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Description
The crisis caused by Covid-19 resulted in a shadow pandemic, which hit women the hardest. During the isolation measures, the Counseling center recorded 75% increase in violence compared to the same period last year, which corresponds to world trends. Women are left without work, roof over their head and out on the street. During that period organization''s telephone was available 24/7, and public appeal was made to help women victims of violence. That way, Domine became a crisis center for temporary accommodation and help to women and victims of domestic violence. Women stayed in empty apartments provided by citizens. The trend continued in the fall and since mid-September, 2 women have been temporarily accommodated for 8 days, 8 packages of financial and material help have been provided, and 7 applications are being processed. The experience of the crisis has shown that there is a lack of social services of temporary accommodation in the crisis center, and that the practice of using public housing for permanent accommodation of women victims of violence hasn’t been developed. Also, there’s a growing trend of risk of poverty for women victims of violence which is particularly worrying given the coming winter.
The goal is to strengthen Domine''s advocacy position towards local government in the field of prevention and protection of women victims of violence and victims of domestic violence, having in mind the adoption of the budget for next year and the local elections in 2021. This will be achieved through field research (mapping the needs of women victims of violence affected by the crisis); by writing a research report and using the conclusions and experiences of women in the advocacy campaign for the creating a public housing fund for women survivors of violence and for the opening of the first crisis center for women victims of violence in Croatia.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several critical issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the rise in domestic violence and the increasing vulnerability of women. Key challenges included:
Increase in Domestic Violence: The COVID-19 crisis heightened the incidence of domestic violence, with isolation measures creating an environment in which violence could thrive behind closed doors. As the pandemic triggered economic and social crises, women were disproportionately affected. Many lost their jobs, income, and were forced out of their homes, making them even more vulnerable to further abuse.
Lack of Temporary Accommodation for Victims of Violence: During the lockdown, women who were victims of violence often had nowhere to turn for help, as shelters and support services were overwhelmed or not accessible. The lack of resources to provide safe housing was a significant issue. The project responded by creating a network of over 10 temporary accommodations in Dalmacija, allowing victims of domestic violence to have a place to stay.
Economic and Social Crisis: Women victims of domestic violence were severely impacted by the economic crisis, being unable to meet their basic needs such as food, transport, heating, or medical care. The project provided urgent financial and material support to help women survive through the crisis.
Limited Access to Public Housing: One of the major systemic issues is the limited availability of public housing for victims of domestic violence in Croatia (only 2% of the public housing stock). Despite being entitled to housing under the Istanbul Convention, women fleeing domestic violence face significant barriers to accessing safe and stable accommodation.
Inadequate Crisis Centers for Domestic Violence Victims: According to the Istanbul Convention, Croatia is required to establish crisis centers for women victims of domestic violence, but such facilities were lacking. The project aimed to advocate for the creation of a crisis center in Croatia, using Slovenia''s model of 13 such centers as an example of good practice.
Addressing These Challenges:
Temporary Housing Solutions: The project organized a temporary housing initiative, with more than 10 apartments across Dalmacija offered by citizens and stakeholders, including artists, property owners, and even Uber, who provided free transportation.
Support Services: The initiative provided legal, psychological, and social support, with 151 hours of counseling and assistance offered between April and May 2020 alone, benefiting 70 individuals, over 90% of whom were women.
Advocacy for Policy Change: The project aimed to map the needs of women victims of violence to advocate for changes in local public housing policies and the establishment of crisis centers, with the goal of improving the protection and support mechanisms for women victims of violence in Croatia.
By addressing these pressing issues, the project aimed to reduce the immediate impact of the crisis on vulnerable women and to create long-term solutions for supporting victims of domestic violence in Croatia.
The project achieved all of its planned outcomes and made significant progress in addressing the issues faced by women victims of violence. The activities and outputs of the project included:
Needs Analysis: The project involved analyzing the needs of women victims of violence and domestic violence. It was concluded that current shelter capacities are insufficient to meet these needs, and even with expansion, they will still fall short. The analysis highlighted a significant gap in available accommodation for women fleeing domestic violence.
Survey and Focus Group: In addition to the planned survey, a focus group was organized with stakeholders working in the field of women''s protection from violence in the Split-Dalmatia County and surrounding areas. This helped gather more qualitative data on the needs of women victims and the gaps in the current system.
Increased Demand for Shelter: The project revealed that the Caritas shelter in the region was unable to accommodate 36 women who requested shelter during the past year. The analysis of Domina''s counseling protocols also indicated an increase in the need for shelter and greater financial difficulties faced by victims of violence.
Advocacy and Communication: Based on the findings, the project formulated requests to local government units (the City of Split and the County), and established contact with local and regional authorities. Public awareness campaigns were launched, which significantly raised awareness about the need for more shelters and crisis centers. These campaigns engaged the local community and businesses, generating donations to support the opening of a crisis center.
Increased Public Awareness: The project successfully raised awareness about the issue of domestic violence and the need for a crisis center. The campaign received strong support not only from citizens but also from businesses, confirming its success in spreading awareness.
Recognition and Institutional Collaboration: Throughout the project, the organization gained recognition from key institutions such as social welfare centers, the police, and the State Attorney''s Office (DORH) as a reliable partner capable of providing urgent shelter for women who have survived violence. The project also resulted in Domina being involved in discussions related to policies and support mechanisms for victims of domestic violence.
Provision of Temporary Accommodation: During the project, the organization arranged temporary accommodation for one individual and responded to multiple inquiries from relevant institutions seeking shelter for women victims of violence in the Split-Dalmatia County area.
Emergency Response and Crisis Management: The project reinforced Domina''s role as a key organization in emergency situations involving violence against women, particularly in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It strengthened the capacity of the organization to respond rapidly and efficiently to the needs of women in immediate danger.
Through these activities, the project not only addressed immediate challenges faced by women victims of violence but also created long-term advocacy for systemic change, with a focus on improving shelter availability and establishing crisis centers for women in need.
The project achieved significant results in addressing the needs of women victims of violence and domestic violence, with a focus on enhancing institutional and non-institutional support systems.
Needs Assessment and Analysis: The project conducted a comprehensive assessment of the needs of women victims of violence. It was concluded that current shelter capacities are insufficient and that even with expansion, they will not be enough to meet the needs. The project conducted surveys and a focus group involving stakeholders from Split-Dalmatia County and beyond, which highlighted the critical shortage of shelter space for women seeking refuge from domestic violence.
Raising Awareness and Advocacy: Through public campaigns, the project successfully raised awareness among the citizens of Split and the wider Dalmatian region about the importance of establishing a crisis center for women victims of violence. This resulted in increased public support, and local businesses and citizens responded by offering donations and support.
Support to Women: The project facilitated direct support for women affected by violence. For example, the organization successfully provided shelter for one individual and responded to numerous inquiries from institutions about emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence. Over the course of the project, Domina was recognized as a reliable organization that could provide emergency housing and support.
Institutional Support and Collaboration: The project resulted in strong collaboration with various local and regional institutions, including the City of Split, Split-Dalmatia County, social welfare institutions, police, and the courts. Several key representatives, including city councilors, county representatives, and members of parliament, supported the establishment of a crisis center for women. Additionally, the project gained positive support for the inclusion of women''s needs in future social plans and public policies.
Long-Term Impact on Local Policy: The advocacy efforts from the project have contributed to the creation of a new social plan by the City of Split, which includes addressing the needs of women victims of violence and domestic violence. Moreover, the project’s initiatives and collaboration with political representatives have set the stage for the establishment of the first crisis center for women in Croatia, drawing from successful models in other European countries like Slovenia.
Beneficiaries:
- Women victims of violence: The project directly benefited women who were in need of shelter, legal, psychological, and social support, as well as women who were affected by the ongoing economic and social crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Organizations and stakeholders: The project helped strengthen partnerships between various organizations that support women, which will foster long-term cooperation and ensure the continuation of advocacy efforts for women’s rights and protection from violence.
- Local authorities and decision-makers: By involving local government representatives, the project contributed to shaping future policies that address the specific needs of women survivors of violence and will likely influence the establishment of the first crisis center in Croatia.
Overall, the project not only achieved tangible outcomes in terms of immediate support for women but also laid the groundwork for long-term changes in policy and the support infrastructure for women victims of violence.