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Description
This project addresses the problem of violence towards women in Śląsk. 6 379 Blue Cards were created in the Śląsk voivodship in 2019, which is the second highest figure in Poland. The pandemic exacerbated the problem. Social isolation is a situation conducive to perpetrators, giving them more power and control over their partners, while victims of violence have limited options for seeking help during a pandemic. Gender-based violence is common and can happen to anyone regardless of social or material standing. Despite this, the subject of domestic abuse is still taboo. This problem is part of the broader social and political context, such as government measures to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention on Violence and the governing majority’s dismissive approach towards domestic violence.This is a therapeutic and activation project. Support groups will be formed for abused women in nine towns in the Śląsk voivodship (Gliwice, Zabrze, Katowice, Bytom, Ruda Śląska, Piekary Śląskie, Tarnowskie Góry, Toszek, Zawiercie). The female participants will meet regularly for two years. The support groups will include therapeutic workshops with elements of art therapy and self-advocacy training. The women will also have one-on-one psychological, legal, and therapeutic support. At the end of the project, there will be family events in all nine towns for the women participating in the support group meetings, and those close to them.120 abused women will be given real, comprehensive support – psychological, legal, and emotional support. The female participants will improve belief in themselves, their self-esteem, and their sense of agency and influence, and will form new relationships. Approximately 75 women will attend self-advocacy training and become involved in community life and further the rights and interests of women who suffer domestic abuse
Summary of project results
The project responded to the problem of violence against women in Silesia. In the Silesian Voivodeship, 6,379 Blue Cards were established in 2019, the second highest number in Poland. The problem was exacerbated during the pandemic. Social isolation favoured perpetrators, who had more power and control over their partners. Victims of violence, on the other hand, had limited opportunities to seek and receive support during the pandemic. Gender-based violence is a widespread phenomenon that can affect anyone, regardless of social or material status. Yet domestic violence remains a taboo subject. The problem is part of a wider socio-political context, including the government''s efforts to denounce the so-called Anti-Bullying Convention and the ruling majority''s downplaying of domestic violence.
The project had a therapeutic and activating character. Support groups for women experiencing violence were established in 9 cities of the Silesian Voivodeship (Gliwice, Zabrze, Bielsko-Biała, Bytom, Zawiercie, Świętochłowice, Katowice, Siemianowice, Chorzów). The project participants met regularly for 2 years. They also received individual specialist support - psychological, legal, therapeutic. As part of the support groups, the women took part in therapeutic workshops with elements of art therapy and training to prepare them for the role of self-advocates. In addition, a total of 35 specialist meetings were organised for them to discuss issues such as safety, procedures, emotions and legal issues. At the end of the project, family events were held in all 9 cities where group members took part in confidence-building workshops and a photo session with their loved ones. The project participants also held 9 crowdfunding events to raise funds for the groups'' continued activities.
As a result of the project, 174 women experiencing violence received real, comprehensive support - psychological, legal and emotional. Participants increased their self-confidence, self-esteem, self-efficacy and sense of influence, and built new relationships. Thanks to the self-advocacy training, 86 women improved their skills in advocating for the rights and interests of women affected by domestic violence. Many women from different localities in the Silesian Voivodeship gained knowledge on how to deal with conflicts, what forms of self-advocacy are available and where to seek help in case of domestic violence.