Description
International researches show that a perpetrator has been rarely accused and punished and his violent behaviour stops only when he decides to do so. In Slovakia, the only reaction to violence against women has so far been only helping and supporting victims and their children. In other countries (beginning with Duluth 30 years ago), experts and NGOs already conduct long educational activities aiming at changing the perpetrator belief on gender stereotypes and his role in a relation. In this present project we want to fulfil formal education of our leading lector so that he becomes a guarantee for the future development and dissemination of the perpetrators educational programmes; we want to analyse legislation situation in Slovakia, preparing its amendments; work with media and to create a short film, which explains and educates and will serve also as a tool of our prevention activities; and also to start the pilot educational course of perpetrators. The benefcieries are expected to be the women experiencing violence and respective authorities responsible for policy and practice while resolving violence in close relationships, and women´s intimate partners are the target groups.
Summary of project results
In Slovakia, there was until now no program for perpetrators of gender-based violence applied. Research shows, though, that the key to eliminating gender-based violence is the change of perpetrator’s behaviour through application of special intervention education program. The objective of the pilot project was therefore to decrease gender-based violence: to identify legislative and institutional opportunities and barriers of program´s implementation and the own implementation. The project proved that interventions programs for perpetrators of violence against women are feasible and make sense. However, the project has confirmed the fact known from abroad, that all the necessary institutions must be actively involved into the system to eliminate violence against women. In our case, despite all efforts, we were missing a cooperation of judges, who are the key people for the implementation of the program with the perpetrators at large. For this reason, the pilot could not be implemented in group with offenders sentenced conditionally. As an alternative we have, thanks to good cooperation with the Corps work, we have applied the program in remand prison sentence in Hrnčiarovce nad Parnou. The Corps plans to continue and finish the program for perperators and also counts with its extension to other institutions.The project worked with 8 perpetrators within the program (2 perpetrators repeatedly did not join) – aimed to eliminate their gender-based violence, find ways of running programs in terms of current legislation, prepare government bills, inform and educate judges and other professionals in order to show them possibilities in current penal code and motivate them towards issuing participation in the program to the perpetrators, and increase public awareness through a short movie. Women – victims of gender-based violence and their children are expected to benefit. The project did not have a donor partner.
Summary of bilateral results