Description
Domestic and gender-based violence are prevailing social problems in Poland. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is responsible for the implementation of measures aimed at preventing and tackling domestic violence at the national level. Implementation of the above mentioned tasks is a great challenge for the Ministry, requiring large financial inputs. This project will be implemented in partnership with the Council of Europe, which has vast expertise in promoting women’s rights including the protection of women and girls from gender-based violence. The aim of the project is to reduce domestic and gender-based violence in Poland. The complex nature of the problem requires involvement from a range of stakeholders and adapting measures directed towards different target groups. Activities to be implemented under the project include a study on domestic violence in Poland; a study on gender-based violence; a social campaign; and trainings for Interdisciplinary teams. Moreover, two study visits will be organised to selected European countries.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to reduce domestic and gender-based violence in Poland. The project was implemented by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, responsible for coordinating activities in the field of preventing domestic violence at the national level, in partnership with the Council of Europe, which has vast expertise in promoting women’s rights including the protection of women and girls from gender-based violence. The Project applied a a comprehensive approach to preventing and combating domestic and gender-based violence, involving various stakeholders and addressing different target groups. The outputs of the Project include: - prevalence study on domestic violence, which provided data on the scale and forms of domestic violence in Poland, - training sessions for interdisciplinary teams and working groups on multi-agency cooperation and victim support. In total 92 training sessions for 4 395 professionals were implemented countrywide, - study on comprehensive policies in the field of preventing gender-based violence, including good practices from selected countries and recommendations for Poland, - nationwide social campaign raising awareness on domestic violence and violence against women (including TV spots, internet, press, citilights). The Project resulted in improved competences of professionals working with victims of domestic violence, contributed to improving services for victims and their families, as well as raising knowledge and social awareness on domestic and gender-based violence.
Summary of bilateral results
The Project was implemented in partnership with the Council of Europe. The CoE experts provided knowledge and shared experience which contributed significantly to the achievements of the results of the Project. The CoE experts developed materials and provided training for trainers who conducted training for interdisciplinary teams and working groups. This resulted in improved quality of the training for professionals. The study on comprehensive policies in the field of gender-based violence was developed by the CoE researchers in cooperation with Polish experts. The report “Comprehensive and co-ordinated approach. An assessment of Poland’s response to prevent and combat gender-based violence” presents good practices from selected CoE countries, as well as recommendations for Poland. The document has been developed in Polish and English, and has been widely distributed. Moreover, two study visits, to Vienna and to Madrid, were organized in cooperation with the Council of Europe under the Fund for Bilateral Relations. Representatives of the Project Promoters funded under the Small Grant Scheme participated in the visits. The participants visited institutions responsible for implementing tasks in the field of preventing domestic violence and violence against women. The itinerary provided for meetings in the central government institutions, as well as in organisations providing direct services for victims of violence. The representatives of the Polish party learned about the system of preventing domestic violence in Austria and Spain and had opportunity to share experiences and good practices with foreign experts.