“Violência Entre Laços” [Domestic Violence] Project · “Violência Entre Laços” [Domestic Violence] Project Final Report Departamento de Assuntos Sociais [Department of

“Violência Entre Laços” [Domestic Violence]Project

Final Report

Departamento de Assuntos Sociais [Department of Social Issues]Rua Francisco Luís Coutinho, n.º 17

3140 Montemor-o-VelhoTel.: 00 351 239 687520 – Fax: 00 351 239 687529

E-mail: [email protected]

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Daphne Programme – Year 2000

Final Report

Project No.: 2000/DAP/00/129/WC

Title: Violência Entre Laços [Domestic Violence, lit. "Violence within bonds"]

Start Date: 01/01/2001 End Date: 31/12/2001

Co-ordinating Organisation name: Associação Fernão Mendes Pinto["AFMP"]Contact person:

Name: Marta Aveiro Sousa Santos/Susana Raquel dos Santos Rodrigues MartinsAddress: Rua Francisco Luís Coutinho, n.º 17Postal Code: 3140 City: Montemor-o-VelhoCountry: PortugalTel. No.: 00 351 239 687520 Fax No.: 00 351 239 687529e-mail: [email protected]

Partner Organisations’ names and countries:

Ibis Acam.S.A. - SpainInstituto Asturiano de la Mujer - SpainKymenlaaksoon Ammattikorkeeakoulu - Finland


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1. Objectives of the Project

It is a sad fact that domestic violence has always been with us and is perhaps one of themost complex social problems we have to face. Our collective conscience hasincreasingly been coming to accept the idea of zero tolerance, and, in social matters, toquery traditions and myths umbilically linked to a culture that still holds sway.

This Project, therefore, was born out of the concerns of this and other Institutionsregarding violence within the home and family and the specific desire to identify andbecome familiar with this phenomenon and to develop instruments to enable us toprevent and/or monitor it. This form of violence has been kept silent; it has occupied asecret place in marriage, and is still very much concealed today, not only owing tosocial pressure not to complain about it, but also because of socio-cultural imperatives.Yet innumerable cases are coming to our attention (through the Commission for theProtection of Children and Young Persons at Risk, Local Guaranteed Minimum WageCommittees, etc.), which confirm that the home is a particular area of aggressivenessand violence – from ill-treatment to actual torture ending in death -, constituting a realviolation of human rights within the family.

While the phenomenon of violence has been the subject of various studies, there is stilla vast field of analysis remaining to be investigated on the interpretation of the referenceframework in which violence is produced, and its social visibility and the way in whichit is detected, denounced and perceived as such, by the various parties involved.

The object of the “Violência Entre Laços” Project has been to mobilise partners in thefield of analysis of the phenomenon known as violence. Through a combination ofactivities, we have attempted to debate questions related to it, and collect contributionsto:

1) The creation of a network of local, regional, national and transnational partners toencourage inter-institutional and inter-sectorial action and co-operation for theprevention of violence;

2) Identifying, gathering information on, studying and publicising the phenomenon ofviolence in its family, economic and social aspects (causes and effects) – Creation ofa Violence Research Institute;

3) Publication of the results collected by the Research Institute;4) The issue of brochures breaking the silence;5) Increasing awareness among the authorities by developing effective means of

combating the phenomenon;6) Making the community in general more aware of the problem and getting it

involved in solving it.

The principal beneficiaries of the "Violência Entre Laços" Project, therefore, werewomen, children and young persons, since they are recognised as being the principal


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victims of D.V. and, finally, the partners in this Project, particularly politicians, thepolice, social workers, sociologists and the community in general.

With regard to the various target groups, the following results were predicted:

In relation to women, we expected greater levels of awareness of their social and familyproblems, particularly in relation to D.V., because the right of women not to besubjected to violence cannot be seen as an alternative to the fundamental right not to besubjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading punishments or treatment. This is aninalienable right inherent in human dignity. It was hoped that this target group mightbenefit:

a) from the availability of awareness-raising and information campaigns regardingmeans of support for women suffering D.V.;

b) from technical assistance, and particularly information in the social and legal areas,on aspects concerning matters relating to D.V. (criminal complaints, divorce andcustody of children);

c) from confidential care for women who have suffered ill-treatment and the makingavailable of places of refuge (shelters), if necessary;

d) from assistance in the development of personal projects, through the acquisition oftheoretical and practical skills to widen their range of job opportunities ("socio-professional insertion");

e) from assistance in overcoming cognitive-emotional problems, through theimplementation of strategies to increase their self-esteem.

f) And, finally, to interrupt the cycle of violence, thus acting to prevent thisphenomenon from reproducing itself, by defining methods of monitoring childrenand young persons living in various forms of family groups.

In relation to children and young persons, the actions undertaken were designed toprovide them with specific information on D.V., by means of campaigns to raise theirawareness of the subject, attempting to make them aware of the need to break the cycleof D.V., preventing the perpetuation of socio-cultural stereotypes conveyed by thefamily, by schools and by society in general.

In relation to other beneficiaries of the project, it was hoped:

1) To make society and social workers more aware of the problem;2) To implement a networking method of co-operation with local, regional, national

and transnational institutions, with a view to integrated action;3) To consolidate the skills of professionals working with victims of violence;4) To increase the awareness of political leaders and legislators so that, when drafting

laws to deal with the phenomenon, they create effective implementationmechanisms;


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5) To consolidate the skills of multidisciplinary teams;6) To gauge public awareness of the phenomenon;7) To develop new “teaching methods” and overcome stereotypes associated with the

phenomenon

The Partners in the "Violência Entre Laços" Project were:

Portuguese Partners: Centro de Saúde da Figueira da Foz [Figueira da Foz HealthCentre]; Hospital Distrital da Figueira da Foz [Figueira da Foz District Hospital];Centro Concelhio da Extensão Educativa da Figueira da Foz [Figueira da FozMunicipal Further Education Centre]; Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa (Fig. Foz)[Portuguese Red Cross (Fig. da Foz)]; Polícia de Segurança Pública da Figueira daFoz [Figueira da Foz Police]; Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima [PortugueseVictim Support Association]; Instituto de Medicina Legal de Coimbra [Coimbra LegalMedical Institute]; Instituto de Apoio à Criança [Children's Support Institute]; Centrode Saúde de Montemor-o-Velho [Montemor-o-Velho Health Centre]; Guarda NationalRepublicana de Montemor-o-Velho [Montemor-o-Velho National Gendarmerie];Projecto INOVAR (Ministério da Administração Interna) [INOVAR Project (Ministryof Internal Administration)]; Associação Nacional de Educação and Formação deAdultos [National Adult Education and Training Association] (ANEFA).

Transnational Partners: Instituto Asturiano de la Mujer (Spain); Ibis Acam, S.A.(Spain); Kymenlaaksoon Ammattikorkeeakoulu (Finland)

2. Implementation of the Project

The following activities were used as a means of implementing the "Violência EntreLaços" Project:

1. Publicity for the "Violência Entre Laços" Project

Once a logotype had been designed for the Project, publicity posters and brochures wereprepared in each of the languages of the partner countries (Spanish, Finnish andPortuguese). Posters, brochures and leaflets were produced for each partner by theAFMP Project Technical Team.

In Portugal, the Project was publicised by mailing to the local, regional and nationalpress, including copies of the posters, brochures and leaflets. These were also sent tovarious local and regional institutions with an interest in the subject matter of theProject. The transnational partners, to whom the publicity material was sent by post,were asked to do the same in their own countries.

The AFMP Technical Team also took part in local and regional radio programmes andwrote articles for the press on the phenomenon of domestic violence and the Project.


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2. Creation of the Violence Research Institute

The Project provided for the creation of a Violence Research Institute. This wasintended to be a service for identifying, gathering information on, studying andpublicising the phenomenon of violence in its various dimensions (family, economic,social, causes and effects). It was set up in the form of an active and interactive databaseinfluencing and contributing to the planning and implementation of preventive actions.

The creation and maintenance of the Violence Research Institute enabled us to increaseour knowledge of the phenomenon and form a real idea of the extent of the problem inthe countries involved in the Project. The Research Institute was created with theintention that it should continue to exist at the post-project stage, thus ensuring that itspurposes would extend beyond the stipulated limits.The object of the study undertaken was to identify, gather information on, discuss andpublicise the phenomenon of violence, seeking to obtain an idea of the extent of thephenomenon, and to identify patterns of domestic violence in urban and rural area,covering the following items:

. Individual characterisation

. Life history

. Characterisation of violence

. Victim reactions

. Causes

. Effects (psychological, social, family and economic)

. Profile of the aggressor

As mentioned above, the proposed Study had two main objectives:

1) To identify and better understand the lives of D.V. victims, by investigating thefactors that preceded or provoked family crisis situations;

2) To discover how young persons see the problem (are they aware of cases ofviolence, have they already experienced situations of violence, how do they see themyths associated with the phenomenon, are concepts or stereotypes beingreproduced or not, etc.).

Having defined the empirical object of the study of the phenomenon of domesticviolence, it was necessary to define the methodological strategy that in our opinionwould achieve the closest representation of the actual reality.

We have therefore sought to combine two types of method, one of them morequalitative and extensive, giving us an overall general view of the phenomenon inPortugal, Spain and Finland, and also the principal sociological characteristics of the


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various persons involved in domestic violence; and the other, morequalitative/quantitative and intensive, evaluating subjective manifestations andbehaviour and giving a better understanding of the social dynamics and conditions inwhich violence is expressed or practised.

Thus our methodology was based on:a. Collection of data1. Preparation of information-gathering instruments: Violence

questionnaire2. Application of questionnaire

2.1. Application of questionnaire in E.B. 2,3 schools [EscolasBásicas dos 2/3 ciclos, approximately "middle schools"] (9th

year), secondary schools (10th, 11th and 12th years) andprofessionals and V.D.Vs [= victims of domestic violence]

3. Preparation of information-gathering instruments: V.D.V.interview guidelines / case studies

3.1. Interviews with women identified by social workers anddetected through the Questionnaire

3.2. Application of psychological tests (self-image, self-esteemand depression) as an auxiliary method of evaluatingcauses/effects of violence

4. Documentary analysis of selected bibliography- Legislation;- Statistical data;- Existing support schemes and measures

b. Organisation of data (SPSS)1. Computer processing of data collected

c. Analysis of contentsd. Preparation and Presentation of Conclusions - Final Publication

Some bibliographical research was undertaken to widen our knowledge of D.V. andlater enable us to prepare two research instruments - the " Domestic ViolenceQuestionnaire " and the “Guidelines for Interviews with Victims of DomesticViolence”. These instruments were prepared by the AFMP technical team and thenpresented and discussed with our transnational partners. On the basis of theseinstruments, as revised and amended following joint analysis by all the partners, it wasproposed that the questionnaires be put to pupils of E.B. 2,3 schools (9º year),secondary schools (10th, 11th and 12th years) and occupational colleges (for over 15s) ineach country, and to interview twelve victims of domestic violence. Thesequestionnaires and interviews would then serve as a basis for our case studies.

The FMP technical team also prepared an Information Analysis Matrix, to assist inthe processing and analysis of the information collected in the interviews. Whenapproved by all the partners, this matrix was sent to them for completion. The


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Portuguese Technical Team was also responsible for the processing and analysis of theinformation and further suggested to the transnational partners that, when interviewingwomen identified as V.D.Vs, they should also apply some psychological tests,particularly on self-image and depression, as an auxiliary method of evaluatingcauses/effects of the violence suffered by them.

Still in the context of the Violence Research Institute, the AFMP Technical Team alsodrew up a reading list which, after presentation to and discussion by all the partners,was sent to them to enable them to put together a relevant bibliography on the subject ofdomestic violence.

It was also thought important in all the partner countries to collect recent statistics onthe phenomenon, to acquire knowledge of current Legislation, and to make a list ofexisting support schemes and measures for victims of domestic violence.

All partners have endeavoured to identify, in each national territory, methods and bestpractice in the area of prevention of violence. Once again the AFMP Technical Teamwere responsible for the analysis and compilation of this information.

Data collected by means of the D.V Questionnaire used in Portuguese schools wereprocessed at the SPSS (a code book was created to enable us to insert the data in theinformation analysis computer program) by the AFMP Technical Team, and the resultswill be compiled in the Final Publication.

It is important to mention that the application of the D.V. Questionnaires requiredintense preliminary work with the Council Schools, to explain the objectives of theProject, but especially to find the best ways of introducing the subject in the disciplinesconsidered most relevant.

3. Discussion groups

The creation of a network of local, regional, national and transnational partners toencourage inter-institutional and inter-sectorial action and co-operation for theprevention of violence was one of the most ambitious objectives we set for ourselves. Itwas essential for that purpose to set up national discussion groups - inter-disciplinaryand inter-institutional working groups.

The three discussion groups organised by the AFMP involved a national network ofpartners created for the Project. Topics discussed were as follows: Group 1- Definitionof victims of domestic violence; Group 2 - Identification of different types of problemsand providing support for victims of domestic violence and Group 3 - Refuges forvictims of domestic violence - An example.


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The assistance we received from Dr. Natália Cardoso, a lawyer and manager of theCoimbra branch of the Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima (APAV), wasextremely important in the organisation and moderation of the various groups. Her wideexperience in this area made it possible for us, in conjunction with the Technical Team,to re-formulate our objectives, and also the methods to be used.

Thus the underlying theme of the first discussion group was the "Definition of victimsof domestic violence". It was intended that positive interaction should take placebetween the participants, establishing privileged lines of communication, in order todefine the phenomenon "domestic violence" and its victims.

It was found, however, that the group we had set up were generally unfamiliar with theways in which victimisation occurs and with the reactions, especially psychological, ofthe woman victim, the strategies of offenders, the Cycle of Marital Violence, theexisting legislation and, finally, what to do when faced with a woman who has suffereddomestic violence. As a result, rather more was said at this session about the foregoingquestions, that is to say, attempts were made to clarify and analyse the field of definitionof domestic violence, become familiar with relationships of power and submissionwithin marriage, understand how the cycle of violence operates, how a woman who hasbeen psychologically weakened cannot bring herself to make a criminal complaint and,when she does, discovers that there are no effective and, above all, swift means ofprotection from her aggressor, nor any shelter facilities to which she can obtain accessduring the most critical period.

It was concluded that this problem must affect everyone, inasmuch as everyone is insome way responsible for and accessory to this social development. It is thereforedesirable that everyone should become involved in and committed to the search foranswers and support, and the reconstruction of networks to compensate for the lostaffection and companionship these weakened and broken women have experienced.

This observation led the AFMP Technical Team to modify their working methodslightly, by tackling the need for information clearly shown by members of theNetwork. Thus we opted to restructure the contents of the discussion groups, byprioritising the promotion of practical strategies – closer to the day-to-day situationsexperienced by professionals – and hold a joint think-tank on difficult model cases, inpreference to theoretical reflections on the phenomenon of Violence. This strategicswitch enabled the participants not only to discuss cases but also to widen theirknowledge of legal issues, procedures, etc., associated with the phenomenon ofdomestic violence.

Thus the theme of the second discussion group centred on "the identification ofdifferent types of problems and providing support for victims of domestic violence".Through the representation of a case study it was intended that the participants in thesession should identify and establish an order of priority for existing types of problem,


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discover existing forms of support required to resolve them and, finally, consider howsome form of joint action might be co-ordinated.

Working groups were formed and the suggestion was made to each group/individualthat they should proceed according to their own experience. The moderator co-ordinatedthe groups and clarified their ideas and conclusions in small and large groups, thusenabling the participants to prepare a final synthesis. This session produced a passionatedebate on the case in question (owing to its complexity); it was brought home to thegroup that there is still a long way to go regarding the treatment of aggressors andemphasis was once again placed on the importance of networks in assisting victims toovercome the problem.

The theme of the third discussion group was " Refuges for victims of domesticviolence - An example". The scarcity of facilities of this type in our country, theignorance of most professionals as to how they work, and the difficulties they faceevery day, led the AFMP Technical Team to select this topic and ask a social workspecialist - Dr. Sónia Ribeiro - from the Lar Divino Salvador Institution Particular deSolidariedade Social [Divine Saviour Refuge, Private Social Solidarity Institution], inAveiro, a refuge for mothers and children at risk, to talk about her personal andprofessional experience. The contents of this session were notably instructive and it wasrecorded that those present found it of considerable relevance.

We believe that while these groups were meeting the most appropriate methods wereused according to the moderators, although we opted to stimulate discussion and thesearch for examples and suggestions in terms of best practice in each area of domesticviolence discussed. The participation of more experienced bodies that have beenworking in that area for several years, in resolving critical situations, was considerablyenriching not only as regards their know-how, but more especially their knowledge ofthe action to take, that is to say how the various available resources can be co-ordinated.

All the sessions were recorded on tape and summarised in short reports. On "rakingover" the debates we might say that all our efforts to arrange for Directors or Managersof the partner Institutions/Organisations to be present were in vain, because they werealways represented by professional staff members, some with little awareness of theissue, and others taking part in this type of debate for the first time.

Nevertheless, as a methodological instrument, these discussion groups enabled us toachieve the following objectives:

a) To make the participants think about the problem of D.V.;b) To collect information on each one's perception of the subject;c) To try to identify means of reducing the effects of and/or preventing this

phenomenon;


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b) To exchange experiences (constraints, identification of best practice makingit possible to expedite the use of available resources, etc.)

On completion of the "Violência Entre Laços" Project, each of the partners w as askedto fill in a questionnaire, the object of which was to evaluate the level of interest,suitability and organisation of the Groups.

Thus, on analysing the answers to the Questionnaires, we can say that the great majorityof members of the Groups defined their discussions as "very important", theorganisational methods chosen by the Project Technical team as "appropriate" and thetopics dealt with as "extremely relevant".

With regard to the results, it was unanimously considered that "participation in theseDGs enabled them to share their experiences with their fellow-professionals workingwith victims of D.V.";

"... it enabled them to share and get to know the wide variety of problems otherprofessionals have to deal with every day." and "it enabled them to resolve certainquestions regarding current legislative and administrative measures ".

When they were asked to give a reply about Problems experienced by theirInstitution/Department, the following issues were raised:

� lack of sufficient refuges;� Lack of emergency refuges/help centres (night, weekends and public holidays);

� Excessive bureaucracy in the various support systems for victims of domesticviolence (legal, social., etc.);� Poorly organised and funded local networks;� Lack of specific training for professionals

On asking them to indicate the principal measures which, in their opinion, should beimplemented to reduce the effects of and/or prevent the problem of domesticviolence, we obtained the following reply:

� The creation of 24-hour refuges/help centres;� More and better publicity for the various existing measures - more Informationcampaigns;� The inclusion of the question of domestic violence in the various school curriculapreventive measures;� More specific training for the various professionals involved in these processes;� The need for multidisciplinary teams;� More raising of awareness and training for Courts and judges - importance ofcoercion measures;


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� More discussion groups between professionals dealing with the subject - collationand exchange of methods.

We can conclude that this activity was highly valued both by the Technical Team andby the participants themselves, who immediately expressed the opinion that the co-operation of some of the Institutions that were jointly responsible for seekingappropriate ways of resolving this problem had been an enormous plus factor. They alsoexpressed the need to continue running groups of this kind, in order to consolidate andwiden their knowledge and, above all, to activate resources.

4. Transnational Meetings

As arranged, three Transnational Meetings were held in connection with the "ViolênciaEntre Laços" Project.

1st Transnational MeetingThis was held from 11 to 13 May 2001, at Lappenranta, Finland. All the PartnerInstitutions were represented:

� The Instituto Asturiano de la Mujer (Spain) - Belinda González Malladaand Gema Iglesias

� The Associação Fernão Mendes Pinto (Portugal) - Maria Cecília Pinto andPaula Ramos

� The Kymenlaakson Ammattikorkeakoulu Polytechnic (Finland) - AriVesanen; Sinikka Pulli; Anita Sipilä; Ulla Inki; Timo Koho; Päivi Kaski;Mirva; Katrina; Elisa; Anne;

� Ibis Acam S.A.: Mercè Perez and Aida Galego;

Because this was the first meeting, a special period was given over to introducing eachof the partner Institutions and persons involved, to enable all the partners to get to knowand understand one another better.

The AFMP Technical Team presented the initial publicity material for the Project(posters and leaflets), in the different languages, and a discussion took place on thedistribution strategies to be implemented.

Although they were already familiar with the contents of each type of message, oncethey had been asked for a translation, they were pleasantly surprised by the strong visual

impact of the material and the speed with which the whole preparation process had beencompleted.


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The AFMP presented its proposed methods for the most ambitious objective of theProject - the creation of the Violence Research Institute, which was discussed with allthe partners. In particular, various materials produced in the meantime by the AFMPteam, specifically for recording information obtained via the Domestic ViolenceQuestionnaire and the Guidelines for Interviewing Victims of D.V., were presented anddiscussed

At this first meeting, it was also mentioned that the first national discussion group hadalready been held in Portugal, during the previous week, with the national partners,Forças de Segurança [Police Forces] (GNR and PSP), schools, hospitals and healthcentres, the Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima, the Instituto de Medicina Legal,the Instituto de Apoio à Criança and the INOVAR Project (Ministry of InternalAdministration).Dates were agreed for the remaining two Transnational Meeting still to be held: 2nd

T.M. - Portugal - 28 to 30 September and 3rd T.M. - Spain - 22 to 25 November 2001.

2nd Transnational MeetingThe second Transnational Meeting took place, as arranged, in Portugal, from 28 to 30September 2001. The following were represented:

� The Instituto Asturiano de la Mujer (Spain) - Belinda González Mallada� The Associação Fernão Mendes Pinto (Portugal) - Maria Cecília Pinto;

Paula Ramos; Sandra Mendes and Susana Rodrigues� The Kymenlaakson Ammattikorkeakoulu Polytechnic (Finland) - Ari

Vesanen; Ulla Inki; Timo Koho; Päivi Kaski; Velipekka Ryttyläinen

The Ibis Acam S.A. Institution was unable to send a representative on that date, owingto prior engagements. The meeting began with an evaluation of what each partner hadachieved to date. With regard to the Violence Research Institute, theprocedures/methods adopted by Portugal to gather information were explained onceagain, followed by a summary of what had already been done up to the date of themeeting, that is to say enquiries had been submitted to Secondary Schools and TrainingColleges, and also to the E.B 2,3 schools in Montemor-o-Velho and Figueira da Foz,with the object of obtaining a clear picture of the phenomenon of violence in a rural andan urban area. Enquiries were also submitted to women attending courses at the GatõesTraining Centre (Gatões is a parish in the District of Montemor-o-Velho).

The Instituto Asturiano de la Mujer mentioned that it would be unable to implementthis task owing to the Institute's own work (not directly connected with women victimsof violence). The Kymenlaakson Ammattikorkeakoulu in turn mentioned that theyhad so far been unable to distribute the enquiries, that they would be starting the processin October so that the results could be considered at the next Transnational Meeting.


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With regard to the Case Studies, the A.F.M.P. presented a "life story" to the partners toenable them to investigate certain aspects. It was mentioned that in Portugalprofessionals from the Social Services departments at Montemor-o-Velho and Figueirada Foz (the Project's study areas) had been asked to assist with the study and collectionof material. This assistance proved essential, owing to their knowledge of the familiesand their problems, their closeness to the families and the confidence the families had inthese professionals.

3rd Transnational MeetingThe third Transnational Meeting took place in Asturias, Spain, from 22 to 25 November2001. The following were represented:

� The Instituto Asturiano de la Mujer (Spain) - Belinda González Mallada;Ana González; Begoña; Gema Iglesias

� The Associação Fernão Mendes Pinto (Portugal) - Maria Cecília Pinto;Cristina Carvalho

� The Kymenlaakson Ammattikorkeakoulu Polytechnic (Finland) - AriVesanen; Ulla Inki; Timo Koho; Päivi Kaski; Velipekka Ryttyläinen; AnitaSipilla

� Ibis Acam S.A. (Spain) - Mercé Perez

The object of the third and last Transnational Meeting was to check on the progress ofthe work in relation to each of the partners. An essential part of this Meeting wasdedicated to a discussion of the outline of the Final Publication to be produced inconnection with the Project. The basis of our discussion was the proposed outlineprepared by the AFMP and presented at the Meeting of the partners, who considered theproposed outline presented too ambitious, and the AFMP Technical Team were asked tosimplify the various items in the Final Publication. The objective of comparing thephenomenon as observed in the various partner countries will therefore not be achieved.A brief evaluation was made of the progress of the work throughout the year ofimplementation of the Project.

With regard to Unscheduled Activities, it should be mentioned that such activities didin fact take place in Portugal. This was because the national partnership set up inconnection with the "Violência Entre Laços" Project frequently sought assistance fromthe Technical Team involved in it.

Thus, a number of municipal schools asked their pupils and technical staff to take partin awareness-raising/training sessions. For that purpose a certain amount ofinformation-gathering material was prepared, particularly relating to cultural myths,existing means of support and current legislation. These sessions simultaneouslyprovided an opportunity for information, awareness-raising, reflection and discussion onthe subject.


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In view of the large number of cases investigated in the municipality of Montemor-o-Velho and its neighbouring districts, and in the light of the AFMP's long experience inthe matter, the APAV (Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima), in the person of Dr.Natália Cardoso, invited us to set up what we have called an "Help centre for victimsof domestic violence".

Since aid for victims of domestic violence requires a knowledge of specific procedures(personal, legal or others) and special training, we identified four professionals who,because of their areas of intervention and the training they had received from APAV inconnection with this Project, related most closely to the subject.

In addition, familiarity and subsequent dealings with V.D.Vs required theseprofessionals to provide continued assistance, since victims, even where they arecapable of resolving the crisis within a reasonably short period of time, generally needcontinuing support from the Institutions that have responded to them, since their livesremain disorganised and they need support to make a new start. They also needcontinuing support because they have lodged criminal complaints or commenced otherproceedings, the natural course of which can result in major difficulties or even aresurgence of the crisis.

The fact that the cases were dealt with and monitored by a limited group ofprofessionals is also seen an advantage for the V.D.Vs, who will find it easiest toidentify with them and with whom they will most easily maintain empathy and apersonal discussion group attitude, without which the professional's technical skills willbe impoverished, if not meaningless.

Dr. Natália also suggested that we should commence a process of dialogue with theDepartment of Social Security, concerning the creation and maintenance of anEmergency Centre for Women V.D.Vs, a structure which, as we know, would providean immediate response to innumerable cases in this municipality and its neighbouringdistricts.

Thus all the activities identified as priorities in the original Project and approved forimplementation have been put into practice, albeit without the full participation of ourtransnational partners.

Thus, as regards the creation of the Violence Research Institute, and its work, the use ofthe D.V. questionnaires (submitted to 860 schoolchildren in the 3º year/SecondaryEducation and Professional Training Colleges, aged under 15, in Montemor-o-Velho (arural area) and Figueira da Foz (an urban/rural area), and the processing of theinformation collected, was restricted to the A.F.M.P. and the KymenlaaksoonAmmattikorkeakoulu (which submitted them to 84 young persons aged under 18).


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With regard to case studies, only Portugal (10 cases in Montemor-o-Velho (rural area)and 6 in Figueira da Foz (urban area) and Finland (3 analytical matrices completed)successfully completed this task. The limited number of cases studied in Finland isrelated to the difficulty experienced by professionals there in getting their recordscompleted in time; the fact that that not all those dealing with D.V. situations wereavailable to talk about their experience and that they had to complete their case studieson a voluntary basis, outside their normal working hours. So far as our Spanish partnersare concerned, they did not use the D.V Questionnaire. nor did they interview anywomen V.D.Vs, or prepare any case studies, because they had no direct access tovictims of D.V.

So far as Ibis Acam, S.A. are concerned, the non-achievement of these tasks was duenot only to the reasons previously mentioned, but also to obvious difficulty in gainingaccess to information through other Institutions with more direct contact with victims.This institution, which provides a means of liaison between the underprivileged(unemployed or maltreated women, V.D.Vs or those with personal limitations) andvarious national institutions in its own country, only promotes professional/personaldevelopment guidance for these women. Nevertheless, its members shared somerelevant information regarding assistance and guidance for women V.D.Vs.

The Instituto Asturiano de la Mujer found it impossible to use the D.V. Questionnaireand undertake the case studies for the same reasons as Ibis Acam S.A. Nevertheless, theinformation they provided on their institutional practices was extremely useful, sincethis is a body that regulates and supervises both the relevant statute law framework andsuitable means of providing assistance for women victims of domestic violence, such asthe monitoring of the application of the regulations by the various Asturian institutions.

Also in relation to the case studies, only Portugal administered the Beck psychologicaltest when interviewing identified victims de D.V.

With regard to the Documentary Analysis, all the partners completed this task,particularly the collection of recent statistics on domestic violence, the compilation ofcurrent legislation and a list of existing schemes and measures to support victims ofdomestic violence. All the partners identified methods and best practice in the area ofprevention of the phenomenon in each nation all territory.

We should like to mention that the Instituto Asturiano de La Mujer provided us with aCD-ROM, produced in connection with a previous DAPHNE Project, which containedthe legislation relating to D.V. in all the countries of the European Community, and alsosome relevant information relating to assistance to women V.D.Vs, particularly the Planfor the Eradication of Violence against Women, produced in 2001.

In its turn, the Kymenlaaksoon Ammattikorkeakoulu shared with all the partners itsextraordinary and now long experience, its best practice and methods of providing


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assistance to V.D.Vs, especially by means of its visit to the Battered Women's Refuge inLaappenranta at the time of the 1st Transnational Meeting. This also gave us theopportunity of making contact with the innovative technique of awareness-raising andtreatment for the aggressor.

With regard to the discussion groups, as previously mentioned, provision was made forthese to be held in Portugal only. Our Finnish partners, however, established contactswith their network of local partners, (in the areas of health, policing, the Courts, theprotection of minors; etc.) and held a seminar on D.V., with particular emphasis on theroles played by the family, professionals and authorities. In their final report theycompiled a list of Recommendations regarding D.V., for wider publication. The resultswill appear shortly on the Internet.

We should like to mention that, despite all the disappointments, we think this Projecthad a considerable impact, especially regarding its implementation at local and regionallevel. The active participation of many important figures during the period ofimplementation of the Project - from health centres, hospitals, teachers, the AssociaçãoPortuguesa de Apoio à Vítima, the Instituto de Medicina Legal, Instituto de Apoio àCriança to the Police Forces (PSP, GNR), underlines the need for this Project andattests to the wide range of such a well-directed Project.

Having said that, it is nevertheless important to mention that the implementation andrealisation of this Project met with major challenges. Undoubtedly the principalproblem was lack of time: the implementation of the Project as a European Project witha clear impact at local and regional level was planned to last longer. The obligation tocomplete the Project in such a short space of time resulted in certain compromises andreductions in relation to our original ambitious and realistic approach.


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In the first place, we have to mention lack of time for communication with the partners,that is to say, time to meet and discuss in detail the social and political impact of theProject on the basis of a joint analysis of the situation in the participant countries. Allthis was replaced by academic research and virtual communication, which does notproduce the same effect, nor does it always contribute to the desired level of confidencebetween partners. We should emphasise that the flow of information between somepartners was poor in some ways, despite the guidance of the co-ordinator.

In addition, pressure of time prevented us from completing all the planned stages of thework, since some partners were unable to adopt the new flexible plan established by theAFMP by meeting all the deadlines and investing more human resources than wereplanned for. This is why the Final Product, which is the most important result of theProject in relation to future work at local and regional level, will most accurately reflectthe Portuguese situation. All the other partners, however, made great efforts andcontributed as best they could.

Co-operation between short term projects requires a certain tolerance, since the partnerpromoting this Project has a direct interest associated with its day-to-day work: theAFMP will immediately be implementing new activities in the field of prevention andmonitoring of the phenomenon of domestic violence, based on the results of thisProject, as we have already mentioned.

In conclusion, we can say that the Project will have more lasting effects in all theparticipating countries by drawing people's attention to the subject of domestic violenceand suggesting educational and awareness-raising activities for those professionals mostdirectly concerned with the problem. The AFMP has the opportunity to change thepresent situation at local and regional level, owing to its acceptance and the wide varietyof professional and educational training activities for which it is responsible.

With regard to the effects of the European Network, it can be emphatically stated thatall the partners will continue to co-operate, but some of them need to intensify theirmethods of communication and inter-action. The European Commission should,however, consider the possibility of allowing greater freedom regarding workingconditions for such Projects:

Taking this as an example, we can state that there is an imbalance between the input(financial support from the European Union) and the output (the contributions of thepartners in terms of money, time, human and material resources) – the partners' share isdisproportionately high. If there is pressure of time, as we have already found, we are indanger of creating frustration and losing sight of the benefits of European co-operation.

3. Results and Impact of the Project


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As originally expected, the Project, by means of the activities involved, has enabled usto:

� Obtain a fuller knowledge of a field that has traditionally sought refuge in a privatearea, hidden by an impenetrable wall of silence, which is now becoming a matter forpublic debate, demanding decisive intervention by Government authorities;

� Obtain a fuller knowledge of the Law and questions of gender in domestic violence;

� Obtain a fuller knowledge of the extent of the problem in three countries of theEuropean Union;

� Facilitate exchanges of experience and know-how between different types ofprofessional and between Institutions;

� Make it possible to share and publish results;

� Obtain a fuller knowledge of the views of young persons' on the subject (myths,knowledge and experience);

� Obtain a fuller knowledge of the concept of “domestic violence” and its causes andeffects;

� Become familiar with existing support schemes and measures for victims of domesticviolence in each country;

� Identify methods and best practice in the area of prevention of the phenomenon ineach country;

� Raise awareness/provide information for the media and professional workers dealingwith this problem;

� Make women V.D.Vs aware of the problems they face and their rights as citizens;

� Make women V.D.Vs aware of the various services/bodies that are available to helpthem rebuild their lives;


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� Implement a working method based on networks, with local, regional, national andtransnational institutions, with a view to integrated action;

� Prepare and publish various forms of back-up information;

� Measure public awareness of the phenomenon;

� Consolidate the skills of professionals working with victims of violence;

� Consolidate the skills of multidisciplinary teams;

� Develop new teaching methods and overcome stereotypes associated with thephenomenon;

�Make political leaders and legislators aware of the subject;

�Break the cycle of violence, in some of the cases monitored.

The existing monitoring scheme enabled us to check whether or not these results wereachieved, because we had programmed the organisation of the various tasks, by meansof meetings and appointments, enabling the technical team to check on the progress ofthe work. The Project technical team also carried out a continuous and inseparableinternal evaluation.

The self-evaluation method was included as a training suggestion, which might be usedby introducing the evaluation process as an integral part of the Project. Qualitativeevaluation techniques were used (direct and participatory observation, content analysis,case studies, group meetings, etc.), as well as quantitative techniques


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(structured interviews, questionnaires, statistical analysis, etc.).

Evaluation was continuous and also took place at three points that coincided with thethree Transnational Meetings, at which evaluation reports were compiled. These werenever thought of as mere documents of record, but rather as working instrumentscapable of helping to improve the efficacy, efficiency and sustainability of the project.

Women, children and young persons intended to benefit from the project alsoparticipated in that evaluation through their involvement in it, particularly bycompleting the Violence Questionnaire and V.D.V. Interview forms; as did thebeneficiaries of the discussion groups, through their actual participation and bycompleting the Evaluation Questionnaire.

So far as the impact of these results on the beneficiaries according to target groups isconcerned, we are able to indicate as follows:

Women:

� An effective assessment of their awareness of the problem;� More and better psycho-social monitoring;� The possibility for them to change their lives, particularly their family situations.

Children and young persons:

� Greater perception of what the problem of domestic violence involves;� Thought about myths and stereotypes that still exist;� What to do and where to go if they themselves come to know about or experiencesituations of violence within the family;


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� Interruption of the cycle of violence in situations under observation/detected.

Social Workers:

� Comparison of methods of monitoring/dealing with cases;� Widening of knowledge of the phenomenon;� Indication of measures which, in their opinion, should be implemented to mitigate theeffects of and/or prevent the problem of domestic violence.

4. Dissemination and follow-up

The results will be set out in the Final Publication of the Project, to be entitled"Domestic Violence - A Non Random Affair". They will be:

� Duly and fully published in the Local, Regional and National Social ServicesBulletin;� Published, as regards the transnational projects, in journals that specialise in theproblem;� Presented at working groups or conferences, organised by other Europeanpartnerships and national level;� Distributed to companies, entities and institutions; schools, health centres, policeforces, the Government, formal and informal partners and any other interested personsand/or organisations;

It will also be essential to involve various entities working in different areas, by meansof co-operation agreements, to ensure that the results are efficiently and widelypublicised.

With regard to the follow-up of the "Violência Entre Laços" Project, we think that, as anon-governmental organisation with significant responsibilities in the matter, we are ina position to follow up the problems detected, that is to say to support efforts to set up amultidisciplinary scheme, guaranteeing the allocation of sufficient resources toimplement the necessary programmes and policies and generally cover the followingaspects:

� Prevention (through information and awareness-raising campaigns and training forprofessional groups specifically involved in this field.

Especially to support training for Police and Magistrates, because lackof training and awareness on the part of these professionals continues to


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be one of the main obstacles, particularly to the treatment of theaggressor and the protection of the victim.

To support the preparation of innovative play/teaching material forchildren as a means of preventing the phenomenon, where we havedetected the reproduction of stereotypes, behaviour, etc.

� Protection, including adequate means of complaint, investigation and compensation;

� and also assistance for and rehabilitation of victims.

To press for the construction of new Refuges/Emergency SupportCentres for V.D.Vs.

To work for the improvement of methods of dealing with and keepingwatch over children/young persons and women suffering D.V.

As previously mentioned, the "Violência Entre Laços" Project will be widely publicisedthrough the social media to local, regional and national bodies, and on the Internet. Allproducts of the Project will be duly identified with the logotype of the EuropeanCommission, thus guaranteeing it visibility and due prominence.

5. Conclusions

It has really become clear to us in the course of the Project that, in comparison withother countries, particularly Spain and Finland, Portugal is still very backward in socio-economic terms, and this results, without any doubt, in the perpetuation of the historicalinequality in relations between the sexes, in the traditional idea of the subordination andinferiority of women to men - in short, as a form of discrimination.

Measures have recently been announced – of a legislative and administrative nature, butalso in the form of investment – intended to protect victims, recognising that most of thevictims are women, by giving them access to material, psychological and physicalresources to enable them to escape from the submissive position in which theiraggressors place them.Particularly relevant among these are the integration of subjectsrelating to the human rights of families into the planning of the curriculum in theeducational system, with a view to reducing violence, and developing educationalpractices and procedures, from pre-school onwards, with the same objective.

An awareness-raising campaign relating to this problem has also been announced in thesocial media, and it is proposed to hold campaigns to alert public opinion, which willcontribute to a culture of non-violence, based on the observance of the rights and duties


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of every member of the family. Efforts have been made to use these campaigns to makethe public aware that domestic violence is a crime.

The aim is to improve and consolidate support services for victims and technical andfinancial resources for organisations that provide support for victims. It is intended togive priority to professional training courses or modules, to provide a better knowledgeof the dynamic of domestic violence for all those involved in combating it. Studies areto be conducted into the possibility of introducing procedural measures to haveaggressors temporarily removed from the home, where there is evidence of domesticviolence, with the object of preventing it. Side by side with studies of this socialproblem, an Research Institute is to be created to monitor the problem.

Nevertheless, rather than changing the laws, the important thing is to change attitudes.And this process is undoubtedly moving at a snail's pace, especially in Portugal. Spainand Finland are light years ahead of Portugal in this respect. V.D.V. support networksare extremely well constructed and operate rapidly and efficiently. Treatment ofaggressors is already in course of development. Portugal still has a long way to go...

Yet in the last few years we have seen the beginning of a process of denunciation,discussion and testing of social awareness on gender violence, including its causes,which are clearly linked to the patriarchal power structure and the culture of misogyny itprotects, and its consequences for the lives, health and legitimate expectations ofmillions of people throughout the world whose lives are threatened as a result of themere fact that they were born women.

The agreement adopted at the IVth World Conference on Women (1995) in Beijing, tothe effect that it must be recognised at both institutional and public level that women'srights are human rights, puts things in perspective finally and clearly. The seriousinfringement offundamental rights that is represented by the use of violence, whether physical ormental, as an expression of power, cannot be justified in any of its possiblemanifestations. Nor is the now outworn appeal to tradition tolerable as a means ofjustifying certain practices that are clearly an assault on the life and dignity of women.Respect for cultural diversity must not be used as an excuse to maintain seriousinequalities between human beings.

We therefore believe that the wide-ranging social debate involved in the process of anin-depth review and critique of many of our conceptions of what it means to be a man ora woman, the social and family rules on which we base our lives, our expectations,aspirations, and, in short, the design of the future society we want to see, must continueand grow. Instead of the culture of misogyny, we ought to be capable of generating aculture of equality, peace and respect for life in all its forms.


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This requires the commitment of all women and men, both individually andcollectively, the public institutions, the NGOs and also, undoubtedly, the universities. Inthat respect the number of lines of research into gender-related issues is constantlyincreasing, and the research groups becoming more active, developing innovativesuggestions and putting forward an alternative viewpoint that helps us to gain a betterunderstanding and widen our vision of the complexity of the social construction ofhumankind.

In conclusion, we think it important to point out that, in the case of violence againstwomen, to consider this as a social problem involves not only visualising the problem,but also a new approach to explaining it. Thus, while from analysis as an individualproblem this violence was seen as a consequence of some particular situation orcircumstance (socio-economic situation, psychopathology of the aggressor, etc.), whenconsidered as a social problem it begins to be understood that violence against womenhas its origins in social relations based on inequality, in a social contract between menand women that involves

the repression of one gender (the feminine) by the other (the masculine). And, from thisnew point of view, actions are needed at the social level, involving the creation of a newsocial contract, with new legislative measures, changes in educational programmes, etc.to deal with the problem and overcome its consequences.


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List of Annexes

Annex 1 - Domestic Violence QuestionnaireAnnex 2 - Guidelines for Interviewing Victims of ViolenceAnnex 3 – Beck Depression Self Assessment ScaleAnnex 4 - Information Analysis MatrixAnnex 5 - Reading listAnnex 6 - Reports on Transnational MeetingsAnnex 7 - Reports on Discussion GroupsAnnex 8 –Discussion Groups Evaluation QuestionnaireAnnex 9 – CertificatesAnnex 10 – Individual Process - V.D.V. Assistance OfficeAnnex 11 – Project Publicity Poster and LeafletAnnex 12 –V.D.V. Information/Awareness Raising LeafletAnnex 13 – Slides for use in awareness-raising/training of young persons

ANNEX 1: KEYWORDS

The main purposes of the Daphne Programme are to create networks and to encouragethe exchange of information and best practice. The Commission has therefore set up a


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database containing the details of all completed Daphne projects. This database isaccessible via the Daphne page on the EC web-site:

(http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/project/daphne/en/index.htm).

The matrix below allows us to categorise your report according to certain pre-set searchwords. Please complete it carefully.


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Mark all the areas of action and types of activity listed below which were coveredby your project.

Beneficiaries Daphne Objectives Areas√ Children Support to the collaboration of � Sexual violence√ Young persons √ Support to multidisciplinary √ Gender violence√ Women √ Exchange of best practice √ Violence in family

√ Studies √ Violence in domesticSpecific groups Support to public awareness � Violence in schools� Homosexuals √ Information campaign � Violence in institutions� Migrants � Information sources √ Violence in urban areas� Refugee � Recognition and reporting √ Violence in rural areas� Asylum seekers � Violence in the work place� Trafficked persons � Trafficking in human� Ethnic minorities Specific Objectives � Commercial sexual� Handicapped √ Prevention of violence � Internet� Domestic workers � Protection from violence � Child Pornography� People in prostitution √ Treatment of victims � Racism� Elderly √ Reintegration of victims � Self-harm� Prisoners √ Counselling victims � Physical punishment

√ Support to families � Female genital mutilationTargeted Audience √ Legislative measures √ Health impacts� Violent men � Treatment of offenders� Perpetrators / offenders � Reintegration of offenders Instruments√ Public Authorities √ Network with NGOs√ General Public √ Multi-sector network√ Medical staff √ Awareness-raising√ Educational staff √ Dissemination of good√ Police staff √ Guidelines / Counselling√ Judicial staff � Models (analysis /� Media / Journalists � Training

√ Production of materials� Conference / seminar� Telephone / Internet√ Field work

Documents

“Violência Entre Laços” [Domestic Violence] Project · “Violência Entre Laços” [Domestic Violence] Project Final Report Departamento de Assuntos Sociais [Department of