Women and Children - Safe in their City

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Recent surveys reveal that Latvia and Lithuania are among European countries where prevalence of domestic violence against women is above the EU average. EU-wide survey conducted in 2014 by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) shows that 32% of women in Latvia and 24% in Lithuania have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a partner. 60% of women in Latvia and 51% in Lithuania have experienced some form of psychological violence by a partner. Many women feel unsafe in their families and their intimate relationships and crucial role to provide protection and support for victims lays upon local municipalities. Project is aiming at elimination of domestic violence in Liepāja and Klaipeda. Project will introduce and improve support and counselling services for women and children – victims of domestic violence. These services will be based on interdisciplinary teamwork approach – where a social worker, a lawyer and a psychologist work as a team to help victim to end violent relationships and to start a life without violence. The project will also address improvement of cooperation between institutions to tackle domestic violence more effective. Experience exchange visits between Liepāja and Klaipeda, comparative analysis on victims needs and accessibility of services in Klaipeda and Liepaja, joint trainings for representatives of key institutions and development of guidelines for specialists will be carried out within the project. It is expected that 120 women victims and 40 child victims will receive support and counselling services within project and 100 women victims and 50 children victims will benefit every year after the end of the project. The project will bring together knowledge and expertise of Latvian and Lithuanian NGOs and municipal agencies.

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