An estimated one-fifth to one-quarter of all women in Europe have experienced physical violence at least once during their adult lives, often alongside years of emotional abuse.
Tackling this scourge and supporting its many victims is now a dedicated area of support under the Norway Grants, with about €20 million set aside from 2009 to 2014. Working through specific programmes, funded initiatives aim to tackle both the causes and consequences of violence. Public and private bodies, as well as non-governmental organisations, are eligible for funding.
Supported activities can include:
- specialist victim protection services, including refuge shelters, phone lines and crisis centres
- police training and law-enforcement cooperation
- advocacy, awareness-raising and campaigns
- research, mapping and data collection
- counselling and treatment programmes for offenders
- specific health-related programmes to reduce the effects of violence
Programmes to tackle gender-based and domestic violence are being established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and the Slovak Republic, with Romania to be agreed. There will also be targeted efforts in Malta, Slovenia and Spain.
Domestic and gender-based violence - support from the Norway Grants
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