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Description
The project addresses the problem of insufficient, stereotype-based knowledge about the mechanisms of domestic violence in the legal community. This problem causes secondary victimisation, e.g. women who have experienced domestic violence for years and who attacked the perpetrator receive harsher punishments compared to the perpetrators. We address our project to young people, studying at law and administration faculties at Polish universities or continuing their education with patrons (at Councils of the Bar) or at the National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution. We will provide them with a free specialist e-learning course on domestic violence, containing among others descriptions of the experiences of victims and perpetrators of violence with the Polish justice system. We are developing the course in cooperation with our partners from Poland and Norway. Our partner in the project is the District Council of the Bar in Opole, whose members teach at law faculties and/or support future attorneys through mentoring, traineeships, as well as providing substantive support for the activities of law student scientific clubs. While promoting the course, we have reached out to all law faculties at Polish universities, student clubs at law faculties, as well as non-profit legal and domestic violence organisations across Poland.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to solve the problem of insufficient knowledge about the mechanisms of domestic violence in the Polish legal environment, which is often based on myths and stereotypes. This knowledge gap leads to secondary victimization and social inequality, for example through harsher punishment for women who have experienced long-term violence and who attacked the perpetrator in defense, compared to punishments meted out to the perpetrators. The project draws attention to the negative effects of lack of knowledge, such as discouraging victims from reporting, not taking into account their evidence and improper treatment of perpetrators by courts. The aim of the project is to increase the awareness of lawyers, improve education regarding domestic violence, and introduce more effective correction and educational programs, which will lead to better support for victims and more effective work with perpetrators of violence.
The e-learning course we have prepared, available free of charge, eliminates myths and stereotypes that may lead to secondary victimization and more severe punishment for people experiencing violence than for perpetrators. As part of the project "Education on the mechanisms of domestic violence for law students", several key activities were carried out, which brought measurable results.
A certified e-learning course was developed and implemented in cooperation with the District Bar Council in Opole and the Norwegian organization Stiftelsen Alternativ Til Vold. The course aims to increase knowledge about the mechanisms of domestic violence and eliminate myths in the legal environment. So far, over 1,600 law students have graduated from it, which has contributed to improving the level of awareness and competence in this field among future lawyers, prosecutors and judges.
Thanks to establishing key partnerships with ATV and the District Bar Council, the project achieved wide reach and effectiveness. Cooperation with experts from all over the country ensured wide access to the course and avoided the risk of limiting its availability. These activities achieved the main goals of the project, i.e. increasing students'' knowledge about domestic violence and establishing lasting partnerships that support the further development and distribution of the course.
As part of the project "Education on the mechanisms of domestic violence for law students", several key activities were carried out, which brought measurable results.
Development and implementation of an e-learning course: A certified e-learning course was prepared in cooperation with the District Bar Council in Opole and the Norwegian Stiftelsen Alternativ Til Vold. This course aims to increase knowledge and awareness of the mechanisms of domestic violence, eliminating myths and stereotypes in the legal environment. So far, over 1,600 law students have graduated from it, which has contributed to increasing the level of knowledge in this field among future lawyers, prosecutors and judges.
Establishing and maintaining project partnerships: Two key partnerships were established - with the Norwegian ATV organization and with the District Bar Council in Opole. The project was implemented thanks to the cooperation of specialists and law lecturers from all over the country, which ensured a broad and synergistic effect. This approach allowed us to avoid the risk of limiting access to the course for students from other law faculties, which could occur in the case of cooperation with one faculty.
Thanks to these activities, the main goals of the project were achieved, i.e. increasing law students'' knowledge about the mechanisms of domestic violence and establishing important partnerships that support the development and distribution of the course
Summary of bilateral results
Collaboration with the Norwegian partner, Stiftelsen Alternativ Til Vold (ATV), has brought significant benefits to the project. The transfer of knowledge and experience from Norway enriched the Polish e-learning course with effective methods and approaches used in ATVs, which significantly increased the quality of the training. Experts from Norway shared valuable practices regarding correctional and educational programs, which improved the competences of future lawyers, prosecutors and judges in the field of counteracting domestic violence. The plan to continue cooperation includes expanding activities with ATV and developing new joint projects. Further activities will focus on updating training materials, promoting best practices and publishing the results of joint activities, which will contribute to maintaining a high standard of education and further development of effective solutions in counteracting domestic violence.