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Description
Domestic violence remains a serious problem in Lithuania. Police reported 47,9 thousand cases of domestic violence in 2017. There was a decrease of reports (41,5 thousand) in 2018, but in 2019 the number of reports increased up to 53 thousand.
The need of the project is determined by the lack of skills and competences of law enforcement chain in organizing prevention of domestic violence, responding to incidents of domestic violence and conducting pre-trial investigation of domestic violence.
The project aims to improve policies to prevent domestic violence, to strengthen the capacities of justice chain professionals, to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation in order to effective allocate functions within the justice chain.
The project includes:
- Study on the implementation of legal regulations in the area of gender-based violence and domestic violence.
- Manual for justice chain professionals on evidence collection and evaluation.
- Training for justice chain professionals and representatives of NGOs, also specialized training for police officers, community police officers and prosecutors.
- Workshops in Lithuania and Norway.
- Awareness raising for the public to promote a zero-tolerance approach to domestic violence.
- Joint meetings among justice chain authorities, social partners and local municipalities.
- Creation of risk management information system, which will help the police officers to identify risky persons (potential perpetrators) and start preventive pro-active actions.
- Equipping the police officers with body-worn cameras.
Target groups of the project are representatives of the justice chain, NGOs, society and victims of domestic violence.
Donor project partner Oslo Police District will share its knowledge and the best practice in the area of domestic violence and gender-based violence during the workshops organized within the project. The involvement of the Lithuanian project partners will ensure synergies between justice chain authorities.
Summary of project results
Domestic violence was (and still is) a serious problem in Lithuania. Police reported 47,9 thousand cases of domestic violence in 2017. In 2019, the number of reports increased up to 53 thousand.
The project aimed to improve the system in Lithuania helping to prevent and respond to domestic and gender-based violence. This project addressed challenges such as the recognition of domestic violence, a lack of skills and knowledge among justice chain personnel to work effectively with victims and witnesses in domestic violence cases, difficulties in collecting and evaluating evidence, and ineffective inter-institutional cooperation, including with NGOs. The project also focused on challenges in managing the risk of individuals who may reoffend in domestic violence cases and applying preventive measures for persons concerned. Addressing these challenges is crucial for enhancing the functioning of the justice system (police, prosecution, and judiciary) in fighting against the domestic and gender-based violence, building a common understanding with NGOs and social partners, and ensuring an effective protection and access to justice for victims of domestic violence crimes.
The main results of the project:
- Study on the implementation of legal regulations in the area of gender-based violence and domestic violence was prepared. The study presented an analysis of key issues related to interpretation and application of legal regulation, examined best practices from countries such as Spain, Sweden, and Austria, and offered recommendations for improving protection against domestic violence and related practices.
- Practical guide to proceedings in the courts of domestic violence cases was developed.
- More than 4400 justice chain professionals (police officers, prosecutors, representatives of judicial system) as well as representatives of NGOs were trained.
- Six workshops in Norway and Lithuania on the topic of domestic violence took place.
- Awareness raising activities for the public to promote a zero-tolerance approach to domestic violence were carried out (more than 80000 people reached).
- Joint meetings among justice chain authorities, social partners and local municipalities were arranged.
- Risk management information system was created, which is used to identify individuals at risk of reoffending in domestic violence cases and to initiate preventive measures with them (preventive interviews and preventive visits, including visits after a restraining order is issued).
- Police officers were equipped with body-worn cameras (1800).
The project improved capacities of justice chain representatives in the field of domestic violence and strengthened inter-institutional cooperation among justice chain and NGOs. In addition, the project contributed to the prevention of domestic violence. The annual number of cases of domestic and gender-based violence officially reported to police increased from 41,531 in 2018 to 54,102 in 2023, surpassing the expected result. This indicates a reduction in public tolerance for any signs of domestic violence.
Furthermore, the project contributed to more efficient collection of evidence in domestic violence cases. 56.60 % of police officers are equipped with body-worn cameras that allow recording the circumstances of an incident of domestic violence. These recordings are used as evidence in court.
Summary of bilateral results
Throughout the six workshops organized during the project, the donor project partner, Oslo Police District, shared its knowledge, insights, and experience in handling cases related to domestic violence (including investigative interviews, working with cases with limited evidence, collaborating with children in domestic violence cases, victim protection, and more). These workshops contributed to the exchange of Norwegian knowledge, experience, and best practices with Lithuanian participants from the justice chain. Representatives from Oslo Police District also took part in the project’s conferences and other meetings, and hosted a study visit, where Lithuanian Police representatives had the opportunity to learn about the activities of the Center for the Analysis of Risks in domestic violence incidents.