The Health System Response to Gender-Based Violence in EECA: A programmatic package Risk Assessment & Safety Concerns

The Health System Response to Gender-Based Violence in EECA: A programmatic package Risk Factors for a High Degree of Danger The more factors apply in a specific case, the higher the risk that acts of violence will be repeated or that the violence may increase or escalate. Previous Acts of Violence Against the Partner and the Children or Other Members of the Family Separation and Divorce are Times of High Risk Severity and Frequency of Violent Acts Violence against Former Partners or Family Members Acts of Violence by other Family Members

The Health System Response to Gender-Based Violence in EECA: A programmatic package Risk Factors for a High Degree of Danger Acts of Violence outside the Family Possession of Weapons, Use of Weapons Abuse of Alcohol or Drugs Threats Threats of Murder / Serious Coercion Threats of Suicide, Depression Extreme Jealousy and Possessiveness Extremely Patriarchal Concepts and Attitudes Persecution, Psychological Terror (Stalking) Danger for Children Non-Compliance with Restraining orders by Courts or Police Possible Triggers: – Change in the Relationship

The Health System Response to Gender-Based Violence in EECA: A programmatic package Listening to Victims as a Core Strategy in Risk Assessment It is important to notice that risk assessment instruments are not instruments to predict re- offending but to assess the level of danger for the victim. Thus, they are instruments to improve prevention, not prediction.

The Health System Response to Gender-Based Violence in EECA: A programmatic package Exercise 1: Risk Assessment Group Work (4-6 participants per group) to answer these questions about the case study from Austria: What is your assessment of the dangerousness of Mr.Y? What are your criteria for dangerousness? What risk factors can you identify in the case story? -> Use the Handouts 1+2: “Risk Factors” and “Exercise Story Y.”

The Health System Response to Gender-Based Violence in EECA: A programmatic package Exercise 2: Safety Planning with Survivors Role play in small groups (6 persons), followed by a reflection in the small groups “Susan B seeks help from a counseling service in her home town. She reports that her husband repeatedly beats her and sometimes also the children. He also verbally abuses her and threatens to kill her if she leaves him. Susan wants to leave but she is afraid of what he would do if she does leave him. She asks the counselor what she could do for her safety” Roles: Susan (Women Seeking Help), Counselor in the counseling service, 2 Coaches, 2 Observers

The Health System Response to Gender-Based Violence in EECA: A programmatic package Questions for Reflection Susan: –How did the talk go for the character of Susan? –What was helpful? What was difficult? –Did she feel safer after the talk? What had helped her feel safer? –What else would Susan have needed? Counselor: – How was the talk for the counselor? – What was the counselor's goal? – What did the counselor try to make Susan feel safer? – What was good? What was difficult? – What else could I have said/done differently as a counselor? The observers facilitate the reflection by asking the questions and take notes of the answers. Then they give their feedback on the role play. Finally, they present the results of the reflection to the whole group.