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Description
In Poland, the figures are not complete regarding domestic abuse killings. The data is often given as estimates, and the manner in which institutions and services collect this data raises many concerns. There is no coherent system for collating figures from the various statistics. Under the project, data on domestic abuse killings will be collated from various sources, for instance from the justice system, interdisciplinary municipal team, the police, CSOs, the Polish Statistical Office (GUS), and the healthcare system. The collated data will be used to produce a report, the Black book of Victims of Domestic Abuse in Poland in 2021 (Czarna Księga Ofiar Przemocy Domowej w Polsce w 2021 roku), providing information about domestic abuse killings. The report will cover both direct killings and suicides, and where there is a history of abuse, unexplained disappearances as well. Credible and reliable data on this subject can also be used to raise public awareness and to advocate for a change in the way data on this subject is collected. Advocacy measures under the project are expected to include webinars and seminars for experts and politicians. The project will focus the attention of the public and policy makers on the fatal consequences of trivializing domestic abuse in Poland. In addition, better mechanisms will be devised for collating data on this subject.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the problem of the lack of a coherent system for collecting data on domestic violence deaths in Poland. These statistics are incomplete, often given in estimates, and the way they are collected by institutions and services raises many objections. Statistics collected as part of the monitoring of the National Programme for Counteracting Family Violence do not include such data. The number of fatal cases of domestic violence in Poland is unknown - we use an estimated number of 150 to 500 victims per year, depending on the data source. Both the public and the media as well as decision-makers ignore the problem. The Polish authorities do not properly implement the requirements of the Istanbul Convention, which obliges them to collect data on victims of domestic violence.
During the project, data was collected from various sources on fatal cases of domestic violence, including statistics from the judiciary, municipal interdisciplinary teams, the police, NGOs, the CSO. Based on the collected data, the report ‘Now the End of You. Black Book of Victims of Domestic Violence in Poland 202’" containing information on fatal cases of domestic violence. The results of the survey were published in the media. An interdisciplinary team of 6 experts was set up as part of the project and was responsible for its content. Three webinars were also held on issues related to the escalation of domestic violence and three seminars were organised with representatives of key institutions in the collection and compilation of statistical data at the national level (Family Violence Prevention Monitoring Team, Parliamentary Team for Women''s Rights in the Sejm, Ombudsman''s Office, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy).
As a result of the project, the attention of the public opinion and representatives of government institutions and services was drawn to the deadly consequences of domestic violence, which is underestimated in Poland. Identified gaps in the system of collecting data on domestic violence victims allowed for the creation of recommendations. The postulated changes are currently being worked on by the Ministry of Justice. There is also a noticeable increase in media interest in issues related to domestic violence and its tragic consequences.