Supporting the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Romania

About this project

<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: medium"><span style="font-family: Calibri"><span style="color: #000000">The objective of this project is to improve the capacity of the Romanian authorities to implement the Istanbul Convention</span><span style="color: #000000">. The project responds to measures foreseen in the National Strategy for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities and Treatment for Women and Men and Prevention and Combating Domestic Violence for the period 2018-2021</span><span style="color: #000000"> and is in line with the UN Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) and with the European Commission's Strategic Engagement on Gender Equality 2016-2019</span><span style="color: #000000">. </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: Calibri"><span style="font-size: medium">The objective of the project is envisaged to be achieved by carrying out activities such as: conducting of a nation-wide survey on the prevalence of different forms of violence against women, evaluating the capacity of Romanian authorities to fully implement the national policy as regards combating domestic violence and violence against women, elaboration of working instruments and methodologies for the use of specialists in the field, followed by the training of specialists involved in preventing and fighting domestic violence and violence against women, including as regards the discrimination of Roma women and women with disabilities. As well, 10 centres for sexual violence victims and 8 counselling centres for perpetrators will be set up and a campaign for preventing domestic violence and violence against women will be conducted among the general population as well as the Roma population.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: medium"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: Calibri">One special concern of the project is the improvement of the situation of the Roma population and of other vulnerable groups. Thus, specific activities are envisaged such as training for the specialists involved in preventing and fighting domestic violence in order to improve the effective access to social services for Roma and other vulnerable groups.&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The project benefitted from the experience of the Norwegian Partners - the Secretariat of the Shelter Movement and St. Olavs University Hospital, department of Brøset Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry (Brøset Hospital). As such, two training sessions for best practice exchange by professionals dealing with the victims of domestic violence were carried out by the Secretariat of Shelter Movement and were attended by 76 Romanian specialists. 114 psychologists and other specialists working with victims of domestic violence were trained on working with aggressors in domestic violence cases during three training sessions (online and with physical presence) delivered by Broset experts. 26 Romanian and 16 Norwegian specialists exchanged best practice on providing social services to victims of DV in one study visit organised in Norway. Also, one training session (online and with physical presence) for good practice exchange for professionals dealing with intervention in sexual violence cases was carried out by the Secretariat of Shelter Movement and the Oslo Police District with the attendance of app. 148 Romanian specialists. The sharing of experience of best practices with the Norwegian partners in the field of domestic violence and violence against women on abovementioned domains (counselling of the perpetrators and services offered to victims) contributed to strengthening of the bilateral relations between Norway and Romania and further cooperation in the future is considered.

Project partners

• The Secretariat of the Shelter Movement Donor project partner· Norway
• St. Olavs University Hospital, dept. of Brøset Center for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry (Brøset Hospital) Donor project partner· Norway