Brief summary of presentation of information made

Moderator: Florence Deacon (VIVAT International), Maria Lourdes Santos (VIVAT International, NGO Representative at the UN)

Panels and Presentation:

Eustochia Nata (Volunteers for Humanity- Flores, TRUK-F)

Partnership of Civil society and local government in addressing domestic violence in East NusaTenggara, Indonesia.

TRUK-F (which works as the grassroot) has addressed that 2,524 domestic violence cases were found in East Nusa Tenggara –Indonesia since 2000. TRUK-F provided safe houses for 468 victims. It has offered four Strategic Actions.

A. Prevention:

1. Public education,
2. Economic empowerment such as skill trainings on weaving, baking, and sewing.

B. Victims assistance: 

1. Receiving complaints, providing safe houses & shelters
2. Providing basic service like health coverage, legal justice, social rehabilitation and reintegration

C. Policy Advocacy:

1. Issuing about domestic violence and trafficking in persons
2. Insisting on passing draft law on the elimination of the sexual violence

D. Partnership with the Local Government:

1. MOU on integrated services for victims of violence against women and children
2. Annual district budget from local government for women and children
3. Public education through public campaign Lesson learned from partnership with local government

• Local government can’t work alone in handling domestic violence
• Partnership with local governments provides ways to control policies and governance of them
• CSO’s contribution is significant for accelerating social and economic development Challenge in partnership with the local government Will and commitment of the local government is too weak to meet the needs and rights of the victims
• The local government pay attention and put more budget on developing physical infrastructure rather than economic and social well-being of the victims

Raquel Hernandes (Hospitalidad Solidaridad Coordinadora de Acompanamiento Integral)

Migrant Women Domestic Violence: Stories of empowerment from Latin America

• In recent years, the flow of women migrants has increased considerably in Latin America.
• A lot of these women are suffering from emotional, economical, physical, sexual abuse from their childhood to adulthood
• Migration can be dangerous and complex, but most of the migrant women cultivate personal resources to confront adversity, adapt and access a meaningful and productive life.

Sr. Semerita Mbambu CSC, (Sisters of The Holy Cross, Uganda)

• Combating Domestic Violence in War Tone Zones In Uganda. Northern Uganda is affected by the war for 20years, there are many difficulties like poverty and domestic violence in camps.
• Rwenzori Region also has ethnic violence conflicts for about 30 years, and has same problems with Northern Uganda
• Hundreds of women and children are victims of domestic violence and they lost their dwellings. Displaced people stay in camps.

To combat domestic violence in Uganda

1. Advocate on the rights of the victims of domestic violence

• Addressing domestic violence issues through media like radio
• Awareness on the manifestations of domestic violence.

2. Psycho-social support for the victims of war and domestic violence

• offering the safe environment
• responding to the health needs
• spiritual counselling
• reintegration of victims in the communities

3. Establishing economic activities for the victims of war and domestic violence

• skilling in vegetable growing
• small group money saving and lending
• hand craft making Challenges and lessons learned Challenges
• financial support
• domestic violence is worse for the people who are in war
• coordination Lessons
• domestic violence affects men greatly
• multi stakeholder approach is fundamental in handling victims of war as well as victims of domestic violence 

Megan Oliver (Streevani Advocate, Laywer)

• During the covid -19 Pandemic in India, domestic violence has doubled. Economic insecurities, financial instability, isolation, and other factors that contribute to making domestic violence are even more prevalent.
• Cities which have locked down in India, opportunities to report about domestic violence also diminished because of restricted movement, so National Commission for Women had launched WhatsApp helpline number. A small number of Indian women have their phone, only limited people can use it and internet connection is also inaccessible to the majority of women in the country.
• The unavailability of formal support system result in difficulties for NGOs to interaction for the victims.

The reasons of conflicts and violence increase during the pandemic?

• Difficulty to get over the stress to live in confined place
• Economic vulnerability such as job losses, unemployment, reduced income, 
• Social isolation
• A Lack of availability of health services

Best Practices and Measures

• the launch of WhatsApp Helpline Number, online services.
• Supreme Courts instructed all courts to acquire ID infrastructure, video conference, efiling system across the country

Government all around the globe need to address the upsurge in domestic violence immediately.

NGOs and the general public must come together to create the conditions and reaching out to help will be easy. 

What was of particular significance to share with The Salvation Army globally?

The Salvation Army has an opportunity to

• use their facilities to take care of the victims of domestic violence in many local communities.
• find the victims and prevent violence through raising awareness and education
• Advertising the free helpline for victims 

Web links for more information

https://vivatinternational.org/

Tags: SDG5: Gender Equality