1. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN BELGIUM IPV and Restorative Justice
MARIJKE WEEWAUTERS
HEAD GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE UNIT
INSTITUTE FOR THE EQUALITY OF WOMEN AND MEN

2. ISTANBUL CONVENTION Article 48 (= possible but not mandatory) Belgian NAP genderbased violence mediation-divorce –prevention IPV

3. ‘Belgium’ and (restorative) mediation ?

4. Federal government = Minister of justice
“Importance of restorative justice in IPV” “as last resort”
“when all the bridges ar not burned,”
but necessity of training and instruments (risk assessment)

5. “mediation and IPV in general=possible and recommended”
Flemish governement ?
Welfare department
“mediation and IPV in general=possible and recommended”
but
- not for al cases of IPV (f.e. not for intimate terrorism)
- in an atmosphere of social ‘non acceptance of any kind of violence’ and ‘by perpetrator should recognize his responsability’
- complementory to justice and police

6. Flemish governement ? Justice centers “In building a new vision for the justice centers in the Flemish Community we will work towards the idea of building bridges between different partners that work on various issues, including domestic violence. This can create a positive basis for our task force/operation to possibly embed the concept of (restorative) mediation in cases of domestic violence."

7. Federation Wallonia Brussels ? Justice centers
“Restorative justice = important tool”
but…. - perpetrator should recognise responsability of violence can not be used as a form of economization or substitute for classic justice

8. Federation Wallonia Brussels ?
Welfare department
Part of a Multi-sectoral vision
But prudency and limits
Need of specific standards (types of IPV-divorce- types of domination- when be used in the cycle of violence ?)
perpetrator should recognise responsability of violence
Not as a substitute- complementory
Not in cases of great danger and crises
Need of training

9. Ernest Blerot straat 1 B – 1070 Brussel
Thank you!
Marijke Weewauters
Ernest Blerot straat 1 B – 1070 Brussel
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