Description
The project focuses on identification and elimination of legislative deficiencies in Czech law concerned with violence against women and on identification of problems arising during its implementation in practice. To improve the existing situation it is necessary not only to analyze existing legislation and in the form of recommendations draw attention to its deficiencies, but also to support ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, and adoption of two new key laws, which are also mentioned in the Policy Statement of the Government of the Czech Republic of the 13th of February 2014 (on substitute child maintenance and on free legal aid), in a form leading towards improvement of support for people endangered by and affected by violence and to improvement of their economic and social situation, which is very bad in the overwhelming majority of cases. The project also involves direct support of at least 20 women through free legal aid and representation by lawyers trained especially in domestic violence legislation.
Summary of project results
We focused on the identification and elimination of deficiencies in Czech legislation concerning gender-based violence, both at theoretical and practical levels. In the form of a recommendation, we pointed out particular legislation flaws, supported the signature of the Istanbul Convention and were markedly active in two issues: free legal help and pre-paid child support. Our project was unique and beneficial thanks to the broad range of activities involving not only analytical activity and active lobbying but also the free representation of clients. In this respect the project has been publicly acknowledged by the Minister of Justice, and we also received the Pro Bono & CSR 2016 award. All planned outputs and activities have been successfully achieved, the impact on target groups was particularly significant in individual client cases. Proposed changes to legislation have a more general effect on the non-professional public and shift the legislative base of the gender-based violence. We have succeeded in opening important discussions on how to eliminate faulty implementation of the existing legal instruments in the area of gender-based violence or how to unify implementation guidelines for such instruments. This issue is key for our organisation and has been our long-term focus.
Summary of bilateral results