1. OSLO KRISESENTER A presentation by Inger-Lise Walmsness Larsen Managing director

2. Violence in Norway 1 of 4 women in Norway have suffered violence or threats of violence 1 of 10 women over 15 years has been raped 1 of 10 women over 15 years has experienced that their partner has used a weapon, strangled or beat her head against the floor or other objects 1 of 40 men has suffered the above Since 2000 almost 100 women have been murdered by their partners or ex-partners. 4 men have experienced the same in the period

3. Violence in different close relations -Men's violence against women -Women’s violence against men -Violence in upbringing -Violence in homosexual partnerships -Violence in large families -Honor related violence, forced marriage issues, transnational violence -Human trafficking -Violence against vulnerable groups -Women in prison, prostitution, drugs and psychiatry

4. Oslo -Oslo the capital of Norway with approximately 600’000 citizens -15 different districts with more or less self-determination -Resources to the different districts are distributed by a criteria- system - A central City Council and 15 District Councils -Jan. 2011: 30 % of citizens have minority background -The Oslo Krisesenter is the only shelter in Oslo -There is no holistic plan for work with women, children or men exposed to domestic violence in Oslo despite of several national action plans

5. The Oslo Krisesenter today -Private foundation with a self-appointed board -Management team: 4 section-leaders and a managing director -Shelter section for women and children -Day-centre section for women and children, including a section for trafficked women (Rosa) -Children and youth section, both a shelter and day-centre -Section for honor related violence, where young girls are exposed to forced marriage -Shelter for men and their children -Approximately 50 employees, all educated -The men and women shelters are separated

6. 2010: -Approx. 200 inquiries per month -Approx. 10 of these are given an offer of shelter, the rest are given an offer at the day-centre or are forwarded to the “right agency” -350 women and 300 children stayed at the shelter. Approx. 90 % of these where of minority background -2040 visits by women and children at the day-centre. 60 % of these were ethnic Norwegians -Men; since started in Sept. 2010, 24 residents, and 45 dayusers -Section for honor related violence, 53 residents since started in Okt. 07

7. Background for development of services: Differentiating the services, an offer for all -Minority women -Norwegian women -Young girls -Children and youth -Minority men -Norwegian men -Lesbians, homosexuals and transsexuals -Vulnerable groups; human trafficking, women in prison, prostitutes, drugs, alcohol and psychiatry

8. Development of the services at OK: -1977: Hotline for women exposed to violence by their partners, 1.feb -1978: Europe’s first shelter open around the clock, 2. May -2000: Section for honor related violence for young women who have been or are in danger of being forced to marry. Was closed in 2004 and reopened in 2007 -2005: Section for women exposed to human trafficking, Rosa -2005: The prison project is started and closed, reopened in 2008 -2007: The day-centre section was established -2008: Educational offering for the children at OK was established

9. -2008: Establishment of a volunteer-project -2008: Establishment of a networking group for women of minority background -2009: Establishment of the section for children and youth -2010: Establishment of the shelter for men -2010: Cooperation with Reform resource-centre for men concerning the violators -2011: Establishment of networking groups for girls of minority background -2011: Establishment of networking groups for men -2011: Cooperation with Prosenteret, centre for prostitutes, concerning violence

10. Laws on violence in Norway -1891 Men loose their legal right to physically punish their wives -1913 Abuse gives the right to get a divorce -1978 Law on equality between the sexes, and a commissioner of equality -1981 The police is not allowed to register violence as “domestic disturbance” -1981 Victims of violence are given a monetary compensation even if the perpetrator is family -1983 Free legal aid to women who are victims of partner violence -1988 All cases of severe partner violence will be tried in court through public indictment -1994 Restraining orders are implemented -1995 Law against female genital mutilation

11. -2002 All police stations are required to have a specialist on family violence -2003 Restraining orders are extended to include the possibility excluding men from their homes -2004 It is made possible for victims of severe violence to get a new fictive identity -2008 Victims are given the right of free legal help before pressing charges -2008 Changes in the Criminal Procedure Act to the benefit of the victim -2008 The purchase of sexual services is illegalized. -2010 The shelter law

12. Shelter law of 2010 -The purpose is to ensure that persons exposed to violence or threats of domestic violence have access to a good, comprehensive shelter service. Persons exposed to trafficking may also be covered by the law. -A good shelter service means that the shelter offers expertise, is properly secured, easily available and accessible to users. -The offer shall be free and gender neutral -The shelter should not require referral, appointment or waiting list

13. The core services of the shelter : 24 hours shelter, counseling by day, follow-up in the resettlement phase, and counseling by telephone. Safe and free temporary housing Daytime services for former residents and others Counseling, individually and in groups Follow-up in re-establishment phase Assistance to contact the support system Special services for different groups Provide information to child welfare services

14. The municipality shall provide for: The quality of service is according to the law Coordination of services The person of needs should be offered an individual plan where shelter can be a part of the plan Qualified interpreters paid by the municipality Adapted shelters for people with disabilities Provide users with information about rights and aid for contact with other support services The county governor supervises the legality of the municipality's compliance with the obligations imposed by law

15. Shelter section Reception and competent assessment to provide rapid and appropriate assistance to women, children and men Stabilize women, men and children in emergency Focus on basic needs and reactions to violence Use of interpreters Refer to support services, clarify responsibilities, follow, participate and initiate an individual plan The shelter section needs approx. 30 days to provide the services needed in this acute phase; Lawyer, security alarm, restraining-orders, stabilizing and strategies, assistance in obtaining housing Transfer to the day centre for follow-up after relocation

16. Children and youth section The child in focus as an independent individual, given the same service as their mother or father Specific head contact person for children, with their own admittance conversation Working with children in crisis, predictability, confidence Working with mother in crisis, supporting the mother in the mother-role Individual conversations, group discussions and meetings Activities, friendships and experiences and conversations School and kindergarten Follow-up of mother-child relationship and more after leaving the shelter

17. Day-centre section for women and children Individual counseling Group counseling Classes on the subject of violence and reactions of violence Legal services Practical help Jurk, legal counseling for women, training on rights, visitation Prison Project Volunteer Project Networking ROSA, project for human trafficking

18. Issues discussed in the classes on violence What is violence? Violence and love. Honor-related violence and forced marriage. Common reactions to violence, how to take care of themselves The way forward Children witnessing violence This concept can be applied to different groups of women.

19. The Prison Project Collaboration between the Correctional Services and OK, Bretvedt and B2 Long-term female prisoners, fewer measures than men in prison Coming from outside, is not identified with the prison Long history of violence that have not been the focus earlier Individual conversations, groups and courses, motivated Possibility of normalization and handling of reactions Competence in the prison system, active cooperation Follow-up after release at OK

20. Section for honor-related violence The shelter as the first step for protection Young girls, 18-19 years, subjected to forced marriage or honor- related violence Extreme control, isolation, violence often since childhood Rehabilitation program, long-term offers Progress towards independence and managing their own lives From obedience to responsibility Counteract loneliness, stigma and isolation through networking after leaving the shelter Professional approach, relational and process oriented

21. Shelter for men Men subjected to violence by their wives or partners Men with children, cooperation with the children-team Gay men exposed to violence by their partner Gay men vulnerable to honor-related violence by their family Minority men forced to marry Sons over 18 years of age of women who live in Oslo Krisesenter The same reactions to violence as women Feeling of shame Stabilization and network with others in the same situation

22. Challenges in Norway: Shelters as a low-threshold emergency service, given focus as the acute offer in the municipal work on violence Competence, internally and with collaborators Collaboration, dialogue for clarification of responsibilities Responsibility of other help-services to do their job according to the law Child Welfare Targeted transitional arrangements Housing assistance Clarification of the law, low-threshold, regardless of residence- status and national registration