek, MA 24-Hour Women’s Emergency Hotline Vienna Municipal Department of Women’s Affairs – MA 57 A-1082 Vienna e-Mail: barbara.michalek@wien.gv.at

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Domestic Violence – TRAINING Master on Treatment and Gender Violence (Los malos tratos y la violencia de género: una visión interdisciplinar) Background and general information Name of the National Distance Learning University - UNED Organization Contact person Teresa San Segundo Period 2006, on going The Organic Law on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender Violence 6, Context analysis approved in December 2004 and come into effect in January 2005, is the cornerstone of the Spanish approach to fight gender-based violence. The Law addresses gender based violence for the first time in Spanish legislation, as opposed to the former domestic violence approach.

The new legislation defines gender based violence (GBV) as a manifestation of discrimination, inequality and power relations of men and women. The Law covers aspects ranging from preventive, educational, social to care and aftercare for victims, and it tackles GBV with a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. This is the most noteworthy feature of the Law. According to the mandatory evaluation of the application of the Law, published in December 20097, the Law has merited an unprecedented outlay of measures and actions and the mobilisation of major resources. Since this Law came into force, the Spanish government has invested almost €800 million on a range of policies to prevent and fight gender-based violence.

Specific support institutions, such as information and legal advice helpline and health care units specialized in gender-based violence, have been set up, along with special courts and public prosecution offices as well as specialised security services.

Specialists in violence have been hired in healthcare and forensic services, and resources have been allocated to help women escape from violent situations.

The principles of the strategic approach, as stated in the Law (Art. 2), are:  the sensitisation and awareness raising with the aim of prevention in the fields of social services, education, health, and media and publicity;  the guarantee of access to a comprehensive system of support services, including economic support to victims;  strengthening of the legal framework in order to ensure a comprehensive and rapid protection to the victims of GBV. Additionally, the focus on vulnerable groups, such as immigrant and women with disabilities, has resulted in the approval of a specific plan, the Care and Gender Violence Prevention Plan among immigrant population (2009-2012).

Within this context, and with particular regard to the importance given to the importance of increasing awareness and knowledge on the different aspects related to the concept of gender based violence, the practice here presented is of particular relevance because it include the multi-dimension and holistic approach to domestic violence in a formal University curriculum The sustainability of the Master was granted by the high number of students that, since the very beginning, enrolled to the training course and that increased during its long implementation. This allowed an on-going financing and fundraising planning.

The entire process is assured through the methodology employed and the professional implementation of what has been learnt by the students, including judges, senators, policemen, psychologists, etc. According to that, the impact of the knowledge that has been taught is quite practical and it is implemented by the professionals in their own fields of occupation.

The Master proved to be very effective in terms of the high number of students involved and the used approach. The mix of online and on-site activities contributed to the efficiency of the training.In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets

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several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence.

First of all the training course provide a strong basis in human rights and gender analysis as well as a clear, appropriate and comprehensive definitions of domestic violence that was presented in a well-developed and multi-level training.

Moreover, the training directly involved as trainers specialists and experts who are daily tackling the issues related to violence and are dealing with victims.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL�

(Gender Equality) To teach how to implement methodologies and practices in order to improve the Objectives protection of women at risk of domestic violence contributing to increase gender equality in the country.

Gender equality During its period of implementation, the Master has involved till now 1800 students results from different areas of Spain and other countries (from a minimum of 220 to a maximum of 370 students per year).

The specific outcomes in terms of gender equality are not direct as in the case of other instruments. However, the development of the master is a key issue in order to develop the day-to-day work of those professionals involved in fighting against domestic violence such as policemen, psychologists, judges, lawyers, etc. Hence, the master constitutes an impulse to transform their traditional practices in favour of a different and more sensitive approach concerning the phenomenon helping them to decide the correct action and to raise awareness on the subject at the highest levels.

It is important that the master contributes to understand the violence from an interdisciplinary standpoint which has a positive influence on the actions that should be adopted in order to tackle it. And also, the master has influenced the individual attitudes towards gender violence.

Target groups Professionals and people in general that want to improve their knowledge on the origin and effects of gender-based violence.

Target groups include judges, senators, prosecutors, lawyers, psychologists, teachers, policemen, etc.

Aims, methods and The Master aims at providing an understanding of gender violence, giving to the tools used participants the capacity to identify situations in which it occurs. Following this approach to the subject, it presents the effective measures of protection and rehabilitation of victims and, finally, the tools for prevention.

It combines on-site and on line activities. It includes a virtual platform for online classrooms, 92 conferences and teaching material available in pdf format.

The topic of gender violence is studied holistically, that is to say from very different fields: educational, psychological, sociological, medical, media of communication, social assistance, judiciary, etc.

It encompass 10 obligatory courses: the origin and the transmission of gender violence; the language as an instrument of oppression; the subjects of gender violence: the offender and the victims; children as victims of gender violence; the persistence of women into violence; and the law and gender violence in Spain; the recovery of victims; psychological features of offenders; immigration and gender violence; and, disabilities and gender violence.

There is also one optional course which includes a research work (total 700 hours).

Moreover, the master provides a professional expert certificate for those students who have not attended to tertiary education and are interested in the issue.

Internal/external Two different evaluations are conducted every year at the end of the course. On one evaluation and/or hand, the university (UNED) launches a survey on global satisfaction on the monitoring of good provided training including seminars, conferences, didactic material, virtual practice platform, etc.

According to the results, the master has been one of the best UNED courses out of more than 600. On the other hand, the master professors also conduct their own 10

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved

internal evaluation with similar results in terms of global students´ satisfaction as many of them remark how the master has changed the way they understand and act to tackle domestic violence in their own fields of work.

Three aspects are frequently mentioned through which the good practice could be improved:  the didactic material could be updated, although the texts are generally from 2008-2011;  the virtual platform involves some technical difficulties at first but they can be rapidly solved;  it is difficult to organize face-to-face activities such as workshops as the students are widespread across Spain. However some workshops are already available and the major part of the students can follow them online through the virtual platform. In some cases the master has arranged local workshops with municipalities.

No specific plans. Until now the Master has been successful and will continue until students will want to enroll.

Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements TRANSFERABILITY Success factors      Main obstacles

 

Actual replication or spin-off effects LEARNING Lessons learned from the process

Sources Contacts



Attention to domestic violence on different target of women (it received the CERMI Award 2011 for its attention to disabled women).

Online Platform which allowed to reach a considerable number of beneficiaries.

Independence from political and educational entities.

Students have a high level of responsibility and are highly motivated due to their involvement in the issue.

Professors do not belong to the university but they are the best experts in each provided subject.

The implementation of the course was in some way difficult and its success is directly linked with the effort of the staff that gathered the experts and included them in the UNED Foundation courses.

One of the main obstacles once the course has been implemented is the selection of the students. In some occasions, male perpetrators of domestic violence have enrolled in the course in order to control their wives or boycott the course.

The course has been offered to be replicated in other universities and entities.

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Individual impulse to implement the master was very important.

Independence from other entities politically influenced is basic.

The means and resources have to be adequate.

The master boosts open-minded relations, tools and schemes in order to understand the scope of domestic violence. It is important to remark that the approach employed throughout the master lead to interdisciplinary practices and to overturn stereotypes and traditional perspectives.  As a diverse range of professionals are involved in the course, their interaction is quite positive and was useful to find alternative solutions to real problems they experience in their fields of work.  The master should be in permanent evolution depending on the profile of the students and professors. http://apliweb.uned.es/guia-cursoseduper/guia_curso.asp?id=504343&curso=2013 UNED Teresa San Segundo tsansegundo@der.uned.es

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Domestic Violence – TRAINING Specialised training on domestic violence for Grand Duchy future members of police forces Background and general information Name of the  Police department Organization  Profamilia  Femmes en détresse  Fondation Maison porte ouverte Contact person Kirsten Schmit Period 2004, on going Context analysis Domestic violence is addressed in the Luxembourgish National Action Plan for Equality between women and men.

The Plan follows a double approach, aiming at mainstreaming the gender dimension in all government policies and at taking affirmative actions. The current Plan covers the period from 2009 to 2014 and forms part of the Government program for the same legislative period. The Plan addresses the 12 critical areas of concern identified in the Beijing Platform for Action.

At ministerial level, a specific structure, the «Comité de coopération entre les professionnels dans le domaine de la lutte contre la violence» (infra, Cooperation Committee) deals with domestic violence as defined by the Law on domestic violence adopted on September 8, 2003.

As outlined in article III of the law on domestic violence adopted on September 8, 2003, the committee is to centralise and study statistics. Also, it is to oversee the practical implementation of articles I and II of the law on domestic violence adopted on September 8, 2003 and to monitor any potential problems, as well as to supervise the implementation of articles 1017-1 to 1017-12 of the new code of civil procedure and article 3-1 of the code of criminal procedure. Furthermore, the committee is to make any suggestions to the government it deems helpful.

The nine committee members are proposed by ministers with the respective competencies or by the registered domestic violence victims' organisations and appointed by the minister in charge of implementing equal opportunities for the term of five years and are renewable.

Within this context, the practice here presented is of particular relevance because it represents an effective tool to implement the Law on domestic violence. Police action in the field of domestic violence is constantly increasing (except in 2010) as well as the number of decision of eviction of authors. In 2011: 675 police actions and 331 decisions by the public prosecutor (49%) of eviction of authors. In 2011, only 4 cases of interventions were reported by NGOs has haven been problematic (1%) which is very low in comparison with other types of police actions.

This shows that the training of the police force, and the cooperation between all actors in the Cooperation Committee had a great impact and allowed a smooth and adequate implementation of the law. Permanent dialogue between Police force and other actors entails constant adaptation and finding concrete answers in domestic violence cases.

The practice sustainability and its efficiency are granted by being the training part of the mandatory training for police forces. It is also part of the mainstream work of various parties involved (such as trainers from NGOs).

In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence.

First of all the training is based on a victim centred approach and holds perpetrators accountable for the violence they use. Moreover the training is an on-going, mandatory process that is active since 2004 for all police staff.

Evaluation criteria 12

1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) Objectives

Gender results

equality

Target groups Aims, methods and tools used

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved

Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements TRANSFERABILITY

The long term objective of the practice is to contribute to decreasing domestic violence in Luxembourg. The short-term objective is to offer protection to victims of violence.

The law is a clear signal to victims and authors that Luxembourg authorities do not tolerate domestic violence and that it is the author that should leave its house and not for the victims.

In 2004, 36 weeks of training were delivered to 20 to 30 participants, so approximately 1000 police members. Since then, every year, an additional 60 new police staff are trained. The specific training of Police force ensures that victims are protected, that police give all necessary information to all parties involved (victim and author) and allow the public prosecutor to take an informed decision on eviction of the author.

Police forces The practice is aimed at giving specialised training on domestic violence to Grand Duchy future members of police forces.

Training programme and tools to support the correct implementation of the Law of 2003 on eviction of domestic violence perpetrators have been developed by the victims’ support organisations Profamilia; Femmes en détresse; and Fondation Maison porte ouverte. All police forces receive basic training for two years when being recruited. A specific module on domestic violence is now provided.

The basic training delivered to all new police members contains a specific module on domestic violence. It consists of three parts: 1- psychological aspects of domestic violence (e.g. Cycle of violence); 2- police interventions in the context of the law on eviction and how to work with domestic violence victims and perpetrators; the new mechanisms provided by the law; 3- how to record the incidents and the intervention in minutes and report that have to be transmitted to the State Prosecutor.

The training was also offered to police forces already in place in 2003 when the law was adopted. Besides the training, specific tools to support the police in their interventions have been designed, checklists, protocols of intervention (internal to police forces); crime reporting and a specific card of information for victims and perpetrators of violence (available in 13 languages).

The smooth implementation of the new law on domestic violence, sanctioned in 2003, attested by external evaluation carried out 2006 and the regular monitoring by the Cooperation Committee, confirms that the training, within the whole range of measures adopted, works well and no major problems have been noticed in the implementation of the law by police forces.

Until now, the training itself has not been evaluated. In the future a satisfaction questionnaire will be systematically distributed and collected at the end of each training.

The law is currently under revision to add a component on support services towards authors. This will mean an adaptation of police intervention and a necessary update of the training for all police forces. The improvement process is currently linked to a better implementation of the law. In the future, following the ex-post evaluation questionnaire to trainees, it will be possible to see if improvement to the training itself are needed.

The State is financing all services necessary for the good implementation of the law.

Therefore, existing institutional arrangements are securing the financial and human resources necessary for the delivery of training to police force and updated when needed.

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Success factors

Main obstacles

Actual replication or spin-off effects

LEARNING Lessons learned from the process

Sources

Contacts

 The training is part of the formal police curriculum.  Specialists working with victims are involved in training delivery.  The training is complemented by a regular monitoring of police action through a specific Committee created by the law, involving all actors concerned by the implementation of the law.  The practice (content of the training itself) is linked to the design of the law and institutional arrangements in place so if the law changes, the training will change also.  Intervention principle differ in EU countries, even in countries which comparable law (eviction of authors).

Annual Exchanges with police force from German neighbouring landers are organised on problems and good experience in operational actions in the field of domestic violence. The German law on eviction of the perpetrator has a lot of similarities so these exchanges are valuable for police forces. However, there are also specificities on intervention regulations that may constitute obstacles to transferability.  The creation by the law itself of a Cooperation Committee allows all actors involved in the fight against domestic violence to report regularly on their practices, difficulties encountered, good practices.  It is important that all partners know what others are doing and can adapt and exchange on their practices to have a smooth implementation of the law. This is reflected constantly in the basic training to Police force delivered by Police trainers and trainers from NGOs working with victims of domestic violence All public documents of the Cooperation committee that comprise statistics of police actions and eviction are available at: http://www.mega.public.lu/actions_projets/lutte_contre_violence/index.html Police Grand-Ducale, Direction de la circonscription régionale de Luxembourg Kristin.schmit@police.etat.lu

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Domestic Violence – TRAINING Specialized training for professionals working in statutory agencies represented in the Working group on prevention and elimination of intimate partner violence against women in Košice (Špecializované vzdelávanie pre zamestnancov štátnych a verejných inštitúcií reprezentujúcich Pracovnú skupinu pre prevenciu a elimináciu partnerského násilia na ženách v meste Košice)

Background and general information Name of the Joint initiative of Fenestra - women’s non-governmental organization, Košice, Organization Slovakia - and Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic - Committee for crime prevention of the Slovak Government (funding body) Contact person Dušana Karlovská Period 2008 Context analysis In Slovakia, national political agenda on domestic violence and violence against women is closely associated with gender equality policies. Equality between men and women entered the political agenda in the second half of the 90s mainly as the result of international commitments undertaken by the Slovak Republic for the accession process. Until 2004, VAW was part of the national plans for women (1997) and framed within the context of equal opportunities for women and men (2001). The approval of a strategy addressing VAW went together with numerous struggles, discussions, staff changes and pressure from NGOs. The main conflict was related to the recognition of the concept of gender-based violence and with the choice of targeting exclusively at women 8. Following a holistic approach (criminal law, delivery of assistance, prevention and research) a strong coordination among all stakeholders was deemed as essential 9. This was especially true when considering that in view of the cross-cutting nature of the issue, the actors in VAW policy represent all the relevant areas: security and protection system, criminal law system, social and health sector, civil society and research. The most involved ministries have been the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health of the Slovak republic.

In accordance with the decentralisation and democratisation process, more and more responsibilities have been delegated to the authorities of the regions. At the same time, the NGOs play a significant and indisputable role; they even substitute the state responsibility for tackling the domestic violence.

Within this context, the training here presented is of particular relevance bringing together different professionals with different background and different roles in dealing with domestic violence. The training proved to be effective in terms of the dissemination of the same and standardized procedures and the support for women surviving domestic violence. It enabled the exchange of information and knowledge of specific agencies in the field. The training is built on domestic violence definition based on international documents and agreements that define violence against women as gender-based violence, and as the cause and consequence of historically and socially constructed imbalance of power between men and women. These assumptions give a good foundation for impact on wider environment in terms of preserving the focus of the agenda on gender equality, but also to highlight gender inequalities in other areas, such as the risk of poverty for women experiencing violence, threat to women's bodies in consequence of inappropriate or insufficient response of state and self-governmental agencies. The training sustainability and efficiency were guaranteed by the fact that it was embedded within the framework 8 Barbara Holubová, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THE ROLE OF GENDER EQUALITY, SOCIAL INCLUSION AND HEALTH STRATEGIES, National report prepared for the EGGSI Network, European Commission, 2010.

9

The National Strategy on Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Women and in Families.

15

of a broader project directed to foster a multi- agency approach amongst the members of the Working group for the prevention and elimination of VAW in Košice. In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all it is based on a victim centred and multiagency approach that brought together several different organisations actively involved in the phenomena of domestic violence trough the drafting of formal protocols. Moreover during its implementation, it involved experts directly working with victims.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) The training was part of a project aimed to foster the cooperation between the Objectives institutions responsible and involved in tackling domestic violence in order to find a common way to tackle the phenomena of domestic violence and thus contributing to enhance gender equality in the country.

Gender equality 36 professional were trained, they assessed positively the information delivered results during the training and the possibility of exchanging their experiences with different professionals. Positive achieved results have been the construction of informal channels of cooperation amongst professionals working with women surviving violence and exchanging knowledge on agencies procedures of intervention in the support or prevention of domestic violence.

Target groups Police officers, social workers, health professionals, psychologists, lawyers – advocates Aims, methods and The training aims were: tools used  to strengthen appropriate interventions and cooperation amongst professionals belonging to the Working group for prevention and elimination of violence against women in town Kočice (working since 2008);  to create a learning platform for meetings and exchange of knowledge of the involved institutions.

Four catchment areas of Košice were chosen: Košice – Sever, Košice – West, Košice – Dargovských hrdinov a Košice – Nad Jazerom.

The main institutions responsible for domestic violence service delivery from each catchment area were chosen. The first criterion was the potential of the institution to be the place of first contact for women surviving partner violence and searching for support/help:  police stations;  offices of social affairs and family;  hospitals;  field social workers;  centres of psychological consulting and prevention;  departments of misdemeanours.

Professionals working in the above mentioned selected institutions were the target of the specialized training–workshops. The workshops - trainings gathered different professionals and sensitise them on the subject of partner violence. The main topics developed during the training were: common myths related to intimate partner violence, its real causes and nature, the risk factors, the safety of women, who is responsible for violence against woman, the health impact of intimate partner violence on women and their children.

Special training material - a manual was created describing detailed competences and procedures of each support agencies in case of intimate partner violence. The chapters focused on specific area of intervention were created by the representatives of the agencies – members of the Working group for prevention and elimination of violence against women in town Kočice.

Internal/external No evaluation or monitoring of the training as such has been conducted. However

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evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved

the decision to design training for professionals from different public institutions was the result of monitoring activities of the situation of support and protection of women surviving domestic violence in the town of Košice in 2008. The monitoring revealed strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of development in this field. One of the revealed weaknesses was the lack of training and education of public agencies personnel involved in working with women surviving domestic violence.  A first step further would be to formalise procedures through the approval of protocols of intervention within each agency and amongst agencies that work together.  A second step further would be to transform the training in an on-going practice.  A third step further would be to periodically evaluate the training delivery.

In spite of the involvement of national Ministry of the Interior in the initiative, no specific plans are actually on.

Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements TRANSFERABILITY Success factors  The practice was grounded in practice and started from monitoring activities that reveal the need of training and education amongst professionals of different agencies that had to coordinate their response to domestic violence.  The practice was build upon a multiagency approach involving different representatives from statutory agencies working with domestic violence victims.  The practice brings to the elaboration of a manual – by agency representatives – directed to describe appropriate intervention procedures for each agencies involved.

Main obstacles  The transferability of the training may be limited due to the specific composition of people / institutions involved in multiagency approach.  Moreover, the typology of institutions involved in the training is associated with legislation setting and the resulting responsibilities of the particular institutions.

Actual replication or The training was a model for other regions to start similar cooperation (e.g. region spin-off effects of Prešov), showing that the practice could be transferred and a learning example also in other contexts.

The manual is available online on the website of Fenestra and could be used by any statutory agency willing to improve their professional support in cases of domestic violence.

LEARNING Lessons learned from  The starting point of a positive training experience is the analysis of training needs amongst the targeted professionals. the process  Multi-agency training has the potential to initiate multi-agency cooperation amongst different agencies.  Knowledge exchange amongst different agencies on how to respond to domestic violence might be put forward by the elaboration of a manual that “make the point” on individual agencies appropriate procedures.

Sources http://www.fenestra.sk/ Contacts Dušana Karlovská, email: fenestra@fenestra.sk; dusana@fenestra.sk; Festivalové námestie 2, 041 90, Košice, Slovakia

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Domestic Violence – VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICE Standards and recommendations for working with male perpetrators in the context of interagency cooperative alliances against domestic violence (Standards und Empfehlungen fuer die Arbeit mit maennlichen Taetern) Background and general information Name of the Federal association for work with perpetrators of domestic violence Organization (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Täterarbeit Häusliche Gewalt - BAG TäHG - e. V.) Contact person Kay Wegner Period 2007, on going Context analysis In Germany, the public awareness of gender specific violence is part of the emergence of the women’s movement in the 1970s, where rape and sexual violence was brought up in the discussion. To combat gender-specific violence, the government has developed since 1999 National Action Plans (NAP). The programmes at Federal Level are interconnected with initiatives at Federal State (Länder) level and with projects by non-governmental actors.

As cooperative alliances against domestic violence started to emerge in the 1980s and sexual abuse within families was systematically integrated as a crime (Straftaten gegen sexuelle Selbstbestimmung) and was followed by the foundation of help facilities for victims of sexual abuse, increasing calls were made for perpetrators of domestic violence to be held accountable for their violent behaviour.

For a long time, there was no consensus on what form this process of accountability should take. However, incorporating work with perpetrators into cooperative alliances against domestic violence has been growing especially since 2002. A certain number of agencies can now look back over several years of experience in the provision of social training courses in the context of intervention projects.

Within this context, and in particular with regard to the increasing importance given to the work to be done with perpetrators, the practice here presented is of particular relevance because through the development of standards, the work with perpetrators became much more professional all over Germany and this led to the actual situation where working with perpetrators is regarded as an important contribution for victim protection. The practice’s sustainability was granted and supported by the existence of a Federal association for work with perpetrators of domestic violence that worked and continued to work on these issues within their own activities.

Successful work with perpetrators had/has a strong impact to prevent women and children from further violence. If a perpetrator really changes his behaviour and his attitudes concerning violence and gender-roles, this has to be regarded as a great success for gender equality as well as for crime prevention. Even the economic value may be taken into account: the project evaluation estimated the costs of domestic violence for the general public. This leads to the conclusion that an effective reduction of domestic violence is cost-saving.

Working with perpetrators according the standards of the BAG TäHG was considered to be quite effective even if the samples were quite small and there is not yet a large German-wide study proving the effectiveness of this methodology.

In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all it definitely identifies and holds perpetrators accountable for the violence they use.

Moreover, it is based on a multiagency approach that was able to achieve an effective coordination among all the 37 organizations working with perpetrators in Germany. The standards were designed after a long monitoring and evaluation process of the interventions for perpetrators carried out in Germany in order to move from grounded experience and not only on theoretical assumptions.

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Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) Objectives Gender equality results

Target groups Aims, methods and tools used

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

To identify specific standards for the work to be carried out with perpetrators and thus to contribute to fight against domestic violence and to increase gender equality.

The first standards were adopted in May 2007 in Mainz by all the 37 organizations working with perpetrators in Germany and explain the basis of their own work approach and methodology of group setting. Since then a working group of the "Federal Association working with offenders of domestic violence e.V." (BAG TäHG e.V.) is still dealing with the development of the standards in order to adapt them to the social development, the current state of research and the increasing experience of all those who work against domestic violence.

Professional working with perpetrators The standard defined by the Federal Association constitutes a new tool for the work with perpetrators of domestic violence. The tool helps to provide counselling services providing different modules for the work with perpetrators, in order to support the work with violent men and make the activities more transparent and verifiable.

The standards design was based on a long process which brought together many years of experience and scientific knowledge as the basis for further work with perpetrators of domestic violence. During 2005, 2006 and 2007 nationwide professional meetings were held, with the support of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). These meetings involved 37 organizations working with offenders from all over Germany and were aimed to develop common quality standards for the perpetrator work with domestic violence offenders in the Federal Republic of Germany. The draft standards were discussed with representatives of the National Conference of intervention projects, the Federation of counselling centres and help lines, and the Federation of women shelters.

Perpetrators programmes share a focused and structured approach to acts of violence by men towards their partners or ex-partners. Methods used are varied, but on the whole they are based on cognitive behaviour therapy.

The standards definition was based on the scientific monitoring of the intervention projects against domestic violence. From 2000-2004 eight programs for perpetrators of domestic violence were evaluated and showed that changes in behaviour can be achieved by perpetrators programs sustained by judicial requirements. The majority of men who have completed a perpetrator program accepted responsibility for their violent behaviour and are able to cope with the needs and autonomy of partner. Furthermore, in the case of participants completing the course, general social skills, an understanding of their own needs and the ability to deal with conflict was considered to be better than at the beginning of the course.

Several partners of participants, who were interviewed during the course of the evaluation, described similar impressions.

The practice could have been improved if several specialized task groups would have simultaneously worked on different issues provided by the standards.

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved Plans to gather At the moment the Federal association for work with perpetrators of domestic financial resources violence is only supported by member fees. and/or institutional There are plans to increase fund raising through several foundations and public arrangements funding.

TRANSFERABILITY Success factors  Basic requirements for the work were agreed on and especially the integration of perpetrator work in cooperative alliances was regarded as an important 19

Main obstacles Actual replication or spin-off effects LEARNING Lessons learned from the process

Sources Contacts

precondition for effective work. Very important was the fact that the standards were developed in cooperation with women shelter institutions that brought in the point of view of victims.  The standards were prepared not in an abstract way, but grounding on experience of associations working both with perpetrators and victims.  Shortage of public funding that may limit the development of the initiative.

The standards are not binding, but the Federal association for work with perpetrators of domestic violence has become a national contact point for the work with perpetrators that many Laendern are actually carrying out.  It is important to break the cycle of domestic violence through the work with perpetrators in order to made them taking responsibility for their actions and stop their violent behaviour.  The work with perpetrator should necessarily carry out to complement the offer to protect women and children.

Website: www.bmfsfj.de/RedaktionBMFSFJ/Broschuerenstelle/Pdf-Anlagen/standards Kay Wegner Managing committee/chairman of the Federal association for work with perpetrators of domestic violence Kay.wegner@bag-taeterarbeit.de

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Domestic Violence – VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES Court Watching for monitoring the implementation of the Law on victims’ protection against Domestic Violence Background and general information Name of the Joint initiative of SOS - Families at risk (Varna) and Open Society Institute Organization Contact person Mrs. Anna Nikolova Period 2005, on going Context analysis The most specific feature of the policy approaches in the area of violence against women in Bulgaria is the importance of the legal framework and the involvement of law enforcement institutions. There is a firm belief that only a law can change the situation in a case of a serious social problem such as domestic violence and trafficking in human beings. These are not just individual problems of the people who are suffering from violence, but public problems. In accordance with the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence (adopted in March 2005) the responsible institutions elaborated a National Programme on Prevention and Protection against Domestic Violence. The first programme has been approved for the period 20072008. While challenges remain for all sectors, the response to domestic violence since the law passed in Bulgaria has been encouraging. Its effective implementation is essential for the realization of victim safety and accountability for offenders in Bulgaria. Bulgaria’s non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been instrumental in this progress through their initiatives in training, victim support, and coordination among government sectors.

Within this context the practice of domestic violence court watch here presented is of particular relevance because it provides an independent monitoring activity of the law implementation. It also contributes to enhance its impact by involving the mass media in the communication of the results of the monitoring of judicial practices in cases of domestic violence. The court watch project started in 2006 at both Varna Regional and at Varna District Court. 2006 is the year when The Memorandum for cooperation between Varna Regional Court and SOS families at risk Foundation had been signed and agreed upon. The Memorandum itself is not limited in time, moreover it is believed that is going to be expanded for other Laws soon, such as the Law to combat trafficking in human beings, cases under the Criminal Code, etc.

Court watch methodology stands for active civil society and it supports judicial reform efforts. Observation of judicial practices prevents or at least limited decisions to be biased by prejudices and discriminative attitudes towards different clients or subjects and makes the practice a little more predictable.

Given the Agreement of the relevant court for cooperation, the sustainability of this practice depends on two main factors: on the one hand financial resource for activities which require funds to happen (such as conducting surveys, reports preparation, events organizations, etc.) and on the other human resource involved and motivated on a voluntary principle.

An approximate estimate of the cost to perform extensive court monitoring of the Law for protection against domestic violence could be of €8.000 annually, the efficiency of the practice is proved then by the fact it is quite a “low cost” intervention. The effectiveness of court watching is attested by the fact that the presence of an observer in the court room reduces the likelihood of mistreatments and underestimation of the client’s situation. Statistical data also show the improvement of indicators such as: number/rate of immediate orders for protections, average range of measures included in the final decisions, average duration of the lawsuit, etc.

21

In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all the court watch was based on a victim centred approach that hold perpetrators accountable for the violence they use; it presents strong basis in human rights and gender analysis and involved victims and their representatives during its implementation. Moreover, it is a victim safety oriented practice that is monitored and asses during all its implementation period.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) The court watch was conducted in order to monitor the implementation of the new Objectives law on domestic violence indirectly contributing to the increase of gender equality in the country.

Gender equality Drawing from the court watching results recommendations for the improvement of results the implementation of the law have been made. Results are also related to the increased and continuous awareness of the judiciary, more effective protection of victims, directing the latter for further protection by NGOs and police, awareness of media and society.

Target groups Judicial system (lawyers and judges) Aims, methods and tools used

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

The court watch project started in 2006 at both Varna Regional and at Varna District Court, following inspiration given by a lawyer who participated in court watch in the US. The watch was conducted by four non-for-profit organizations: "Demetra" Association (Burgas), "Youth Alliance" Association – Varna, "NGO centre in Ragzrad" and "Bulgarian gender research centre" Foundation (Sofia) The aim of the practice are:  to obtain information on demographic characteristics of the victims and the perpetrators, about the results of the imposed penalties (for instance, whether the fines have been paid), about the quantity and the quality of the work the judges and their auxiliaries have carried out.  to improve the effectiveness of protection of victims of domestic violence;  to raise the awareness of judges and prosecutors on the issue of victims protection;  to increase the visibility and publicity of justice done in cases of domestic violence.

Given the efforts to expand the court watch practice in other places where members of the Alliance for protection against domestic violence are present, on average 5 to 10 volunteers in each of the10 towns have been trained and prepared to conduct observations in their local Courts. It consists in weekly monitoring of the cases related to domestic violence in the district and regional court through specially trained monitors, following an ad hoc designed questionnaire for each proceeding and in processing the questionnaires. Further court watch was implemented to see whether the new Domestic Violence Protection Act had been upheld. The implementation was assessed by different parameters: the activity organization in the courts, meeting deadlines, the reasons for delay and postponement of cases, etc.

A year after the act was adopted court watch helped to identify a number of important problems: the intervention of the court in the cases of domestic violence can produce effects only in combination with victims support and perpetrators programmes foreseen in the law; people are unfamiliar with the law, it is necessary to intensify law promotion campaigns; lawyers need training.

Statistical data comparison between 2010 and 1011 shows that for 2010 the number of immediate orders is 13 followed by 18 subsequent orders for protection, while for 2011 the number of immediate orders is 34 followed by 29 subsequent orders for protection. Related to the above said the number of terminated or withdrawals by

22

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved

the client compared as follows: 11 for 2010 and 10 for 2012. The average duration for lawsuits under the Law for protection against domestic violence seems to be above 2 to 3 months ant the tendency seem to show shortening and for 2011 seems to be below 2 months.

From the analysis of the results obtained through court watch, the following recommendation were made:  the intervention of the court in the cases of domestic violence can produce effects only in combination with the support on victims and influence on perpetrators’ social programmes stipulated in the law;  the main practice in the enforcement of the law is centred in big cities where civil organizations in support of victims and court watch have been set up. However, outside these organizations people are faintly familiar with the law; hence victims do not take advantage of the opportunities offered. This is why it is necessary to intensify law promotion campaigns. Providing lawyers with education is vitally important as well.  Periodically the Observer’s card has to be revised and re-elaborated to respond to current aims and gain new significant information.  Annual feedback questionnaires and interviews on the side of representatives from the judicial system, such as lawyers, judges, prosecutors, etc could be carried out.

Annual projects within the National Programme on Prevention and Protection against Domestic Violence financed by the Ministry of justice may support the activity on a local level. Resources gathered by the Alliance may be dedicated to the action as well.

Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements TRANSFERABILITY Success factors     Main obstacles 

Actual replication or spin-off effects

LEARNING Lessons learned from the process

Sources Contacts

It provides the judicial system with an external independent monitoring system.

It provides the availability of empirical data on the implementation of the law.

It enhances public information on law effectiveness.

It supports law reform through empirical observation of cases.

In order to expand the court watch over a wider range of cases – not only those cases initiated by the NGOs – there is the need to rely on timely provided and filtered schedule from the Court of cases under this specific Law. This aspect proved to be critical.

The Open Society Institute (Sofia) funded the first project as part of its programme for promoting judicial reform and human rights protection in Bulgaria. A year after it was launched, it has produced positive results and extended in other regions of the countries. Four projects were then chosen for funding in Sofia, Varna, Burgas and Razgrad. The court monitoring has been disseminated through the Alliance for Protection against Domestic Violence in 11 towns in Bulgaria.

After the first projects were funded, every organization continued to monitor the court as an important part of its activity. Other donor organizations such as the judicial system strengthening initiative of the US Agency for International Development also give court watch a high priority. This provides other civil organizations with a chance to use and develop this practice as well.  Where institutional bodies/initiatives are lacking, court watch is a powerful tool available for civil society organisations to monitor the implementation of the law and to promote law reform.  The Watch proved itself as useful and effective in the assistance and support of victims.  More organizations decide to develop and conduct programs for perpetrators, because one of the measures under the Law is to oblige them to participate in rehabilitation programs, and this will possibly raise effectiveness of the process.

Annual statistics SOS ”Families at risk” Foundation Mrs. Anna Nikolova; Bulgaria, 9002 Varna, 32 Slavyanska str. ; sos@ssi.bg; an_nikolova@abv.bg 23

Domestic Violence – VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICE Medical Intervention against violence (Model project MIGG - Medizinische Intervention gegen Gewalt) Background and general information Name of the  Signal e. V. (Berlin) Organization  GESINE-Netzwerk (Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis)  Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Dusseldorf (for Kiel and Munich, in cooperation with the local Institutes of Forensic Medicine, University Hospitals) Contact person Brigitte Sellach, Gesellschaft für Sozialwissenschaftliche Frauen- und Genderforschung e. V. (GSF e. V.) Period 2008-2011 (pilot phase) Context analysis In Germany, the public awareness of gender specific violence is part of the emergence of the women’s movement in the 1970s, where rape and sexual violence was brought up in the discussion. The following creation of women’s refuges and installation of women’s help lines as well as the specific programmes for the protection and promotion of girls made the topic an integral part of politics. In the 1980s, sexual abuse within families was systematically integrated as a crime (Straftaten gegen sexuelle Selbstbestimmung) and was followed by the foundation of help facilities for victims of sexual abuse. Through this, domestic violence against women and children was recognised and received more public attention. To combat gender-specific violence, the government has developed since 1999 National Action Plans (NAP). Core of the first NAP was the introduction of legal acts (such as the “Protection against Violence Act” - Gesetz zur Verbesserung des zivilrechtlichen Schutzes bei Gewalttaten und Nachstellungen, Gewaltschutzgesetz, GwschG) which enhance the criminal prosecution of violence – especially of domestic violence. The programmes at Federal Level are interconnected with initiatives at Federal State (Länder) level and with projects by non-governmental actors. Several initiatives at Länder level aim at awareness-raising of the public in general and of experts in this field in particular.

In September 2007, the federal government launched "The second Action Plan of the Federal Government to combat violence against women" in order to provide answers to the current challenges for the protection of women affected by violence and their children. A key focus of the plan is the health care sector. After the positive experience in the clinical area, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth in the context of the Action Plan II has launched a pilot project to ensure appropriate assistance of women victims charged in-patient medical care system.

Within this context, and in particular with regard to the importance given to the health care sector as a crucial one in fighting against domestic violence, the practice here presented is of particular relevance because represents the implementation of a pilot model for the identification of a synergic way through which medical intervention to victims of violence can be carried out. The sustainability of the project was guaranteed by the funding coming from "The second Action Plan of the Federal Government to combat violence against women" as a specific pilot project to ensure appropriate assistance to women victims of violence who come in contact with the medical care system. The pilot project had a great impact in creating a model that can be implemented nationwide increasing the attention and the possibility of intervention by health professionals. The pilot activities in five different areas proved its effectiveness in terms of doctors and medical associations involved as in terms of its capacity of involving and enhancing local 24

networks of different organisations working with victims of domestic violence.

Public funds were well invested and the practice increased the efficiency of public health sector and professionals in tackling these issues. In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all the practice was based on a clear, appropriate and comprehensive definition of domestic violence that helped health professionals in increasing their capacity of providing a comprehensive tailored information and support to the victims and of screening. Moreover, the practice is based on a multiagency approach involving many different (public and private) organisations dealing within the field of domestic violence.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) MIGG is the German medical intervention model aimed to improve the health care Objectives treatment of women victims of domestic violence and increase awareness of health care professionals on the issue. Doctors were assisted in identifying and addressing the consequences of violence, the court proof documentation and the professional handling violent loaded patients in their practice.

The aim of the three-year and performed at five locations project was mainly the introduction and testing of an intervention program for the training and awareness of physicians in their own practices. Moreover, the important cooperation and networking between outpatient medical care, and the existing regional emergency violence support centre was tested.

Gender equality During its period of implementation (2008-2011), the intervention model, based on results international Standards for health unites in different medical sectors, was tested with several self-employed medical practitioners in 5 regions of Germany (including both rural and urban areas Berlin, Düsseldorf, Kiel, München and Ennepe-RuhrKreis).

A total of 136 doctors (77 female and 60 male with different qualification internist, gynaecologists in the ambulance treatment) were trained on how to approach women victims of violence and where they can get further help by supporting the network development of organisations working with women victims of violence.

Training was very successful as testified by interviews with both trainers and trainees. Also, organisations and authorities working with women victims of violence were involved, in order to improve the network structures and integrate the health care in their overall intervention. The best outcome with regard to the latter was in Berlin because networking was further carried out also after the end of the pilot project and was additionally financed by the Berlin Government. In general, in all the five areas the pilot project was able to produce multiplier effects.

Target groups Health professionals (Doctors) Aims, methods and tools used

The MIGG model is aimed at developing unified standards for the treatment of women victims of violence in the emergency rooms and in specialist ambulatories/departments and at identifying the main warning signs - known as Red flags – that may be indicative of domestic violence and should cause more attention from health personnel. A specific focus was also given to different target of victims such as migrant women and women with disability.

In order to do this, an intense exchange with universities and health care unites is done offering:  support for preparing the documentation of injuries in order to be used in a court of law;  specialistic advice;  posters and information for patients as assistance for health education;  training and information events;  internet platform.

25

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved

Health care professionals were trained and received information material and training materials on documentation, communication, legislations, and on regional networks working with women victims of violence (both NGOs and judiciary system). Standards for practice were presented and implemented. The intervention standards are an evidence-based plan of action for the medical care of women victims of domestic violence. During the implementation, doctors were supported by the pilot project partners.

The pilot project was evaluated by Gesellschaft für Sozialwissenschaftliche Frauenund Genderforschung e. V. (GSF e. V.) that carried out interviews with both trainers and trainees during the project pilot phase. Other methods of evaluation were questionnaires for trainers and trainees, participating monitory of the trainings, interviews with the members of the board and a continuous counselling to the project managers. Staff members were social scientists and medical doctors, also self-employed practitioners.

A result of the evaluation is also an implementation guide for those who want to implement it with practical examples and recommendations.

As a pilot project, the MIGG Model allowed to test and to implement standards for medical care and treatment of women victims of domestic violence. The implementation of the model nationwide will require additional financial resources to increase the number of doctors and medical specialisations involved.

There are plans of implementing the model in all Germany and, to this end, to gather financial resources from different Laendern.

Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements TRANSFERABILITY Success factors 

Main obstacles

Actual replication or spin-off effects

LEARNING Lessons learned from

Partners’ great experience and competence in the field. The Gesine Network is the WAVE focal point on Health in Germany and, since 2004 it is working on intervention models for improving the treatment of women victims of violence helping health professionals to better recognise violence and treat adequately, also considering psychological aspects.  A multiagency approach with a strong networking involving both violence associations and medical organisations, associations of general practitioners.  The identification of a systematic routine screening to detect domestic violence victims in emergency rooms and other health departments supported by a comprehensive tailored information and support.  A strong commitment and involvement of all the people and organizations working in the project.  Being a pilot project financed by the Federal Government allowed to dedicate to the entire project phases enough time and resources that increased the possibility of obtaining good results.  Doctors are a difficult target group because they have their own standards and procedures, so it was quite difficult at the beginning of the project to gather and to convince them that domestic violence and the treatment of victims is important and that they had to better qualify for this.  To avoid the obstacle and introducing new standards/procedures, the engagement/commitment of medical associations was an important tool, but not enough: the personal contact with all the doctors involved was more effective.

At the moment, the model is still implemented in Berlin and Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, financially supported by the governments of Berlin and Nordrhein-Westfalen. In Munchen, Kiel and Dusseldorf an ambulance at the institutes of legal medicine of the university is working for women who are victims of domestic violence financed by the Laender Governments. 

In order to move from a pilot project to a stable activity, extra financial 26

the process

Sources Contacts

support is necessary in order to increase the number of practitioners to be trained for implementing and to support the network.  Multiagency cooperation is essential to achieve a great impact on the whole system.  Support from medical associations is quite important, but also personal relationships established with the involved doctors are essential.  The involvement of good experts for the training is crucial to increase the health professional participation to the training sessions.

Website: www.bbbj.gesundheit-und-gewalt.de Dr. Brigitte Sellach, Gesellschaft für Sozialwissenschaftliche Frauen- und Genderforschung e. V. (GSF e. V.) sellach@gsfev.de

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Domestic Violence – VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES The RESPECT Accreditation Standard and process Background and general information Name of the RESPECT Organization Contact person Joanne Creighton - Neil Blacklock Period 2003, on-going Context analysis In the UK violence against women has traditionally been framed as a criminal justice issue and the focus has been predominantly on domestic violence and to a lesser extent sexual violence. Since 1997 action has been taken to improve the provision for victims of these crimes in criminal justice terms. There have been new legislative acts, new specialist domestic violence courts and specialist advisors. In England and Wales there have been some important legislative and policy developments which improve the ways victims of violence are handled by the criminal justice system. There have been also policy developments addressing perpetrators’ programs especially those connected with the Criminal Justice System.

Within this context, the practice here presented is of particular relevance because it addressed the problem of perpetrators’ programs standardisation, trying to inform developments through the proposal of minimum standards that guarantee the quality of the programs. The development of the standard and the pilot of the assessment process were supported through grants from the Lankelly Chase Foundation and the Home Office. Accreditation provides a recognised framework for delivering programmes in many different ways, allowing skilled practitioners and effective projects to gain recognition for their work, to support safe practice and to assist with fundraising. Practitioners, policy makers and researchers have been involved in developing and testing these requirements.

The effectiveness of the process is proved by its developments: there are now nine RESPECT accredited organisations in the UK. A further four projects have accreditation assessments in process. Additionally, there are five organisations that have demonstrated that they have met the new safe minimum practice standard.

Organisations with accreditation have been better at weathering the financial crisis because they are good value for money, have strong management and because they are organisations that are thinking ahead.

The Accreditation process has had an impact on new services that are now setting up using the standard as the template for the service, making their journey to accreditation smoother. Since the launch of the accreditation process RESPECT aimed to make it self-financing to guarantee sustainability. For the past four years RESPECT has managed to meet costs through accreditation fees and has also managed to hold fees at the same level since accreditation started, so efficiency has been guaranteed.

In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all it is a safety oriented practice that holds perpetrators accountable for the violence they use. Moreover it has a strong basis in human rights and gender analysis and it is based on an anti-discriminatory approach with the recognition of women/victims and men/perpetrator diversity.

It provides a clear, appropriate and comprehensive definition of domestic violence, guidance and supervision.

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Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) The practice objective is to propose perpetrators programs organisations a process Objectives of accreditation that attests the quality level of their intervention inviting them to adhere to RESPECT’ standards.

Gender equality The development of the standard involved RESPECT members and external results stakeholders in over a two year period of consultation and testing of assessment processes. RESPECT has now completed 24 assessments of organisations providing a Domestic Violence Prevention Programme (DVPP) and an Integrated Support Service (ISS) for the partners and ex-partners of those attending the DVPP. The organisations assessed range from charities with a turnover of more than a million pounds to small organisations operating on less than £100,000 per year. They include multi-agency partnerships, stand-alone charities, statutory agencies and large national charities where the Domestic Violence Prevention Service (DVPS) makes up only one element of their overall service provision. The background of the organisations and the staff they employ varies, including criminal justice, child protection, family counselling, psychotherapy, psychology and specialist domestic violence professionals.

The Accreditation process is supported by RESPECT’s Membership Officer, Development Director, RESPECT Assessors, RESPECT Accreditation Panel Chair and Members. There are now nine RESPECT accredited organisations in the UK. A further four projects have accreditation assessments in process. Additionally, there are five organisations that have demonstrated that they have met the new safe minimum practice standard. Competitive tendering processes are becoming increasingly commonplace. Accreditation has been developed so that members of the public, funders, commissioning agencies and other professionals can be assured of a high quality, safety-focused service from organisations accredited by RESPECT. The Standard and assessment methods will be reviewed every three years to ensure that they are updated as knowledge and experience expand.

Target groups Organisations working with perpetrators of domestic violence.

Aims, methods and tools used

The RESPECT Accreditation Standard applies to all organisations providing domestic violence prevention programmes (DVPPs) working with men who use intimate partner violence (IPV), and also providing integrated safety services (ISS) for partners and ex-partners of these perpetrators. This document (‘the Standard’) sets out all the requirements for the management and operation of these services. It sets out the evidence that will be sought to demonstrate that an organisation meets these requirements. It also provides guidance on how the requirements can be met.

Accreditation has been developed so that members of the public, funders, commissioning agencies and other professionals can be assured of a high quality, safety-focused service from organisations accredited by RESPECT. The requirements have been developed from the lessons learnt from available research and practice. Practitioners, policy makers and researchers have been involved in developing and testing these requirements. The Standard and assessment methods will be reviewed every three years to ensure that they are updated as knowledge and experience expand. Organisations must meet all the requirements of the Standard in order to become accredited. The 2nd edition of the Standard is available. It has drawn on lessons from the first 24 assessments and integrates the feedback from a consultation with RESPECT members and external stakeholders.

RESPECT provides high quality support and information designed to meet the needs of our members to enable them to meet the requirements of the Standard.

This support includes:  the RESPECT t resource manual, containing sample policies, procedures and other 29

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice Ways in which the good practice could have been improved Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements

 documents;  training, information and support for organisations seeking to provide services in line with the service standard;  the Redamos case and data management system;  pre-accreditation support from RESPECT accreditation staff, including onsite service review.

The cost of accreditation to UK based projects has been £7,000 for the first accreditation. The cost of accreditation covers:  the work of the assessors;  accreditation panel;  support offered to organisation to enable them to achieve accreditation;  the review of the standard and training of assessors.

The Accreditation process implies:  organisation becomes a RESPECT member (receiving regular updates, information and discounted training);  they receive information about the accreditation and safe minimum practice (SMP) assessment process;  they notify RESPECT of their intention to progress with safe minimum practice assessment or submit a formal application for accreditation;  RESPECT reviews the application and desktop review materials the organisation has submitted;  if the information is complete, RESPECT assigns two (or in the case of SMP assessments, one) assessors to conduct site visits, review recordings and policies and conduct interviews with staff;  assessors write and submit their assessment report to RESPECT and the organisation. In the case of SMP assessments, RESPECT will review the report and determine whether the organisation has reached the minimum standard. In the case of Accreditation reports these are submitted to the Accreditation panel for scrutiny. The accreditation panel is independent of RESPECT and provides scrutiny of the process and its quality, assessors are called to the panel to answer questions regarding their assessment reports and then panel determine whether to pass, fail or give the organisation a further 6 months to meet the required standard.

RESPECT Assessors can undertake spot checks on accredited organisations to review their compliance to the Standard.

There is a process by which organisations can have their accreditation status revoked by the Accreditation panel if there is evidence which demonstrates a breach of the Standard.

RESPECT under estimated the level of support services would need to achieve accreditation. Additional support and training would have increased the uptake in the first couple of years.

For the system to be viable it needs to continue to be self-financing. The Accreditation process makes for stronger organisations, it is about both service and organisational development. Accreditation is the quality assurance system for all funders and commissioners and it has been partly successful at achieving this, despite the pressure for cheaper and cheaper public services.

TRANSFERABILITY Success factors  Strong consultation among key stakeholders.  Testing of assessment processes.  Strong basis on gender analysis with a clear, appropriate, comprehensive definition of domestic violence.  Standards adopt a victim safety approach and are directed to hold men/perpetrators accountable for the violence they use.

Main obstacles Implementing service standards is a culture change; it is about developing services that have long term sustainability. Some barriers encountered:  short term funding arrangements – organisation cant invest in sustainability 30

Actual replication or spin-off effects LEARNING Lessons learned from the process

Sources

Contacts

when their immediate future is uncertain;  organisations that are led by experienced practitioners who have little interest in succession or in creating something that will survive their time with the service have resisted accreditation;  commissioners sometimes fail to understand the broad range of tasks involved in an effective intervention with domestic violence perpetrators;  organisations seeking accreditation are required to be as effective at supporting victims of abuse as they are at working perpetrators, they have to be able to work across a range of institutions, specifically child protection, criminal justice, health and have the skills and systems that identify and manage risk. These require skilled staff/facilitators and investment in organisational learning.

Organisations with accreditation have been better at weathering the financial crisis because they are good value for money, have strong management and because they are organisations that are thinking ahead  Before the implementation of the accreditation system, there was an high dependency on organisation’s self-assessment of their quality. Accreditation has taught that this is inadequate for members of the public and commissioners to have confidence in a service there needs to be transparency and accountability.  Moreover, the fact that accreditation would be about organisation’s ability to monitor, learn and improve its own practice is an important element to have much focus on practice as there is on systems.

Website: www.respect.uk.net http://www.respect.uk.net/data/files/Accreditation/respect__full_standard_july_ 12_v2_web.pdf http://www.respect.uk.net/pages/review-of-accreditation-assessments.html Joanne Creighton & Neil Blacklock Contact info@respect.uk.net

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Domestic Violence – VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES MARAC Background and general information Name of the  Home Office Organization  Local statutory and voluntary agencies  Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) Contact person Laura Wilkinson, CAADA Period 2003, on-going Context analysis In the UK, gender-based abuse has traditionally been framed as a criminal justice issue and focused predominantly on domestic abuse. Since the 90s the Home Office has promoted policies to enhance the protection of domestic abuse victims through pro-arrest policies; evidence gathering improvement; perpetrator programmes; and multi-agency work. At the beginning of 2000 national policies in particular addressed the Crown Prosecution Service to improve prosecution, and specialist domestic violence courts (SDVCs) were introduced to improve sentencing. Within this general framework, action has also been taken to address the problem of high risk victims of domestic abuse, i.e. victims in danger of being killed by their partner or ex-partner. First initiatives emerged from civil society organisations, and were later embraced by the Home Office. The MARAC model was first developed in Cardiff in 2003, in response to the lack of systematic risk assessment among agencies responding to domestic abuse, and the need for a forum for local agencies to share information about victims experiencing extremely serious levels of abuse.

This good practice example is of particular relevance in showing a partnership approach to tackling high risk domestic abuse.

Together, agencies are able to get a better picture of the risks experienced by a victim including the frequency and severity of the abuse. This enables them to develop an action plan aimed to increase the safety of each individual victim and their children. This provides victims with the confidence that a number of different agencies are aware of the abuse and will act to offer support and protection. Since 2008, the Home Office has provided funding for MARACs for administrator/coordinator posts, training, and quality assurance (which has now been superseded by self-assessment for MARACs). In the financial year 2011/12, the total amount of funding was £1.4 million. The Government’s Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, published in November 2010, announced that a review of MARACs would be undertaken to improve understanding of how they are working and potential areas for development, including considering the case for MARACs to be a statutory service. These latest initiatives are working to guarantee MARACs’ sustainability over the years. The evaluation research findings suggest that MARACs work well in terms of victim safety and reducing re-victimisation, and are therefore a highly efficient, cost-effective measure. The effectiveness of MARACs has been proven by research, and their overall positive impact has been proven by their development. The three areas considered as core to this are enhanced information sharing; the role of the IDVA in representing and engaging the victim in the process and effective action planning. Apart from tackling high risk domestic abuse cases, MARACs improve understanding and identification of domestic abuse across agencies; improve information sharing and referral mechanisms between agencies; facilitate access to the range of services available in order to address the complex and varied needs of victims of domestic abuse; and improve consistency and accountability across agencies, achieved through shared policies and procedures.

In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all it is 32

based on a victim centred approach that hold perpetrators accountable for the violence they use and on a multiagency approach involving different agencies actively working for high risk victims detection and intervention. Moreover it has a strong basis in human rights and gender analysis and involved victims and their representatives. It is constantly monitored and evaluated.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) Objectives Gender equality results

Target groups Aims, methods and tools used

To protect victims at the highest risk of murder or serious harm from domestic abuse.

There are approximately 260 MARACs currently in operation across England and Wales which, in the 12 months to June 2012, discussed around 56,500 cases (including repeat cases). As indicated by evaluation research, on average 45% of cases result in a total cessation of abuse and an additional 20% of cases result in a reduction in the number of repeat police incidents. Multi-agency approaches may contribute to improving outcomes for victims, with the potential of saving lives.

High risk victims of domestic abuse Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) are meetings where statutory and voluntary agency representatives share information about high risk victims of domestic abuse in order to produce a co-ordinated action plan to increase victim safety. They operate as one element of a wider infrastructure designed to protect and support victims of domestic abuse which also includes, for example, Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (SDVCs) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) services. The agencies that attend MARACs will vary but are likely to include the police, Probation, IDVAs, Children’s Services, health and housing as well as a range of other adult and child focused services. Any agency may refer a case to MARAC based on their assessment of risk.

Referrals to MARAC are made in cases a) that reach a threshold level of risk, determined through the use of a standard risk assessment tool; b) where there is serious concern about the victim’s situation based on the professional judgement of the referrer; c) where there is evidence of escalation of abuse (i.e. a specified number of police call outs in a certain time period); or d) there are repeat incidents within 12 months of the first referral. A ‘typical’ MARAC meeting will last half a day and discuss 15 to 20 high risk cases with a very brief and focused information sharing process. This is followed by a simple multi-agency action plan being put into place to support the victim and to make links with other public protection procedures, in particular safeguarding children, vulnerable adults, and in the management of perpetrators.

10 principles have been identified for an effective MARAC: 1. Identification - All agencies and services identify high risk victims through completing a risk assessment and/or referral to a specialist agency within safe timeframes once domestic abuse is disclosed. 2. Referral to the MARAC - All high risk victims who meet MARAC referral criteria are referred to the MARAC by a range of agencies within safe timeframes. 3. Multi-agency engagement - All relevant agencies are appropriately and consistently represented at the MARAC. 4. Independent representation and support for victims - All high risk victims are consistently supported and represented by an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) or other independent representative who prioritises safety throughout the MARAC process. 5. Research and information sharing - MARAC representatives research cases and share relevant and proportionate information that identifies risk and informs safety planning. Procedures are followed to ensure that safety and confidentiality are maintained at all times. 6. Action planning - Action plans are developed which address the risks identified. 7. Number of cases and capacity - The MARAC has the number of referrals and capacity to ensure that all high risk victims who meet the MARAC threshold can receive support from their local MARAC. 8.

33

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved

Equality - The MARAC is committed to delivering equality of outcome to all. 9.

Operational support - Consistent coordination and administration support the effective functioning of the MARAC. 10. Governance - Effective governance oversees the performance, sustainability and accountability of the MARAC (CAADA 2011).

Two other important features in delivering a successful MARAC have been identified. The first is the need to have strong leadership of the MARAC, through a good Chair. The role of the MARAC Chair is to ensure all agencies attend with the right information and that meetings are used for action planning and not just ‘talking shop’. Having a Chair that can keep discussions focused and within a time schedule is important to facilitate consistent attendance from representatives who may find committing the time required to attend MARACs challenging.

Secondly, a good Co-ordinator is also seen as important in delivering a successful MARAC and has been highlighted in different studies. The Co-ordinator’s role is to ensure the agenda goes out before the meeting in sufficient time so that agencies can be prepared at meetings; to follow up on actions agreed at the meeting; and to ensure that bureaucracy is minimised (i.e. the right amount of information is shared) and that confidentiality is maintained when handling data.

Findings from evaluation studies show that MARACs significantly reduce the risk of repeat victimisation and increase the chance of victims reporting and making a complaint about abuse to the police. Robinson’s study10 looked at rates of revictimisation for cases heard at the first Cardiff MARAC, and found that approximately six in 10 victims reported a complete cessation of abuse in the six months following a MARAC, and approximately four in 10 victims remained free from abuse after 12 months. In addition, the agencies involved in the MARAC perceived the process as helping to improve awareness and to strengthen the links between key agencies (Robinson, 2004; Robinson & Tregidga, 2005).

CAADA’s analysis11 suggests that MARACs can achieve up to a 60 per cent reduction in abuse, reducing to 43 per cent if adjusted to account for serial perpetrators and cases where the abuse would have stopped regardless of the MARAC intervention (CAADA, 2010).

CAADA has recently launched the self-assessment process which enables MARACs to monitor and manage their performance for continuous improvement.  Increasing the number of non-police referrals and improving agency representation.  Supporting and encouraging representation from organisations which represent minority communities such as Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) organisations.

The Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy, published in November 2010, announced that a review of MARACs would be undertaken in order to improve understanding of how MARACs are working and potential areas of development, including considering the case for making MARACs statutory.

Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements TRANSFERABILITY Success factors  Strong partnership links (including a commitment from agencies to tackle domestic violence in general).  Strong leadership (through the MARAC Chair).  Good co-ordination (through a MARAC Co-ordinator).  The availability of training and inductions.

Main obstacles  Lack of protocols and systems for identifying and referring high risk cases to MARAC in a timely way.  Difficulties in identifying the appropriate representation from statutory Robinson, A. (2004) Domestic Violence MARACs (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) for Very High-Risk Victims in Cardiff, Wales: A Process and Outcome Evaluation. Cardiff: University of Cardiff. http://www.caada.org.uk/policy/WSU6.pdf.

10

11

http://www.caada.org.uk/policy/Saving_lives_saving_money_FINAL_VERSION.pdf.

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Actual replication or spin-off effects

LEARNING Lessons learned from the process Sources

Contacts

agencies, specialist domestic violence services and voluntary and community organisations.  Inadequate number of cases identified, considering the local population.

There are approximately 260 MARACs currently in operation across England and Wales. MARACs also improve:  understanding and identification of domestic violence across agencies;  information sharing between agencies, enhancing risk assessment and safety planning;  referral mechanisms between agencies, facilitating access to the range of services available in order to address the complex and varied needs of victims of domestic violence;  consistency and accountability across agencies, achieved through shared policies and procedures.  Developing an effective multi-agency response to tackle high risk domestic abuse cases in a community was particularly effective in reducing repeat victimisation and potentially lethal violence.

Website: www.caada.org.uk/research/WSU6.pdf http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/researchstatistics/crime-research/horr55/horr55-report?view=Binary queries@caada.org.uk

35

Domestic Violence - AWARENESS RAISING Travelling Exhibition "Behind the facade" (Wanderausstellung: "Hinter der Fassade") Background and general information Name of the  Gewaltschutzzentrum OÖ Organization  Network of the Wien women Houses (Verein Autonome Österreichische Frauenhäuser)  Ministry for Equal Opportunity (Bundesministerium für Frauenangelegenheiten und Öffentlichen Dienst)  Ministry for Home Affair (Bundesministerium für Inneres) Contact person Mag. Maria Schwarz-Schlöglmann, Mag. Ursula Kolar-Hofstätter Period 2005, on going Context analysis Although Austria did not work out a National Action Plan on domestic violence against women, it is often taken as role model for legislation and in particular for implementation of anti-violence legislation. The Federal Act on Protection Against Domestic Violence entered into force in May 1997 12. In the meantime several amendments of the concerned laws and in 2009 a comprehensive second violence protection law package have been implemented 13. The state and its institutions do acknowledge that violence against women and children is a public concern and provides means for concrete protection measures. With respect to policy approaches adopted the main focus lies on prevention programmes and support for victims of violence. The former is mainly developed through awareness-raising campaigns, the second one through the establishment of men’s and women’s counselling centres throughout Austria. Within this context, and in particular with regard to the importance given to awareness-raising campaigns, the practice here presented is of particular relevance because of its long term activities and because of the strength of the communication strategy adopted, that makes use of powerful visual messages as well as research based data on domestic violence and useful information on resources available on how to tackle the problem. The exhibition addressed the general public, and its effectiveness is shown by the fact that till now it has been visited by 15.000 people mainly pupils, in 29 different locations. It has also produced an impact at the local level through the involvement of different organisations specialised in domestic violence victims’ support and perpetrators’ treatment. These are in fact the subjects that most frequently ask for the exhibition.

The sustainability of the practice along time has been guaranteed by the payment every organization and or city who asked for the exhibition made. The design of the exhibition and its first producing was supported by ministerial funding; national ministries also contribute to the on-going use of the exhibition trough for example the financing of the brochure. Because the exhibition was paid directly by the organisers in the different Austrian cities, the practice is considered to have a good balance between cost/result (efficiency). In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all, it has a women/victim centred approach and perpetrators are seen as the only responsible and accountable for violence with potential of change. Moreover it is based on clear, appropriate and comprehensive definitions of domestic violence that aim to inform and mobilize communities in order to achieve better results.

Logar 2005 Initiated by then Women’s Minister Johanna Dohnal and in close cooperation with Caspar Einem, then Minister of the Interior, an interministerial working group was convoked, composed of staff of women’s shelters, police officers, judges and lawyers and resulting in the Federal Act on Protection Against Domestic Violence. (Federal Chancellery – Federal Minister for Women and Civil Service 2008, 12ff.)

12 13

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Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality)  To raise awareness on domestic violence.

Objectives  To inform on its causes and consequences.  To inform on victims’ rights and on resources available for them.  To inform on how to work with perpetrators.

All these objectives are strictly connected to the increase of gender equality being specifically focussed to change a cultural perception that still in many cases consider domestic violence as a private problem.

Gender equality During its period of implementation, the travelling exhibition Behind the facade has results been present in all Austrian main towns involving violence prevention and intervention centres and the general public. Since 2006 till December 2011 it was presented and accessible to the public in a total number of 29 venues. To date, approximately 15,000 people visited the exhibition, mainly in the form of visits by school groups. Being addressed to the general public, the exhibition informed not only on the causes, forms and effects of violence in the family, but gave also detailed information on the Austria Violence Protection Act, on the rights of the victims in the criminal procedure code and improvements of the legal provisions in this field contributing to widespread and improve the knowledge of the phenomena.

Target groups  General public  Victims  Perpetrators Aims, methods and The travelling exhibition "Behind the facade of" was designed in 2005 with the main tools used aim of giving a contribution to end violence in the family and in society through:  strong visual awareness raising tools;  detailed information on the problem of domestic violence;  detailed information on Austrian legislation and available support facilities for victims and on how to work with perpetrators.

The innovative aspect of the exhibition is its design: it represents a flat that consists of a kitchen, a bedroom, a children's room and a living room. The themes of the exhibition are presented in the different rooms:  domestic violence social causes;  domestic violence dynamics;  forms of domestic violence;  children witnessing domestic violence;  historical overview of the Austrian legislation;  help seeking process and resources available.

Through three / four audio-video installations visitors can listen to and watch the stories of eight women involved in domestic violence, who could flee from their violent relationships. In the video "Do you know that too - True Stories of Home" (BiG) five girls and boys tell about their experiences in witnessing domestic violence. The video "The problem is my wife" (Calle Overweg) presents the work with violent offenders who beat their wives.

Finally the first steps taken to break the taboo issue of violence in the family are presented together with the public measures approved, for example through the Violence Protection Act.

37

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements TRANSFERABILITY Success factors

Main obstacles

Actual replication or spin-off effects LEARNING Lessons learned from the process

Sources Contacts

No evaluation was carried out. An internal monitoring only registered the number of people visiting the exhibition and positive feedbacks from the same people.

However a proxy of the exhibition great value can be found when considering that the exhibition obtained various prices and was selected for a road-show in UK: In December 2006 it obtained the "Green Award in the category of women".

During the International Women's Day in 2007, the exhibition was shown in Vienna in the Federal Chancellery and opened by the Chancellor Gusenbauer and Minister Doris Bures.

On the 29 and 30 April 2008 in occasion of the "EU Equal Treatment" in Vienna, "Behind the Façade" was presented in the Parliament building.

In 2009, it was presented in Glasgow and in London.

In June 2010, the exhibition was presented in Vaduz, the capital of the Liechtenstein.

The practice could have been improved through the translation of the exhibition’ brochure in other languages (for example English and/or Turkish).

Also the assembling of the different rooms that constitute the exhibition could be made easier.

No additional plans. Till now, the costs of the travelling exhibition are paid by the money requested for lending it (at least € 4.500,00). In many cases, these money were paid by public administration and governmental offices based on the cities in which the exhibition was displayed.

 It is based on victims’ experience and addresses, at the same time, the causes of violence giving a complete overview of the issue of domestic violence.  Its implementation is flexible: it can in fact be moved to different towns.  It has the potential to involve a wide audience.  The exhibition brochure is a short and good overview of the main themes related to domestic violence and many people have had the chance to read it.  The exhibition materials need to be rebuild, taking into account the national conditions of the country/place where it should be transferred.  Technical reasons: the exhibition is heavy and needs at least 2 or 3 people and one day time for building it up and then down. A little truck-transporter is also needed for transport.

Both these obstacles should be carefully taken into account in any potential transferability.

At the moment, the exhibition has been traveling all around Austria (29 localities).

 The re-construction of the domestic environment (the flat) is a good communication tool to emotionally involve people in the subject of domestic violence.  The traveling exhibition can be a tool to involve not only the general public but also local organizations involved in domestic violence support services and work with perpetrators, thus enhancing the impact of the practice in the community.  Following the exhibition beside normal work, implies additional work effort but it is a good challenge and the efforts have been successful.

Website: www.hinter-der-fassade.at; www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at/ooe Mag. Maria Schwarz-Schlöglmann schwarz-schloeglmann@gewaltschutzzentrum.at Mag. Ursula Kolar-Hofstätter ursula.kolar@servus.at 38

Domestic Violence – AWARENESS RAISING Special communication campaign in 2010 on violence against women (“Grande Cause Nationale 2010. Lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes”) Background and general information Name of the  French Prime minister; Organization  Collectif pour la Grande Cause Nationale 2010 contre les violences faites aux femmes: Association de Femmes Euro-Méditérranéenne Contre les Intégrismes (AFEMCI); Association Française des Femmes Médecins (AFFM); Alliance des femmes pour la démocratie; Association de Solidarité avec les Femmes Algériennes Démocrates (ASFAD); Commission pour l’Abolition des Mutilations Sexuelles (CAMS); Coordination française pour le Lobby Européen des Femmes (CLEF); Centre National d’Information sur les Droits des Femmes et des Familles (CNIDFF); Collectif Féministe Contre le Viol (CFCV) ; Conseil National des Femmes Françaises (CNFF); Elu/es Contre les Violences faites aux Femmes (ECVF); Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes (FNSF) ; Femmes pour le Dire Femmes pour Agir (FDFA); Femmes Solidaire ; Fondation Jean et Jeanne SCELLES; Groupe pour l’Abolition des Mutilations Sexuelles Féminines, des Mariages Forcés et autres pratiques traditionnelles néfastes à la santé des femmes et des enfants (Fédération Nationale GAMS); Les Mariannes de la diversité; Mouvement Jeunes Femmes ; Mouvement du Nid ; Mouvement Ni Putes Ni Soumises (NPNS); Mouvement français pour le Planning Familial; Regards de Femmes France; Union Européenne Féminine (UEF); Vivent les femmes; Voix de Femmes; Zonta Clubs de France Contact person Ministry of Social Affair and Health Period 2010, on going Context analysis The policy approach to violence against women in France first went along law adaptations that followed the progressive social awareness of the phenomenon.

Since 2004, it also goes along global three years policy Plans to fight violence against women. Describing and analysing the adaptation of the legal and policy framework helps to understand the changes in public priorities. At first, the approach to violence against women was a legal one, focusing on the recognition/definition and punishment of sexual violence, from rape (1980) to sexual harassment (1992). Then law adaptation focused on violence within couple, considering it as an aggravating circumstance (1994), and on both the reinforcement of sanctions and the prevention of repeat offence (2004-2006). At the same time, the first Plan (2005-2007) to fight violence against women was launched, around 10 general measures, soon followed by a second Plan (2008-2010) and by a third one (2010-2012).

Information campaigns and awareness policies were at focus since the very first that included a measure specifically aimed at increasing information and communication towards the public and improving awareness from the part of professionals. Also the second and the third Plan contain several objectives aiming at increasing information and awareness efforts towards the general public and professionals as well as towards target groups.

Within this context, and with particular regard to the importance given to information and awareness communication campaigns, the practice here presented is of particular relevance being implemented in 2010, year in which the French Prime Minister nominated violence towards women as "Grande Cause Nationale".

As for its sustainability, the awareness raising campaign has been continued in 2011 and 2012 and was financed by the 3° Governmental National Plan on Violence Against Women.

The campaign proved its effectiveness allowing for the establishment of a “Collective” consisting of 25 associations who all brought their expertise and ideas 39

and that worked together with the national government. Each association has been engaged with the networks of the Collective with an impact to the most diverse population groups.

With the Campaign all areas of society, all occupational categories were covered.

The collective associations have made an important work of consultation and coordination to define violence (original singularity, multifaceted, understanding of the phenomenon by the public).

The national label “Grande Cause National” allows not for profit organisations to organize campaigns calling for public donations and to get free broadcasts on public radio and television. Communication tools were developed and build free by communication agency, filmmakers and photographers hired by the collective. So the practice can also be considered particularly efficient.

In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all it is based on a strong communication strategy that mix up a multi-sector and multilevel approach involving different organisations and making use of different communication techniques. Moreover the campaign messages and communication instruments presents a strong basis in human rights and gender analysis, a clear, appropriate and comprehensive definitions of domestic violence that hold perpetrators accountable for the violence they use.

The campaign also communicates contact aid number for victims that was monitored and evaluated along the years.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) The long term objective of the campaign is to contribute to decreasing domestic Objectives violence in France.

The short-term objective is to raise awareness of the public, the authors and victims that violence against women is not acceptable.

More specifically:  make visible the violence against women in France;  addressing inequalities between women men and social gender relations of girls and boys;  increase the visibility of support structures for women;  strengthen support for associations involved in the fight against violence, throughout the French territory.

Gender equality The free number 3919 available to victims of violence has been called twice more in results 2010 than in 2009 (+50%). It is in Paris, but also in the Rhône-Alpes and PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) that the greatest numbers of calls for help was made.

This alarming increase can be explained by better information of victims, but at the same time, as an explosion of violence.

Target groups General public, be referred to all society levels, all occupational categories, throughout the country and overseas.

Aims, methods and The campaign was organised in a logical sequence: tools used  starting in January 2010;  high times throughout the year, thematic seminars and conferences;  discussions in all the country based on film "male domination" by Patrick Jean;  territorial and Local Initiatives;  media campaigns throughout the year with specific targeted initiatives;  a closing research seminar and a festive evening.

The communication message was centred on the national call number 3919.

The campaign strategy included: television, cinema and radio spots, radio interviews with 120 stations, media publications, a movie, public events, and a web site.

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Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice Ways in which the good practice could have been improved Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements

The Great National Cause label enables not for profit organizations to get free broadcasts on public radio and television and to receive funds through public fundraising which is of particular importance for the members of the Collective do not have little or communication services or budgets. The Campaign benefited also from the support of filmmakers and photographers who develop and build communication tools for free.

Specific tools used are the following:  A TV spot (30 seconds) was used three times in primetime (before or after the news) first for launch of the Campaign in January, as a reminder in the course of the 2nd half and to close the year 2010. To do this, the collective benefit of 12 free spaces on public channels with which it has negotiated additional broadcast as well as on private channels;  publication of the videos on the site of the 2010 Great National Cause and networks Youtube and Dailymotion;  completion of the website "Stop cycles of violence" with many videos available, and testimonies from victims and officials association;  implementation of the campaign through social networks Facebook and Twitter;  three posters with the phrase "As a little girl you dreamt of a Prince Charming, not a man who hits you back home" - «Petite vous rêviez sûrement d’un Prince Charmant, pas d’un homme qui vous frappe le soir en rentrant»;  press campaigns through the year 2010;  seminars, conferences organised by associations from the “Collectif”;  local public debate around the film “Male domination”.

The evaluation report of the call number 3919 notes in its report for 2010, that the average calls per day during a media campaign is twice the average call outside of campaign periods. (Extrait de l'analyse globale des données issues des appels au 3919 - violences conjugales info - FNSF).

According to some NGOs extra financial support for services to victims, sentencing of the authors should be allocated to support awareness raising and prevention actions.

In 2010, the Government has worked in three directions:  Information and awareness raising. Wide information campaigns on the national number 39-19 (80.000 calls per year). In 2010 its scope has been extended to all types of gender based violence. Improved information to victims through the web-site www.stop-violences-femmes.gouv.fr to allow a rapid identification of support structures.  Offering a better protection to children through the regulation of parental power, contribution to household expenses and the use of the family home. (Law 9 July 2010).  Better protection to victims through the Law of 9 July 2010 such as possible eviction of the family house, Protection Order for victims of domestic violence, recognition of psychological violence.

TRANSFERABILITY Success factors     Main obstacles   Actual replication or spin-off effects

   

Strong political will and involvement.

Strong communication strategy.

Active involvement of media professionals and of the press.

Multi-level approach that involved many and different stakeholders.

Women are still ashamed to denounce violence.

Shrinking of financial means allocated to organisations providing support to victims and ensuring appropriate answer from the judiciary towards authors.

The new triennial action plan (2011-2013) against gender-based violence was adopted by the Government in 2010 to ensure continuity of the action.

The free national number 3919 is always available to victims of domestic violence and since 2010 to victims of all other forms of violence.

The website is constantly updated and implemented.

Information campaigns and awareness campaigns are held each year. On March 41

8, 2012, campaign "World's Best Mom" or 25 November 2011 – “Denounce hidden violence”. To celebrate and empathize 25th November, the international day for elimination of violence against women, many actions as campaign to awareness the phenomenon of domestic violence: panel discussion, publication on press, video and TV spot are organised each year.

LEARNING Lessons learned from the process Sources Contacts

 Political support is strongly needed to ensure a coherent and sustainable policy towards gender based violence.

Website: http://www.social-sante.gouv.fr/ Ministere des Affaires Sociales et de la Santè

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Domestic Violence – AWARENESS RAISING Enough is enough. It is up to you to ask for help’ (‘Nu is het genoeg. Hulpinschakelenheb je zelf in de hand’) Background and general information Name of the Joint initiative of the Ministry of Justice (Ministerie van Justitie) and Ministry of Organization Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport) together with the Dutch Domestic Violence Support Centre (SteunpuntHuiselijkGeweld) Contact person Mrs. Jos Hallensleben, Ministery of safety and justice Period 2007-2011 Context analysis The Dutch government (Ministry of Justice) 14 approach towards domestic violence can be detected in the last Action Plan on Domestic Violence 2008-2012, where three causes of domestic violence are described: intergenerational transmission of the use of violence, invisibility of the use of violence and gender related power differences between perpetrators and victims.

Consequently, policies are directed towards combating the intergenerational transmission, the promotion of openness about the issue and a gender specific approach of domestic violence. With its gender specific analysis (power differences) and approach, policies are linked directly again to emancipation policies 15. Central objective is to prevent and combat domestic violence through the promotion of a so called continuous approach (prevention, signalling and intervention) for all target populations.

The approach is comprehensive: criminal justice measures and assistance should be mutually reinforcing. Therefore criminal justice instances and social services should closely work together16.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport developed a policy for the approach of violence in dependence relationships: the Policy Memorandum Beschermd en Weerbaar (Protected and Empowered) 17. Although this policy approach is broader and targets a larger population, it has a comparable objective: prevention and early signalling by professionals; shelter for victims; assistance for victim, perpetrator and children. It coincides partly with the abovementioned Action Plan Domestic Violence. Important elements in this programme are the reinforcement of the Advice and Support Centres on Domestic Violence, and the improvement of quantity and quality of shelters. This Ministry also insists on the context in which this policy has to be placed. It refers explicitly to emancipation of women and men as necessary conditions to successfully combat domestic violence.

This overall approach has allowed the Netherlands to be among the European countries with high figures of reported and/or registered domestic violence and violence in dependence situations. Annually more than 60,000 instances of domestic violence are reported to the police. These figures reflect the high level of public awareness and the adequacy of infrastructures for notifying and reporting.

National awareness campaigns are continuously carried out since 2007 identifying every year a specific message and tools to be carried out signalling a growing emphasis on prevention especially through public campaigning and information.

Within this context, the awareness raising campaign here presented (the one of 2010) is of particular relevance because it uses a mix of “traditional” communication tools (editorials in magazines, newspapers and programs on radio and television) and innovative ones (online movie mysecretscosmetics).

Sustainability is granted by structural budgets for the issue of domestic violence Ministerie van Justitie [Ministry of Justice] (2008). Plan van aanpak Huiselijk geweld ‘De volgende fase’. Den Haag: Ministerie van Justitie.

15 See also Emancipation monitor 2008: Merens, A., &Hermans, B. (2009). Emancipatiemonitor 2008. Den Haag: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau / Centraal bureau voor de statistiek.

16 Ministerie van Justitie [Ministry of Justice] (2008). Plan van aanpak Huiselijk geweld ‘De volgende fase’. Den Haag: Ministerie van Justitie.

17 Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport [Ministry of Health, Wellfare and Sport] (VWS) (2007). Beschermd en weerbaar: Intensivering van de opvang en hulpbijgeweld in afhankelijkheidsrelaties. Brief van 10 december 2007. Den Haag: Ministerie van VWS. 14

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included in the National Plan.

The awareness raising national campaign contributes to the wider policy of breaking down the unequal gender power structure that is at the basis of domestic violence thus its impact on the wider environment is to be associated to the increase in gender equality. Awareness raising initiatives are also important from an effectiveness and efficiency point of view. The costs of domestic violence include costs for assistance by the authorities (police, the judicial system, healthcare and shelter), production losses, claims on social security and immaterial damage. A tentative calculation of the first item only indicates that assistance given by the Dutch authorities in relation to domestic violence costs about 271 million Euro a year18 while the overall costs (including cost for media and website maintenance) for the campaigns undertaken between 2007 and 2010 were the following: 2007: 1.256.000 euro; 2008: 914.000 euro; 2009: 788.000 euro; 2010: 505.000 euro.

In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all the campaign presents a clear, appropriate and comprehensive definition of domestic violence and conveyed its message trough a strong communication strategy that made also use of innovative tool. Moreover it is based on a victim centred approach and is aimed to make known contact aid number for victims.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL�

(Gender Equality) The 2010 awareness raising campaign has the objectives of increasing prevention Objectives and social and public awareness on the issue of domestic violence. Its expected outcomes and impact are related to the increase of demand for support and reports motivating victims to seek assistance and support. With this campaign the government – trough the online movie mysecretscosmetics - wants also to convey the message that domestic violence is unacceptable and that there are no justifiable excuses.

Gender equality Generally speaking, during every campaign period there is an increased demand for results police assistance and help from support centers with an increase in the number of requests for help.

In the 2010 campaign the number of phone calls increased from 35 to 50%. Among the general public the willingness to call raises from 50% to 59%. Also the knowledge on the available support centers and on what to do in case of domestic violence was increased. Prior to the campaign, only 6% of the general public and 10% of people already occurred in episodes of domestic violence knew where to can go for help and advice in domestic violence. After the campaign, these percentages increased respectively to 11% and 21%. The willingness to visit the website increased from 58% to 72% for general public and from 63% to 76% for people already experienced domestic violence. Actually, during the campaign period, the site www.shginfo.nl had a total of 21,900 visits. On average there are six pages visited and each person remains connected to the website between five and six minutes.

Target groups The 2010 campaign is aimed at the general public of eighteen years and older and to domestic violence victims, onlookers and domestic violence perpetrators, and encourages victims and other parties involved to call for assistance in the case of domestic violence Aims, methods and The national government started in 2007 an information campaign for the general

18

Movisie, 2009. Huiselijk geweld: Cijfers en feiten. Utrecht: Movisie.

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tools used

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements

public (radio, television, internet) under the title “Nu is het genoeg” (Now it is enough)19. The campaign has been repeated in 2008 and 2009, 2010 and 2011. A specific telephone number and web site have been created.

It is based on a television commercial in which a witness of domestic violence tells his story. The commercial is intended to encourage onlookers to seek help. The radio commercials call on victims, bystanders and perpetrators to seek help.

In 2010, the awareness raising campaign brought the ‘hidden’ problem of domestic violence to the public’s attention in a special way via the special on-line shop ‘My Secrets Cosmetics’.

This on-line shop - www.mysecretscosmetics.nl – as the advertisement says - sells make-up for every woman who has something to hide: a unique range of products that helps mask bruises, seals and shines cut lips, and removes blood stains. Each click on the website leads to the campaign message: “There is a better solution to the problem of domestic violence. Call 0900 126 26 26 for advice and help. Or visit www.steunpunthuiselijkgeweld.nl”. Via banner ads, mock-advertorials on fashion/beauty websites and an online film (a make-believe webcast of a show called 'Women&Business' that interviews the founder of MySecrets Cosmetics), traffic was driven to www.mysecretscosmetics.nl , where the hoax was revealed.

An evaluation was carried out in order to assess the coverage of the campaign.

74% of the general public recognizes the campaign statements.

The entire campaign was well appreciated by the general public (7.3) as well as by the people already experiencing domestic violence (7,4).

The radio spots, banners and television spots are individually high appreciated and the whole campaign was assessed higher than average in all aspects by both the general public and the people already experiencing domestic violence.

The campaign was described as “remarkable”, “attractive” and “able to provide new information”.

"It is important to seek help” was the most spontaneously mentioned message.

No specific ways are identified.

All national awareness campaigns are financed by Federal Government through the National Action Plan on Domestic Violence.

From 1-1-2012 a new campaign Domestic Violence with the focus on partner violence, elderly abuse and child abuse has started. For this new campaign approximately 1.2 million euro have been calculated.

TRANSFERABILITY Success factors  The messages were directed to both general public and victims and perpetrators.  The specific tool used in the 2010 campaign (see above) was particularly successful. The online movie was a provocative tool that raises discussion amongst the public.

Main obstacles  Women are still ashamed to denounce violence and this can still represent an obstacle for any campaign.

Actual replication or Each year a national campaign is carried out with specific message and tools. spin-off effects LEARNING Lessons learned from  The controversial idea of victims of domestic violence as a business concept was the trigger: discussions via blogs and twitter were particularly relevant. the process  Daily newspapers picked up on the buzz this campaign was generating.

MySecrets Cosmetics got a whole 3 minutes on The Evening News.

Sources Website:

19

http://shginfo.nl.

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Contacts

www.steunpunthuiselijkgeweld.nl http://shginfo.nl Mrs. Jos Hallensleben (j.hallensleben@minvenj.nl)

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Domestic Violence – AWARENESS RAISING National Campaign to prevent gender based violence –“Silence is not gold” (“Šutnja nije zlato”) Background and general information Name of the CESI – CENTAR ZA EDUKACIJU, SAVJETOVANJE I ISTRAŽIVANJE i O.M.G.– Organization OTVORENA MEDIJSKA GRUPACIJA (CESI – Center for Education, Counselling and Research and O. M. G. Open media group) Contact person Sanja Cesar Period January 2007 – August 2008 Context analysis In Croatia, violence against women is mainly addressed in the context of policy against family violence and gender equality policy. The official policy addressing violence against women has been significantly improved in recent years. The major national laws and strategies for fighting family violence were sanctioned in that period (such as the Law on Protection against Family Violence or the National Strategy on Protection against Family Violence), as well as accompanied documents (such as Rules of Procedures in Cases of Family Violence). The National Strategy of Protection against Family Violence for the period 2008-2010 (adopted by the Croatian Government in November 2007), although dealing in general with family violence, specifically refers to different international documents on violence against women, and following the Council of Europe Recommendation Rec (2002)5 of the Committee of Ministers on the Protection of Women against Violence, the National Strategy quoted the definition of violence against women (pp. 10), and on its basis formulated and implemented The National Campaign for Fight against Family Violence over Women 2006-2008. Within this context, the campaign here presented proved its relevance in continuing to increase the effort in spreading knowledge and awareness on the phenomena of domestic violence. At the same time, the campaign proved that a wide impact and long term effects (thanks to training of teachers and the active and public involvement of young people) were obtained. Concerning effectiveness, the education activities achieved the desired specific objectives of recognizing various types and forms of gender based violence (GBV), and enabling and encouraging teachers to continue working with youth on GBV prevention and promotion of gender equality. The participation in GBV awareness projects had a positive influence on attitudes of students; students have been sensitised to recognize stereotypes and GBV, and empowered to remove themselves from violent relationships. CESI established cooperation and built up relationship with representatives of the relevant state institutions, in order to inform them about project activities. All of them have been willing to support it, and provide relevant information. Established cooperation with these institutions is very important for the sustainability of the initiatives. Agency for Teachers Training recognized CESI’s teachers’ training on gender based violence as a relevant component of the teachers’ professional development programme and included training in their curriculum. The project sustainability is based on education of teachers and transfer of the activities to schools. Teachers continue to transfer newly gained knowledge, tools and materials to their colleagues and students.

Positive changes related to prevention of GBV were reflected in increased interest of the general public and media. The campaign has been carried out with a financial help of the European Commission, Ministry of Science, Education and Sport and CARE International. Its efficiency took advantage of the broadcasting of TV clips ensured by Croatian television and RTL free of charge.

In addition to all this elements, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all it is based on a clear, appropriate and comprehensive definition of domestic violence within the different types of gender based violence. Moreover it presents a strong 47

communication strategy that uses different creative techniques to involve different target groups mobilizing local communities as well as young people and politicians.

The campaign was also assessed by an external evaluator in all its components.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) Objectives Gender equality results

Target groups Aims, methods and tools used

Increasing understanding and awareness on the issue of gender based violence contributing to enhance general gender equality objectives.

The campaign proved to be very effective in raising concern about the problem and involving young people, teachers, the general public and politicians.

The main results being:  research results on recognition, understanding and prevalence of GBV among adolescents used in public campaign and planning of education programs;  64 teachers educated on use of creative techniques in work with youth on prevention of GBV; exchange of ideas and practices between 60 schools included in activities of prevention of GBV;  1200 young people gained knowledge and awareness on GBV; they produced 25 films, 16 theatre plays, 10 newspaper articles, one radio show and 34 comics.  250 000 were informed on GBV through a webpage. 810 young people used services of on line counseling and received advice on GBV, gender/sexual identity and SRHR. As for the outcomes:  the campaign allowed an improved collaboration with institutions and schools in the way which allows exchange of experiences and information and ensure mutual support;  the visibility of campaign contributed to awareness raising and understanding of GBV; wider public has been awaked for the issues of GBV violence and the importance of its prevention.  distribution of knowledge and good practices in region Pupils and teachers of secondary schools, decisions makers. It is also addressed to general public to increase awareness on the issue.

Campaign main aims were:  to raise awareness on gender stereotypes and others causes of GBV among youth;  to raise awareness on responsibility of youth who are going to participate actively in decision making process in the field of gender equality in the future; to promote values of gender equality in attitudes and behaviour of youth.

It included the following activities:  research (in order to gain information on recognition, understanding and frequency of GBV among adolescents);  media campaign based on research results (the main goal was to raise public awareness, especial of youth on different types of violence while the main themes of campaign were: family violence, violence in relationship/rape at date and human trafficking; 4 TV spots broadcasted 2-3 months each on national televisions and different print materials distributed e.g. billboards, city-lights, journal advertisements; campaign web page have been issued);  education and information (teachers have participated at seminars in order to enhance their skills and knowledge on GBV in order to work more effectively with young people);  creative workshops with young people on the issue of GBV (after the teachers have been educated, in the following period of five months they have realised at least one project on the issue of GBV with their students e.g. film, comic, play…; that has been presented at final gathering and on the CD);  public discussion with young people (discussions with Croatian celebrities on their views and experiences with GBV);  presentation of work of young people (at the final ceremony their works have been awarded);  advocating and public policies (inclusion of gender perspective in different 48

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved

Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements

prevention programs for youth).

The project progress was monitored by The Regional Monitoring Office in Sarajevo which is charged by the Commission Services with the Monitoring of EC assistance to the Western Balkans and Turkey.

An external evaluator conducted field research, internal documents analysis, and analysis of management procedures. According to the external evaluator "The project has fulfilled all of its specific objectives by implementing a unique logic of intervention whereby research results were used to raise awareness and to influence the decision-makers, and at the same time to create the educational programs for both youth and their teachers for the prevention of GBV. Moreover, a national media campaign addressed the most alarming findings of the research.

94% of teachers plan to continue with educational activities; many teachers stated that the involvement in the project has positively impacted the student-teacher rapport, increased confidence levels and provided insights into young people’s ways of reasoning, enabling a much better mutual understanding.

80% of students involved in project activities trust their teachers’ abilities to help them or their friend, should they find themselves facing or witnessing GBV, in the form of direct assistance, advice and support.

The high levels of students’ satisfaction with participation in this project is evident from the fact that 97% of students who responded to the evaluation questionnaire stated that they would be willing to participate in further activities dealing with the prevention of GBV in adolescent relationships. 31% of students who stated that they would like to join an organization supporting victims of GBV is a significant unexpected result of the project, since according to numerous researches, Croatian population in general is not very interested in civic engagement. The students’ selfassessment of knowledge and skills related to GBV prevention reflects an average increase from 3.08 at the beginning of the project to 4.01 at the end.

The media campaign was evaluated by the media research agency HENDAL using AdVisor campaign tracker. The campaign has been evaluated on a nationally representative sample of 400 youth aged 15-18 by the next elements: to what extent was it noticed and to what extent did the target group understand the message. The evaluation of the media campaign clearly shows that the target group has gained understanding of the notion of GBV through the media campaign and recognizes the forms of gender-based violence. The most important success of the media campaign Silence is not Golden is that 91% of the examinees see the connection between the 3 types of violence presented – violence in family, date rape and trafficking. The viewers have reacted strongly of the TV clips and they have been the central point of the whole campaigns. According to the media evaluation 92% of the examinees are familiar with the slogan and it proved so strong that people are using it when it is important to speak up. The slogan was very well accepted, and with a very high percentage of recognition in all clips, indicating that the campaign designers did a good job in its creation. This finding is corroborated by the fact that the slogan was also used as the light-motif of the university students’ protests in 2009.

Despite the progress in the institutionalization of gender equality standards and prevention of violence against women in Croatia, numerous problems stem from the lack of coherence of the legislative framework and lags in its implementation. GBV prevention can be most effectively achieved by means of systematic education, both formal and informal at all levels, by elimination of gender stereotypes and mainstreaming gender equality into the entire formal educational system.

The campaign has been carried out with a financial help of the European Commission, Ministry of Science, Education and Sport and CARE International.

The broadcasting of TV clips was ensured by Croatian television and RTL free of charge.

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At the moment, there are no plans for replication of the campaign, mainly due to scarce national financial resources. Some of the elements from the campaign have been used in other projects, mainly in the context of the work with youth.

TRANSFERABILITY Success factors 

Main obstacles

Actual replication or spin-off effects

LEARNING Lessons learned from the process

Sources

Contacts

The awareness-raising campaign has a good targeting and started with a planning grounded on research evidence.  It has a well done campaign strategy and implementation plan and has a strong communications strategy using wide range of tools and media support.  The participation of teachers was facilitated by the fact that the education was officially recognized by the Agency for Education which monitors additional professional education of teachers.  The public visibility of the campaign depended on the openness of media and free marketing space donated by the media. The work with media in that respect proved to be crucial.  GBV is widespread in Croatia and it has been tolerated for decades. While violence in the community, and particularly youth violence, is highly visible and generally labelled as criminal, GBV is more hidden from the public view.

Moreover, the police and courts are less willing or prepared to target such hidden violence or to take action against it.  The long-term approach to ending gender based violence requires efforts at all levels, including stronger partnerships among public institutions, CSOs and local communities. Despite some progress achieved, greater efforts are needed to ensure quality cooperation of all stakeholders and their commitment in challenging gender stereotypes and other causes of GBV. As the campaign is well documented it can be easily transferred. Moreover, there have been some replication efforts. There was an intention to carry out the project in Macedonia, but it was not accomplished due to the lack of financial sources. CESI conducted education for teachers and distributed materials in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The use of different tools and techniques with youth proved to be very important for the successfulness of the project.  The use of creative techniques, film and comics, contributed to increased participation of boys and young men in activities concerning GBV and gender equality. Following successful education in using creative techniques to address GBV in adolescent relationships, the teachers started working with youth on GBV prevention activities that were to be presented at the project’s final event, where the best ones received prizes.  The competitive element in the project design as well as a paid trip to Zagreb has had a positive impact on the recruitment of youth.

Website: http://www.sezamweb.net/sutnjanijezlato//index.php?option=com_frontpage&Ite mid=1 Sanja Cesar; sanja.cesar@cesi.hr CESI; cesi@cesi.hr

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Domestic Violence - AWARENESS RAISING Stop violence against women - break the silence Background and general information Name of the  Ministry of Gender Equality in cooperation Organization  Ministry of Integration  The National Association of Women´s Shelters – LOKK (since 2010) Contact person Lasse Højbjerg Helsted Period 2010 (February – May) Context analysis Since 2002, Denmark has adopted National Action Plans to stop violence against women according to the definition of the UN Beijing protocol of 1995. In the first NAP to combat violence against women adopted in 2002 one of the main aims was explicitly that of breaking the taboo surrounding domestic violence against women.

This has proven right and domestic violence is now less considered as a private affair and it seems more legitimate for politicians as well as for the public at large to address violence against women. The terminology has changed accordingly and rather than talking about domestic trouble (husspetakler), the term is now partner violence or the more precise term, men’s violence against women. The first Danish NAPs encompassed women in general but also specific groups such as women of ethnic minority background that were considered to be particularly vulnerable. The attention to ethnic minority women is also present in the national Danish strategy to prevent violence in intimate relationships (2011) which explicitly recognises that ethnic minority women have specific and bigger difficulties in getting out from violent relationships than native Danish women. As a matter of fact, they often go back to their violent partners and very seldom establish their own homes after leaving the crisis centre. Various initiatives (especially by the Ministry of Refugee, Integration and Immigration Affairs) have been taken on to tackle this issue and to make these women aware of the opportunities available. Within this context, and with particular regard to the attention of designing specific intervention addressed to ethnic minority women, the national campaign Break the silence for ethnic minority women has been adopted. The relevance of the campaign relies on the fact that it has addressed diversity amongst victims of domestic violence, providing a wide range of communication tools advertising a 24-hour hotline on violence against women and providing handy cards with all the relevant information needed by victims of domestic violence to find help in their local communities. The campaign took place in February – May 2010 and was financed by State funding with a budget of € 212.800,00 evaluation included. Sustainability is granted by the Ministry for Gender Equality and Ecclesiastical Affairs which still include the campaign images and information on the national web-site on violence against women (www.voldmodkvinder.dk). The campaign was successful in involving ethnic minority communities networks showing a great impact on the wider environment to which ethnic minority abused women belong to. Its effectiveness is proved by the results obtained. The ex post evaluation showed that the campaign was successful for the high number of mentions made in ethnic media; for the increase in the number of calls to a nationwide hotline on violence against women by ethnic minority women and for the satisfaction among relevant actors involved in the campaign. The efficiency relies on the fact that the tools provided are still available after its conclusion continuing to produce their effects on local communities.

Furthermore, the practice was selected because it meets several criteria specifically related to the field of domestic violence. First of all it is based on the recognition of victims’ diversity and on the necessity of identifying a strong communication strategy, addressed to ethnic minority women. Moreover, it presents a clear, appropriate and comprehensive definition of domestic violence in several languages 51

and provides aid contact numbers for both victims and perpetrators.

Evaluation criteria 1.“WORKS WELL” (Gender Equality) The campaign main objective was that of giving migrant and ethnic minority women all the necessary information to find appropriate help and of involving local Objectives communities in reducing differences between migrant women and Danish ones leading to an increase of equality between different female target groups.

Gender equality The campaign achieved great results: results  increased number of calls to the 24-hour hotline in the campaign period February – May (the post-evaluation deems it possible that the increased number of calls is done be ethnic minority women);  increased information on domestic violence victims rights and available resources amongst ethnic minority women increasing equality between them and Danish women;  implementation of new communication channels with ethnic minority organisations, especially those in charge of ethnic media.

Target groups Domestic violence migrant and/or ethnic minority victims Aims, methods and tools used

On 10 November 2003 a one month awareness-raising campaign "Stop violence against women - Break the Silence" was launched. Target audience was the public in general and victims of domestic violence. The campaign addressed domestic violence and utilised outdoor posters, buses, trains, television and the internet as mediums for dissemination. Moving from the increasing attention to ethnic minority women, in 2010 it was decided to explicitly design and implement a communication campaign specifically addressed to them. The campaign was aimed to break the taboo surrounding violence against women in local ethnic communities and to inform ethnic minority women about their rights and possibilities of support.

The campaign was organized and carried out with the direct involvement of LOKK (Danish NGO national organisation of shelters for battered women). Furthermore several professionals were also involved especially those already working in the networks of battered ethnic minority women. An information folder was produced and distributed in credit card format: “Stop the violence against women – Break the silence” in Danish and eight other languages (English, Arabic, Bosnian, Somali, Turkish, Russian, Thai and Farsi). The information folders were available in libraries throughout the country, general health practitioners, police stations, hospitals, but also hairdressers (hairbrushes with reference to the 24-hour hotline were distributed to ethnic hairdressers and beauty salons) and other meeting points in local communities. Furthermore it is accessible at www.voldmodkvinder.dk. The folder contains information about shelters and specific and practical advice to women exposed to violence. The publication also refers women to the 24-hour hotline: 70 20 30 82 with the explicit indication of the presence of cultural mediators and interpreters.

Nine public known women with different ethnic minority backgrounds were used as role models (“ambassadors”) to express their dissociation from domestic violence.

Furthermore dialogue meetings with relevant networks (in contact with ethnic minority women) were carried out. Besides the campaign, informative films addressed to ethnic minority women about their rights and opportunities of assistance in Danish society have been produced. The films show battered women’s encounters with the police, the shelter, the municipality, the state county and the lawyer. The films were prepared in ten languages (Danish, Greenlandic, English, Arabic, Urdu, Somali, Turkish, Russian, Thai and Farsi) and distributed to shelters, language schools, day folk high schools for women, counselling facilities for women and ethnic minorities, local communities residents, counsellors, municipalities and the libraries of relevant educational programmes – for example the Police College and the College of Social Work. The five films are still available on various websites, 52

Internal/external evaluation and/or monitoring of good practice

Ways in which the good practice could have been improved

including www.lige.dk and www.voldmodkvinder.dk.

An external post evaluation was carried out by COWI - Consultancy within Engineering, Environmental Science and Economics and identified campaign strengths and weaknesses and made suggestions on how to improve communication with the targeted victim groups (for example, communicating information through films means that it is also possible to reach women who cannot read). The campaign was very positively evaluated in relation to the objective of informing ethnic minority women on their rights and options.

Drawing from the ex post-evaluation:  the reference to the campaign in Danish media could have been improved;  the visits at www.voldmodkvinder.dk needed improvement;  future campaign should also target men. All men should be considered so to avoid a stigmatization of ethnic minority men.

The campaign ended in May 2010 and is not going to be continued. However, the ky campaign message is still visible at www.voldmodkvinder.dk

Plans to gather financial resources and/or institutional arrangements TRANSFERABILITY Success factors 

Main obstacles

Actual replication or spin-off effects LEARNING Lessons learned from the process

Sources Contacts

Covering different languages allowed to reach many women coming from different communities in their own languages.  The hairbrushes with reference to the 24-hour hotline on violence against women stimulated debates at hairdressers/beauty salons on the topic. Many customers took information and the hairbrushes with them contributing to additionally spread the message.  The use of female role models (“ambassadors”) was particularly successful in involving different networks in contact with the ethnic minority women addressed by the campaign.  Dialogue meetings with local networks have contributed to identify relevant key actors that use the information they gathered when dealing with the great target group of battered ethnic minority women.

1. Some of the dialogue meetings were held with trade unions which have many ethnic minority women among their members. The trade union representatives found it hard to relate to the topic of domestic violence and the ex postevaluation suggest possible reasons for this: a) first of all the gender: the trade union representatives were mainly men and found it difficult to tackle the issue of violence against women; b) second ethnicity: the ethnic minority women and their problems are underrepresented/not clearly visible at the workplaces; c) third domestic violence was still considered a private problem not relevant for the workplaces and thus fro trade unions.

No information available

Drawing from recommendations of the ex post-evaluation:  communication to the networks of battered ethnic minority women is important;  visiting nurses are important to use (as messengers) in future campaigns as these nurses are often in close contact with the ethnic minority women;  some ethnic media has a very small budget and are driven by volunteers. To help these media to spread the campaign’ messages, it is important to provide them with campaign information material already translated into relevant languages.

Website: www.voldmodkvinder.dk Ministry of Gender Equality and Ecclesiastical Affairs Lasse Helsted lahel@lige.dk 53

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