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Description
Presently there is open public consultation about the draft proposal of Social walfare Act in which there is a suggestion for founding of the comittee for deciding about grounds of complaints of the person unsatisfaied with the answer of the Ministry related to the service, method or omission of the employee in social walfare. The comittee consists of representatives of Ministry and representatives of citizens. Associations representing the experts that are engaged to help in the famillies during conflict divorces are against formation of that comittee claiming that there are already sufficient methods of control of their work. The main aim of the project is to collect and to present to the public the data about the implementation and the effects of the existing methods of control of the work of social welfare centres, precisely of social welfare centre in Rijeka becuse it is recognized by the Ministry as the one with the largest number of complaints. Main activity in the project is journalistic research. Target groups of the project are experts from system of social welfare, children and parents victims of domestic violence and civil society organisations. The applicant is Association for Independent Media Culture, publisher of news website H-Alter (www.h-alter.org) where articles of the journalist Jelena Jindra will be published. The partner is SOS Rijeka – center for nonviolence and human rights, they connect journalist with their clients and other organistaions and offer her professional support in the analysis of data.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project is to collect and present data to the public regarding the application and effects of existing mechanisms for monitoring the work of Centers for Social Welfare (CZSS) in Croatia. This aims to contribute to the public debate on whether establishing a Complaints Commission composed of civil society representatives would be a step forward in the collaboration between CZSS, the Ministry, and NGOs for the common good. The common good in this context refers to the satisfaction of users of public services, particularly CZSS, in divorce and child custody proceedings.
The expected outcomes of the project include:
Strengthened Advocacy/Watchdog Role: The project seeks to strengthen the advocacy and watchdog role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in monitoring the work of CZSS and advocating for improvements. CSOs will gather and present data, enabling them to advocate for positive changes effectively.
Increased Visibility in the Media: The project aims to raise awareness of a topic that is not widely covered in Croatian media but affects a significant number of citizens. By shedding light on the issues within CZSS, the project intends to generate media attention and public discourse.
Research to Support Policy Advocacy: The research conducted during the project will provide valuable insights that CSOs can use in advocating for public policies and reforms. This research will equip CSOs with data-driven arguments.
Support for Human Rights and Rule of Law: The project anticipates that it will garner increased support for human rights, the rule of law, and good governance. It aims to shift public opinion away from negative views about specific groups in society, including professionals working in CZSS, victims of gender-based violence, and those working with them.
Enhanced Intersectoral and Intra-sectoral Cooperation: The project will encourage better cooperation and synergy between different sectors and within the CZSS sector. It will promote the application of international human rights standards, including those outlined in the Istanbul Convention.
In summary, the project seeks to empower civil society to monitor and advocate for improvements in the work of CZSS, raise public awareness, conduct research to support policy advocacy, and promote human rights, the rule of law, and cooperation between various stakeholders.
The main activities of the project was to collect and present data to the public regarding the activities and outcomes of the existing control mechanisms for Centers for Social Welfare (CZSS). This was done with the purpose of facilitating public discussion on the establishment of a Complaints Commission composed of representatives from civil society organizations, which would serve the common good by ensuring the satisfaction of citizens using public services, particularly in cases of divorce and child custody.
- Writing a series of 5 investigative journalism articles based on the collected data and its analysis. These articles will define the existing transparency and oversight of CZSS operations and provide documented and well-argued advocacy for the establishment of a Complaints Commission composed of top experts from civil society organizations (CSOs) in Croatia specializing in the protection of victims of gender-based violence and their children.
- Analyzing the collected data with the expert support of a psychologist and a lawyer, who are project partners. This analysis will particularly focus on CZSS Rijeka and the position of the CSO and its clients, SOS Rijeka.
- Collecting data on the existing control mechanisms for the work of CZSS in Croatia and their effectiveness from relevant institutions and CSOs, with a specific focus on data regarding the number and resolution of complaints about the work of CZSS Rijeka (6+1).
The project had a significant impact on civil organizations dealing with the protection of women from gender-based violence and the broader public. Here are some key achievements and impacts of the project:
Transparency Platform: The project provided civil organizations and the wider public with a platform containing official data on the work of Centers for Social Welfare (CZSS) and their transparency and control mechanisms. This platform allowed associations to better understand the work of CZSS and the real problems that exist within the system.
Preparedness for the Commission: The project allowed civil organizations to anticipate facts and possible pitfalls or deficiencies of the future Commission for determining the legitimacy of citizen complaints. This gives them an advantage in preparing for upcoming challenges and enables them to consider potential issues and how to address them in advance.
Public Awareness: The project contributed to raising public awareness about the importance of independent and transparent oversight of CZSS''s work in protecting victims of domestic violence and children. This is crucial for promoting changes in the system and raising awareness of the need for reforms.
Dialogue Among System Stakeholders: The participation of all relevant stakeholders in the research, including representatives of the Ministry of Social Welfare, CZSS directors, professional associations, chambers, and citizens who use CZSS services, allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the problems from different perspectives. This encouraged dialogue among these stakeholders about the necessary changes and improvements in the system.
Victim Testimonies: The project provided victims of domestic violence with the opportunity to share their experiences and provide suggestions for improving the system. This is crucial because their voices are essential in shaping policies and reforms.
In the end, the project''s goal of raising awareness of the issues and advocating for changes in the system for the protection of victims of domestic violence and children has been achieved through the analysis of relevant data, dialogue among system stakeholders, and active involvement of victims in the discussion about improvements.