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Description
This project addresses the problem of insufficient institutional support for women who suffer abuse in the Nowosądecki district. This problem is part of the broader social and political context. The government has announced that it will be withdrawing from the Istanbul convention on violence and has not taken any essential measures to prevent violence. Meanwhile, during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, the problem has become more serious and there has been an increase in the number of cases of violence reported. In addition, in the Nowosądecki district, the Crisis Centre has been incorporated into the Municipal Social Welfare Centre, and one of the consequences of this was a limited range of assistance, and that violence prevention measures ceased being a priority in local policy. The Project Promoter wants to address the problem on many levels. Firstly, in addition to the range of support available to women who suffer abuse, further psychological counselling and legal advice, and long-term therapeutic support, will be provided. The additional aid will help approximately 60 women. Some of them will be invited to join the therapeutic and development scheme Women’s Rights Leaders, which will provide them with training for work in the environment in local communities. The Project Promoter will also monitor the local domestic abuse prevention system, i.e. analyses and put to a discussion aid institution practices. An expert report will be produced on the basis of the monitoring, making recommendations for local institutions and authorities. The report will contain guidelines for the local action plan, and focus on improving the quality and accessibility of the range of support available for women who suffer abuse. The aim of the project is that women who suffer abuse in the Nowosądecki district will be provided with all-embracing aid, and that the local violence prevention system itself is more readily accessible and addresses women’s needs.
Summary of project results
The project responds to the problem of insufficient systemic support for women experiencing violence in the district of Nowy Sącz. Unfortunately, this problem is part of the broader socio-political context. The state authorities have been announcing the denunciation of the so-called anti-violence convention for years and have not taken any significant action against violence. Meanwhile, in recent years, during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, the problem has intensified and the number of reported cases of violence has increased significantly. In addition, in the district of Nowy Sącz, the Crisis Intervention Centre was incorporated into the Municipal Social Welfare Centre, which had the effect, among other things, on limiting the offer of assistance, as well as moving the prevention of violence lower on the list of local priorities.
The project offered comprehensive assistance to women experiencing gender-based violence. First, 107 women benefited from psychological and legal consultations and therapeutic support. In addition, four women with a history of violence participated in the therapeutic and development programme ''Women''s Rights Leaders''; the programme prepared them for community-based work in local communities. Project Promoter also carried out monitoring of the local domestic violence prevention system: analysed and discussed the practices of support institutions. On the basis of the monitoring, an expert report with recommendations for local institutions and authorities was prepared. The report provides guidelines for the local action plan and focuses on improving the quality and accessibility of the support offer to women experiencing violence.
Thanks to the project, women experiencing violence in the Nowy Sącz district received comprehensive psychological and legal support. The Project Promoter offer filled the gap in the local domestic violence prevention system and had a positive impact on the availability of support. The participation of four women in the development-therapy programme provided them with an opportunity for personal development and prepared them for their commitment to women''s rights. The critical analysis of the local domestic violence prevention system and the recommendations developed were forwarded to local decision-makers and aid institutions. The publication of the report and its dissemination became a contribution to the local debate on the quality and effectiveness of the aid system and the gaps in it.