Description
The Civic Association DOMOV - DÚHA in cooperation with partners decided to the establish women's safe houses to tackle long-term problems of crisis centers to help mothers in need of a comprehensive system solution. The primary objective of the project is to found a safe house for women, which will provide help, support and services to women who are at risk of violence or experiencing violence. The project will result in the establishment of one new safe house. Implementation of the project will ensure the creation of 18 family places in European standard, which will be capable of accommodating up to 40 victims of domestic violence. The project will benefit victims of domestic violence and their children. The project is implemented in partnership with Glamdal Crisis Centre. The partnership will allow for the exchange of valuable experiences and best practices, and create a base for international cooperation on the provision of more targeted and better quality services.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was to contribute to addressing the long-term crisis center problems to help women and mothers in need in a systemic way - by establishing safe women's houses and to provide comprehensive services to women and their children in a crisis situation. The reconstruction of the property in BA - Prievoz, which was provided by the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, and its subsequent facilities, was open in February 2016 a new Women Safe House DÚHA, which offers 6 family places according to European standards. The building is fully barrier-free and offers service of a caseworker, a psychologist and a pedagogue for work with children. This ensures a continuous comprehensive service for women and their children in an crisis situation. Within the framework of the Women Safe House in BA - Petržalka, 12 new family places were created according to European standards. Also this object is barrier-free and currently offers services of caseworkers, special pedagogues and psychologists not only for women victims of domestic violence but also for their children. The Safe House in BA - Petržalka also provides outpatient care for women experiencing violence. The project has contributed together to the creation of 18 family places of the European standard, which more than 50 women, victims of domestic violence and their children have been sheltered together. Outpatient care has been and still is aided by more than 100 women. Both women safe houses also provide emergency help via a hotline. It has created such a stable base of help and a continuous shelter for women experiencing domestic violence and their children. It is also important to cooperate with a public sector - the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, which actively finances part of the expenses of both houses. Within the project, 18 new family places were created in line with European standards, where professional counseling and shelter for 44 women, domestic violence victims and their children was provided during the project. The following indicators were also achieved: 210.53 m2 of reconstructed area within the new Women Safe House in BA - Prievoz, 1100 m2 of higher accommodation and educational quality in the second safe house in BA - Petržalka, together with 8 professional posts and more than 100 outpatient clients is provided with expert help according to European standards. So all planned outputs and indicators were fulfilled. There were also 2 expert conferences realized for the professional public on the topic of the elimination of domestic violence.
Summary of bilateral results
In the first half of 2016, the project partners also carried out a mutual visit within the Bilateral Fund to deepen knowledge on systems of care for victims of domestic violence in both countries. Slovak partners visited the Glåmdal Crisis Center and a Women Safe House in Kongsvinger and project partner from Norway visited the Women Safe Houses in Bratislava - Prievoz and Bratislava - Petržalka. Visits and rich professional discussions have led to mutual exchange of good practice and experience in the operation of Women Safe Houses , including staffing and provision of services. Insights have also been gained in order to streamline the operation of facilities and ensure higher standards and safety (eg panic buttons), but also more active involvement of male professionals. Norwegian partner representatives have expressed an interest in more information about the principle of activation activity organized by labor offices, working with companies that take clients of Women Safe Houses into employment. Also important was the knowledge of programs that run the Slovak partners for women, aiming at easier application in the labor market. For the Slovak pratners of the project, it was mainly about obtaining very important and valuable information about the operation of Women Safe Houses, with which the Norwegian partner has long-term experience. An important discussion within the project was also focused on the financing of services related to the operation of Women Safe Houses and the role of public administration in this issue. Very important is also the support from the level of state institutions and, in particular, appropriately regulated laws that provide funding for these services. These fruitful suggestions have been put forward as proposals for the relevant legislation.