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Description
The scale of the phenomenon of domestic violence is much greater than it is reflected in the official data of state services. Most victims of this violence remain without support or assistance. Domestic violence has increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is illustrated by data from observation and research of non-governmental organisations. However, there has been no increase in the commitment of public services to help victims or in the effectiveness of intervention and prosecution of perpetrators. The free legal aid offered by local authorities focuses on solving administrative problems. The lawyers providing it are not trained in supporting traumatised people, which is why it is assessed negatively by some beneficiaries. Therefore, the aim of our project is to improve the reporting of domestic violence, mobilise the police to get more engaged, improve the work of local social care centres, reduce the effects of domestic violence and improve the well-being of people affected by violence. Within the project we will provide legal aid to 300 people and psychological aid to 200 victims of family violence in 5 counties of the Lubusz Province. We will train and supervise the staff of local social care centres and interdisciplinary teams. The training curriculum responds to the diagnosed needs of employees and social workers. It will strengthen the competences and effectiveness of local government institutions in their work for victims of family violence. The main beneficiaries of the project’s activities are persons affected by family violence from smaller towns and employees of social care centres from these towns. The project''s partners are 6 social care centres.
Summary of project results
The project was planned and implemented from November 1, 2021. until October 31, 2023. The project assumes providing legal assistance to 300 persons and psychological assistance to 200 persons affected by domestic violence in 5 districts of the lubuskie voivodeship in local social welfare centers (OPS) - project partners.
The project also included training and supervision of 96 local OPS employees. The training was to be tailored to the diagnosed needs and wishes of social workers. Both they and supervisions will strengthen the competences and effectiveness of local government institutions in working for residents - victims of domestic violence. The Act on Counteracting Domestic Violence is not implemented reliably (the number of implemented Blue Card procedures is decreasing). Local strategies for counteracting domestic violence for 2021-2025 did not have the budget allowing for effective actions aimed at achieving hard results.
The project was implemented from November 1, 2021. until 31/10/23 The Act on Counteracting Domestic Violence is not implemented reliably. Local strategies to counteract domestic violence for the years 21-25 do not have budgets. Domestic violence has increased during the pandemic, as indicated by estimates from non-governmental organizations and research in Europe. The long-term goal of the project was counseling and assistance for victims of violence, especially domestic violence, which is an element of our mission and the most frequently awarded and appreciated form of activity. Topics were selected according to the diagnosed needs and wishes of OPS employees. Legal and psychological advice, training, supervision and communication activities were carried out. The guide WITH BABA - AGAINST VIOLENCE was published on the website www.baba.org.pl and published in paper form! entitled: Stopping violence, circulation: 2,000 pcs. Programs and press articles were prepared, posts and reports were also published on social media (FB, Insta), the website and partners'' websites. As part of the planned counseling sessions, 384 hours of psychological counseling were provided and 249 pieces of advice were provided (Customer cards at BABY''s headquarters). 384 hours were completed and 290 legal advices were provided to victims of violence in 6 districts of the province. Lubuskie. Planned duties and advice were carried out according to the adopted Schedule. By including women and men in the project, the number of indicated procedures was increased and the gap in the assistance provided was filled. The counseling took place in OPS: Jasień, Krosno Odrzańskie, Nowa Sól (commune), Sulęcin, Szprotawa, MOPS Żary. We chose partners for our project among the OPS with whom we cooperated most effectively.
Main results:
The partners in the project were 6 OPS: Jasień, Krosno Odrzańskie, Żary - MOPS, Szprotawa, Sulęcin and Nowa Sól - Commune. Legal advice was provided to 290 people, psychological advice to 249 people. 100 supervisions were carried out, 48 training sessions were held, and 1 guidebook was published: Stop the violence. with WOMAN - AGAINST VIOLENCE, 2,000 copies in pocket version. Two press materials were prepared and published in the local press. There was a subpage, also Facebook, Istagram, materials in newspapers, interviews, OPS website, radio - materials in Radio West. Through the implementation of the project, the self-awareness of people experiencing violence was increased, especially in small centers. Additionally, an important element of the project were supervisions for helpers, OPS employees, and members of the project team. The implementation of the supervision met the expectations of the Social Welfare Centers, as the need for supervision was very clear. Positive results included training at the Social Centers and the headquarters of the BABA Association. They responded to the expectations of the project partners.
The lasting product prepared was the publication of a guide - a guide in a pocket version in the number of 2,000. copies and additionally placing a PDF version on the BABA Association website.
The Lubuskie Association for Women, BABA, continues to provide legal and psychological assistance to people experiencing violence as a volunteer at its headquarters in Zielona Góra. It also intends to apply for new funds again under new projects.
The results of the evaluations were used to prepare initiatives in cooperation with other organizations and MPs, such as Lex Kamilek.