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Description
The SER+Livre Project will focus on around 100 victims of domestic and sexual violence living in the Municipality of Valongo, both victims and anonymous victims afraid or ashamed of public exposure. The project will seek to create an Office for victim assistance, with the goal of reducing the psychological impact of victimisation and offering support to family members by implementing intervention/prevention programmes to eradicate repeat behaviours.
Summary of project results
In addressing the pressing issues in Valongo, a municipality within the Greater Porto area, this project focused on tackling the high incidence of domestic violence (DV). Valongo, with a population of 97,444, has seen alarming rates of DV, second only to Lisbon in the Porto district. In 2018, the district recorded 4,614 DV incidents, with a higher incidence rate than the national average. The data revealed that DV was present in 65.7% of cases, psychological violence in 76.5%, sexual violence in 1.9%, economic violence in 6.8%, and social violence in 13.2%. The majority of victims were female (83%), and the perpetrators were predominantly male (85%), with intimate partner relationships accounting for 86.2% of the cases.
The Observatory of Murdered Women (OMA) reported 30 women killed between January 1 and November 15, 2020, with 16 deaths occurring in intimate relationships. November alone saw three femicides in 15 days. Additionally, OMA recorded 43 attempted murders of women in 2020. In Valongo, police data indicated 65 DV victims in 2018 and 76 cases in 2019, showing an increase in incidents. In 2019, there were 200 DV victim processes, averaging 17 reports per month.
Nationally, the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) reported a 31% increase in DV cases from 2016 to 2018, with 9,344 DV victims in 2018, primarily women (82.5%) with an average age of 41. The APAV''s 2017 report showed that 5,036 women were assisted, with 3,558 being DV victims in heterosexual relationships. Divorce, parental responsibility regulation, and the presence of a third person were identified as major risk factors. Alcohol and drug-related issues were also significant among the perpetrators.
In Valongo, DV in 2018 and 2019 was characterized by high incidences of simultaneous psychological and physical violence, with 64% and 71% of cases, respectively. The primary causes were often attributed to relationship breakdowns. The data highlighted a high percentage of female victims (86%) and male aggressors (84%).
The project''s activities aimed to complement existing initiatives by addressing the gaps in DV prevention and intervention.
The project undertook a comprehensive set of activities aimed at capacity building, information dissemination, and support for victims of domestic violence. Initially, an organizational needs assessment was conducted through a questionnaire and structured interviews, resulting in an action plan developed by Neuropsyc. The European Institute of Higher Studies implemented various training measures, including "Creating My Online Store," "Leadership and Team Management," "Project Management," "Digital Marketing," "Effective Communication Techniques," "Conflict Management," "Task Organization and Distribution," and "Operational Agility," certifying 49 participants.
To raise awareness and communicate the project''s goals, an online Opening Conference was held on June 8, 2021, with 27 participants (24 women and 3 men) from various entities. A Closing Conference took place on April 28, 2023, at the Ermesinde Parish Council, presenting the results to 55 attendees (48 women and 7 men). Additionally, a videopitch was created, and a website was launched, attracting around 175 unique visitors and 1245 views. Communication boxes were placed in 21 strategic locations, addressing 52 inquiries. Six short films were produced, and 500 copies of the book "The Stories I Never Told" were published, featuring autobiographical narratives of four women. Furthermore, 200 copies of a Resource Guide for DV victims were produced.
The project also implemented empowerment measures for particularly vulnerable groups, including 9 programs for developing personal, social, and relational skills, 8 for employability skills, and 3 for economic and financial management skills, reaching a total of 253 people. A total of 117 victims (96 women and 21 men) were registered, with 100 showing visible signs of empowerment and autonomy. The project provided 612 psychological, 18 social, and 10 legal consultations.
To foster discussion and awareness, the project organized "Facing Challenges" gatherings, including two events for the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict with 126 participants (59 women and 67 men), two for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with 134 participants (50 women and 84 men), two for the International Day of Non-Violence and Peace in Schools with 114 participants (56 women and 58 men), and two for International Women''s Day with 70 participants (39 women and 31 men).
The "Ombro Amigo" (shoulder friend) Volunteer Bank recruited 14 specialist volunteers, including professionals from law, psychology, victim support, social work, health, security forces, and communication, dedicating 923.5 hours to the project. They conducted 20 awareness and information sessions on topics such as domestic violence, dating violence, evidence in sexual violence cases, DV from legal, security, and health perspectives, elder abuse, and manipulation of discourse in DV, reaching 160 people. Additionally, a Network of DV Survivor Women was created, involving 7 women.
The implementation of the project activities proceeded smoothly and in line with the contractual objective of providing specialized support to victims of domestic and/or sexual violence in physical, psychological, legal, and social dimensions. The project provided services to 117 victims and involved 252 individuals from vulnerable groups in skill development programs, leading to positive changes in behaviors that promote autonomy and empowerment. This aligns with the primary goal of the Active Citizens Program: to empower vulnerable groups.
In terms of victim intervention, 612 psychological support sessions were conducted to assess and manage each victim''s risk, ensuring interventions that promote safety, referral, and shelter, enhance the empowerment process, support life project redefinition, and create conditions for labor market reintegration. This intervention showed very positive effects on the target audience, with 100 victims displaying visible signs of empowerment. The closure of the remaining cases was mainly due to changes in residence and the victims'' unavailability. Additionally, 18 social support sessions were held to assess needs and prepare social support requests, and 10 legal support sessions provided information on rights, judicial process stages, and available resources for victims. These actions achieved the intended objectives by promoting victims'' rights, ending situations affecting their safety and well-being, or providing guidance to that effect, and minimizing their emotional suffering.
To ensure a coordinated and networked approach, synergies were created with various services and entities, including criminal police, social services, and CPCJ, among others. This collaboration often resulted in positive outcomes for the target audience by ensuring that all information from different services was considered, thus avoiding re-victimization.
Geographically, the project significantly impacted residents of Valongo and surrounding areas by complementing and enhancing existing services. Awareness and information actions increased general knowledge and awareness about domestic violence, helping to prevent and combat this phenomenon.
The organization of discussion groups fostered reflection and discussion on domestic and gender violence prevention. The creation of tools such as the Resource Guide provided available resources and services. The publication of the book "The Stories I Never Told" and the production of short films raised community awareness about the severity of this issue, mitigating future situations.
The community''s involvement in the Volunteer Bank highlighted active citizenship and social responsibility, further strengthening civil society. Finally, the integration of the project as a Domestic Violence Victim Support and Assistance Structure into the RNAVVD will, in the long term, reinforce existing responses in victim protection and support.