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Domestic violence prevention change of practice and legislation in the Czech Republic 2001-2006

More than 5-year systematic project was realised by Bil kruh bezpeč (BKB) - White Circle of Safety, NGO

Initial impulse:

  • source based on empirical evidence of BKB monitoring
  • high number of clients (36%) threatened by domestic violence
  • no state systematic policy
  • opinion stereotypes domestic violence is a personal affair
  • fundamental barriers regarding detection and prosecution of domestic violence

1st Stage:
Representative research within respondents of age 15 and more focused on awareness campaign, attitudes and personal experience with domestic violence

  • minimally 16 % of respondents become domestic violence victims in the course of their lives
  • majority of respondents agreed with state intervention
  • outcome - mandate to see changes in public opinion

2nd Stage:
Establishment of Dona Helpline - support to victims, operating 24 hours a day

  • qualified assistance and support for domestic violence victims (up to present more than 21 000 calls), an integral part of campaign
  • launching of the project was supported by mass media promotional campaigns (advertising spots, promotional billboards, editorial support)

3rd Stage: 2003-2004

The Interdisciplinary Cooperation Project, pilot model combining medical, social and police assistance for detection and prosecution of domestic violence in the town of Ostrava

  • BKB coordinator of the project, supported by 11 institutions (Police Headquarters, Municipal police, Municipal council, Crisis centre for children, Social workers division, Charitas shelter, general practitioners)
  • Successful project transferred to other towns, publicity of the project disseminated by BKB to all districts via meetings and lectures
  • output  even maximum practice cannot sufficiently protect victims
  • urgent needs of significant legislative changes

4th Stage: October 2002
The Parliament of the Czech Republic, Chamber of Deputies  Founding of The Alliance Against Domestic Violence and The Expert group at the Alliance

  • the Alliance was established in order to contribute to building of a full-coverage reaction system to domestic violence, specifically its prevention, timely detection, efficient intervention and repression
  • the Expert group started working on a new legislative proposal in order to protect society against domestic violence with complex of preventive measures
  • manuals and leaflets for professional public
  • the Bill for protection against domestic violence in the CZE discussed, approved and taking into effect on January 1st 2007

5th Stage:
Methodological measures, training of all experts who come into contact with domestic violence, communication with the professional public

  • BKB as the project manager developed necessary tools, measures and methodology for implementation of the new methods into theory and practice
  • BKB created lectors fund  power point presentation and manuals for professionals who come into contact with domestic violence for 7 specialisations (police, doctors, social workers)
  • BKB transferred (from abroad) SARA DV diagnostic method for the police officers and judges in order to asses the jeopardy of danger to victims

6th Stage:
BKB as the project manager with the assistance of Ministry of Labour and social affairs and The Hetman Association helped to set up the regional interventional centres

  • trained and co-ordinated the workers of the centres and monitored their activities
  • after 6 months analyses an explicit output  in the CZE fundamentally improved situation of awareness and effective protection of DV victims

 

Contact:
Petra Vitouov, the President
bkb@volny.cz

 

The project started in 2001 and is now finished.
Last review: January 2020

 

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