The portal brings together indicators from the different areas of intervention in domestic violence such as justice, supporting networks and social security. This allows for a multidisciplinary view of the problem and adequate planning at the public policies level.
A new portal is born
In January 2020, a domestic violence portal was launched in Portugal on the website of the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG).
Read: Domestic Violence Portal launched on the CIG website
The process behind the creation of the portal
The intervention in domestic violence and violence against women is overseen by the National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination 2018-2030 (ENIND), which includes the new Action Plan for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence 2018-2021 (PAVMVD).
The priorities articulatedin the strategic objectives of the Action Plan are:
- Prevention - eradicate social tolerance towards VaW and DV, promote a culture of non-violence, human rights, equality and non-discrimination;
- Support and protect;
- Intervention with offenders’ accountability;
- Qualify professionals and services;
- Investigate, monitor and evaluate public policies.
In 2019, following the final report of the Multidisciplinary Technical Commission for the Improvement of the Prevention and Combat Against Domestic Violence, the following measures were established for due implementation:
- Standardization of data and indicators on homicides and other forms of violence against women and domestic violence;
- Improvement of the victim's protection mechanisms in the 72 hours following the submission of a criminal complaint;
- Reinforcement and diversification of training models on violence against women and domestic violence.
According to the resolutions of the Final Report of the Multidisciplinary Technical Commission, the standardization of data and indicators in terms of homicides and other forms of violence against women and domestic violence is considered a key goal for combating domestic violence and violence against women. The various sectors with interventions in domestic violence and violence against women have different databases and indicators, which makes it difficult to understand the real problem and create effective public measures. A unique database for this area is under construction.
However, the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality has statistical data on the problem available on the the domestic violence portals website. Following the CTM, there is also a quarterly presentation of the domestic violence and violence against women indicators on the government website.
How does this project contribute to combat domestic and gender-based violence?
The project is firmly rooted in several sectors involved in combating domestic violence, allowing for better planning and services adequacy.
Who have been your collaborators in the project, and in what way is this collaboration across sectors and countries important?
The main collaborators in this project have been the various national stakeholders in domestic violence intervention, namely in prosecution and protection: justice, national support network for victims of domestic violence, social security, commissions for the protection of children of youth and health. This specific methodology has given results and guarantees adequate services to the victims. It also prevents revictimization.
Lessons learned: What have been the pitfalls and success criteria in this project (specific results)?
Being a project that involves several partners and a homogeneity of data and information, these two aspects will always give added value to the project in addition to the project’s primary challenge.
In what way, do you think, is the Synergy Network an important tool to combat domestic and gender-based violence?
Sharing good practices between countries is always an enriching form of learning. Shared practices, with appropriate adaptations to national realities and constraints, can always contribute to strategies to combat domestic and gender-based violence.
Reported by: The Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (Public Gender Equality Commission www.cig.gov.pt )