1. Prevention initiatives province of Vlaams-Brabant Jessy Clynen

3. 3 forms of preventions: 1. Universal prevention : aimed at the general population. 2. Indicated prevention : aimed at individuals who shown the first signs of the problem. 3. Selective prevention : aimed at target groups which carry increased risk, but show no signs of the problem yet.

4. Framework : aimed at abuse between partners (domestic violence) view of the family (involves children) physical, psychological and sexual violence - Is supported by provincial working group prevention of violence prevention plan

5. 1. Universal prevention: setting up a public campaign Target group: everyone Message: partner abuse is not normal it is normal to talk about it assistance is possible information about reference  mixture of different actions  using the same images every time makes it recognizable

7. 1.1 Universal prevention: actions aimed at adults An international day for the elimination of violence against women : - on 25th November - since 2006 - 18.000 plaster boxes are spread Goal: 1. awareness 2. information about the possible assistance: phone numbers

9. 1.1 Universal prevention: actions aimed at adults Prevention card game : with tips and cartoons about traffic safety, partner abuse, environmental pollution and intervention in neighbourhood quarrels. How? Municipalities, police services and other organisations can request the game for free with the aim of spreading them during open houses, educations,... Goal: give prevention tips at the citizens through play.

11. 1.2 Universal prevention: actions aimed at youngsters Beer mats How? beer mats on partner abuse were spread around youth pubs and youth clubs in province Vlaams-Brabant Goal: make youngsters aware of the problem of partner abuse

12. 1.2 Universal prevention: actions aimed at youngsters Boomerang campaign During Valentine’s day 2008, 30.000 free boomerang post cards were spread with a message about partner abuse. How?150 displays were placed at bars, discos, restaurants, movie theatres, shops, sports centres, colleges... Goal: Fighting partner abuse by making people aware, inform them and point at help for victim and offender.

14. 1.2 Universal prevention: actions aimed at youngsters Relationship kits: consists of a backpack filled with relationship tips, the brochure ‘Loving each other without violence. How do you do it?’, an anti-stress heart, a condom and all kinds of information. How? In 2009 vouchers were distributed at music festivals in Vlaams- Brabant to youngsters between 14 and 25 years old. They could exchange these vouchers for a relationship kit at an information stand. Goal: - awareness of what is normal and what not in a relationship - tips how to keep your relationship fair - let them know where they can get help if they are in trouble

16. 2. Indicated prevention: providing information to the victims of partner abuse Crisis card: safety plan for victims of partner abuse How? 30.000 cards were being produced and spread through general practitioners, gynecologists, police services, emergency wards, CAW’s… Goal: - give problem-solving tips - give important phone numbers for reference

18. 3. Selective prevention: aimed at target groups attention to most vulnerable groups concerning the issue of violence. For example: children who witness violence, pregnant women, immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, people without legal papers…

19. 3.1 Selective prevention: violence against pregnant women  great pressure on a relationship during the pregnancy  partner abuse creeps into the relationship exactly then, or it accelerates during this time.  3 till 8 % of the Flemish women are victim of physical and/or sexual violence during the pregnancy

20. 3.1 Selective prevention: violence against pregnant women  Posters were spread by all general practitioners, gynecologists, midwifes, maternity care, local health centre, hospitals, CAW’s within province.  April the 21 st of 2008: workshops with speakers from different disciplines  Reference card with useful addresses and tips  February 2010 : website Goal: - massage to pregnant couples that they are not alone. - supply the medical sector with means to adequately reaction to this problem.

22. 3.1 Selective prevention: violence related to honour What? a round-table conference on ‘violence related to honour’ Goal: track attention to gender related violence and contribute to the prevention of gender related violence against women. Methodology: all experts were present at the round-table conference and brought things up for discussion. This would lead to the formulation of recommendations for the future, the policy,...

23. Education of the police, the judiciary and the assistance organised by the province of Vlaams-Brabant

24. preparation in a steering committee specialized education is spread over three years: meetings twice a year. fixed group of participants (118) The aim is to explore certain aspects from the theme of domestic violence so one gets the full picture after three years of education. themes are chosen by participants it is obligated to follow the whole course intends to form a network involving the same people

25. On the one hand the participants get to know a few aspects of the issue of domestic violence and learn how to react appropriately at certain situations. On the other hand a network of different partners who are confronted with the issue is developed. In this way one can get to know each other. Target group: the police, the judiciary, the assistance Themes until now: judicial aspects of partner abuse, dealing with violence in migrant families, children as witness of violence and offenders of domestic violence

26. Workshops about partner abuse  Workshops are regularly organised.  For example: March the 2 nd a workshop will be held about cyber stalking, cyber-bully

27. Actions of sensitization aimed at the police Concrete action: on the 25 th of November all policemen from Vlaams-Brabant have received a pen with a slogan against partner abuse and the phone number of the contact person working on this topic in their area. This way policemen know to whom to refer victims and offenders. Aim: Familiarize the police services with the contact points partner abuse of the CAW’s (centres for general welfare work).

28. Contact details: Jessy Clynen Province Vlaams-Brabant jessy.clynen@vlaamsbrabant.be