A Safe Life – Services for Victims of Domestic Violence
A Safe Life – Services for Victims of Domestic Violence
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Project summary
Victims of domestic violence in Romania are insufficiently served by essential social services and lack the integrated support necessary for transitioning to a life free of violence where their rights are respected. Additionally, the community holds biases and attitudes that do not support gender equality and, in some cases, even encourage gender-based violence. Furthermore, the support system provided by public and private entities for this target group is inconsistent and, in some cases, ineffective.
The main objective of the project, “A Safe Life – Services for Victims of Domestic Violence,” is to support human rights principles and equal treatment, especially for victims of domestic violence, by providing them with integrated social, psychological, legal, and shelter services, as well as improving intervention methods in collaboration with institutional partners and fostering positive attitudes through information and education campaigns. The project’s necessity arises from the specific needs of the target group – domestic violence victims within the county – as the current service capacity is insufficient to meet the existing demand for integrated solutions to their issues.
Expected project outcomes include the construction of a building for the recovery center, provision of four essential social services for 30 individuals, of whom at least 12 will benefit from shelter services, seven cases pursued in court regarding human rights and equal treatment, development of 12 sustainable partnerships, increased awareness among 500 citizens through five human rights awareness campaigns, and the organizational development of the association by establishing an efficient management procedure and conducting a fundraising campaign.
Project Purpose
The purpose of the project is to increase citizens’ awareness of gender equality, gender-based violence, and human rights; to change public attitudes on this subject; to contribute to the improvement of procedures and intervention methods; and to provide integrated services for victims of domestic violence.
The project also aims to enhance the Association’s capacity to implement actions related to human rights and to support organizational development.
Project Objectives
- To promote and defend human rights by improving procedures and intervention methods for victims of gender-based violence within the framework of 12 partnerships developed with public and private entities, by the project’s completion;
- To provide integrated services for 30 victims of domestic violence in a dedicated recovery center, by the end of the project implementation;
- To increase awareness and support positive changes regarding gender equality and gender-based violence through five information campaigns, by the project’s completion;
- To enhance the organization’s capacity to ensure sustainability and achieve the proposed objectives by strengthening fundraising capabilities and management procedures by the end of the project.
Project Target
To promote and defend human rights by improving procedures and intervention methods for victims of gender-based violence within partnerships developed with public and private entities.
To provide integrated services for victims of domestic violence within a dedicated recovery center.
To increase awareness and support positive changes regarding gender equality and gender-based violence through information campaigns.
The project’s target group consists of 30 victims of domestic violence, defined as individuals who have suffered any form of violence—whether physical, emotional (psychological), sexual, or all of these—and who require specific services to end their risk situation and return to a life where their rights are respected. The target group will receive services regardless of age, nationality, ethnicity, religious affiliation, education level, etc. Of the 30 individuals who will benefit from at least one service—such as psychological counseling, shelter, social assistance, support group, and legal counseling—a minimum of 12 individuals will benefit from shelter services for a maximum of 90 days, with exceptional cases extending up to 180 days.Indirect beneficiaries include 12 partner institutions and 500 people who will gain increased awareness as a result of the information campaigns.
Provided Services
- Social assistance;
- Psychological counseling and support groups for children and adults to help overcome the psychological effects of trauma. Counseling for children includes discussions on their relationships, conflict resolution, and processing emotions and experiences related to violence, contributing to increased emotional stability and overcoming trauma;
- Legal counseling;
- Accompaniment by a family assistant to places where they need support and safety (medical appointments, police or judicial interviews, official meetings, job interviews, and guidance toward (re)qualification courses);
- Necessary facilities (spaces, equipment, personnel) to ensure suitable conditions for shelter and food;
- Project management, information, and communication;
- Development of partnerships with public and private entities to promote and defend human rights;
- Establishment of a recovery center for victims of domestic violence;
- Campaigns to raise awareness and support positive changes.
Current Status and Updates on the Project
- The project is currently in the implementation phase.
- Events held so far include the conference “A Safe Life – Services for Victims of Domestic Violence,” which took place on April 6, 2022, at the Urban Culture Center – Casino in Cluj, Central Park „Simion Bărnuțiu.”
- Activities planned within the Shelter include, but are not limited to:
- Emergency reception and sheltering of domestic violence victims;
- Provision of comprehensive and continuous social assistance;
- Free legal counseling;
- Psychotherapy and access to psychiatric therapy;
- Organization of therapeutic, support, or self-help group meetings;
- Identification, development, and adaptation of counseling methods, techniques, and tools to meet the specific needs of the target group;
- Counseling and guidance activities to help the target group make informed decisions about continuing their education or finding employment;
- Organization of study visits/thematic excursions for the target group as a support for counseling;
- Establishment and continuous operation of a helpline available to the general public, specifically for target groups who wish to discuss different forms of domestic violence, as well as for specialists seeking consultation on intervention and assistance possibilities;
- Domestic violence prevention programs;
- Information campaigns for victims on their rights and how to exercise them, as well as public awareness campaigns on the consequences of domestic violence;
- Promotion of gender equality in line with European Union best practices;
- The shelter facilities will be operational soon.
Download book: O viață în siguranță
O viață în siguranță
The project “A Safe Life – Services for Victims of Domestic Violence” had as its main objective the support of human rights principles and equal treatment, especially for victims of domestic violence, by providing integrated social services—psychological, legal, and shelter services for these individuals.
Since the project’s inception, we have mobilized and taken measures to support victims in their fight against their aggressors. Evidence of this commitment is the final number of 31 victims who received basic social services throughout the project, seven of whom were minors.
In addition to the psychological and legal counseling provided, we established and set up the first shelter for victims of domestic violence in Cluj-Napoca, thus offering them a safe home when needed. During the project, 13 individuals benefited from these accommodation services, and legal actions were initiated for seven individuals.
Beyond this social purpose, another achievement of the project was the improvement of intervention methods in collaboration with institutional partners and fostering a positive attitude through information and education campaigns. Throughout the project, we established 12 sustainable partnerships, conducted six awareness campaigns on the extent and harm of domestic violence in recent years, and informed victims on how to break free from this vicious cycle. We also organized a fundraising campaign.
In Romania, victims of domestic violence are not sufficiently served and lack support, both from institutions and society. Now, at the project’s conclusion, alongside partnerships, awareness campaigns, and fundraising, our main goal has been achieved by being able to offer a complete package of social services—psychological counseling, legal counseling, and shelter.
Our mission does not end here. We will continue this fight and support victims of domestic violence because we all have the right to a second chance.
Project Implemented by:
The project is implemented by the Athena Delphi Association and benefits from a 223.683 euros grant from Active Citizens Fund Romania, programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants Grants 2014 -2021. The
content of this website does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.
More details about Active Citizens Fund Romania are available at https://activecitizensfund.ro/
Update:
The purpose of the project is to raise citizens’ awareness regarding gender equality, gender-based violence, and human rights, to change public attitudes on this subject, to contribute to improving procedures and intervention methods, and to provide integrated services for victims of domestic violence. Through the activities carried out, the project has contributed to the main objective of supporting human rights principles and equal treatment, especially for victims of domestic violence, by providing integrated social, psychological, legal, and shelter services to 34 victims of violence, as well as improving intervention methods in collaboration with institutional partners and promoting positive attitudes through information and education campaigns.
Twelve sustainable partnerships have been established with public and private entities to improve intervention methods. These partnerships have also contributed to the dissemination of information about human rights and will continue after the project’s completion. Five awareness-raising and information campaigns have been organized to foster positive attitudes regarding human rights.
The project activities also included project management, information and publicity, and organizational development through one fundraising campaign and an efficient management procedure. The project results include the construction of a building for the recovery center, the provision of four basic and social services for 34 people, of whom 13 benefit from shelter services, seven cases pursued in court regarding human rights and equal treatment, and the organizational development of the association.