Block Grant – Human Rights Protection Programme

1. Block Grant – Human Rights Protection Programme Financing EEA Financial Mechanism Norwegian Financial Mechanism Slovak Republic Intermediary Open Society Foundation Grant support to 35 projects 1,786,198.76 EUR Projects promoting gender equality And raising awareness about the VAW 158,386.00 EUR

2. Violence against women (VAW) • is the single most prevalent and universal violation of human rights • establishes discrimination of women prohibited by international law. • The elimination of VAW • is the priority area of the European Commission’s Women’s Charter and of its Strategy for equality between women and men which express the Commission’s commitment to propose an effective and comprehensive strategy to fight violence against women • EU Definition • VAW = any act of gender-basedviolence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm orsuffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation ofliberty, whether occurring in public or in private life

3. Slovakia due to the national differences reflecting the cultural and social attitudes VAW is perceived in terms of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE target groupsfamily members REGARDLESS OF THEIR GENDER women, children, older people, and disabled persons DOMESTIC VIOLENCE= any action of a family member or household against another family member if this action restricts his/her legal rights or freedom and causes him/her physical or psychological suffering and moral damage or threatens his/her physical or personal development. NO SPECIFIC LAW THAT REGULATES VAW International organizations and women’s NGOs has played and still plays a relevant role in recognizing and acknowledging the connection between violence against women and unequal division of power between women and men in the society

4. National action plans(NAP) for the prevention and elimination of VAW 2005 – 2008 and 2009 – 2012 • only specific measure addressing VAW in Slovakia • refers to the definition of the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993) • considers most types of violence against women and girls in the family, in the workplace, in schools or in other institutions • defines activities in various different areas: • modification of the criminal and civil law framework • improvement in the supply of social services with the creation of intervention centers and women’s shelters • sensitization in schools • data-gathering • activities with the violent perpetrators • fails to determine the expected financial and personnel costs for its effective implementation

5. Social Services Act no.488/2008 • no category for shelters or specific counseling centers • no national standards for services for women survivors of VAW • Emergency accommodation • target groups: • people who suffer violence (both women and men), • victims of trafficking of human being, • single pregnant women, • parents with children without accommodation, • elderly who is retired or depends on the help of other individual and has no accommodation • it is possible to provide the services to these different groups in one facility • Services for women experiencing violence and their children have no name in the law

6. most of the social services understand VAW as either a solely social issue or a family issue • consider alcohol abuse, poverty, lack of education, etc. causes of VAW • do not reflect the specific needs of women and children – survivors of VAW • Declarations of the Slovak government on number of shelters for women experiencing violence and their children

7. Council of Europe proposed minimum standards • women’s shelters - available in every region • one family place per 10 000 head of population • one rape crisis centre per 200 000 women • one women´s counseling centre for every50 000 women • one free national helpline 0,08 of family place per 10.000 inhabitans in Slovakia No free national helpline No rape crisis centre 3 regions without counseling services

8. The role of women organizations and NGOs • forcing the issue up on the political agenda • set up and operate the first women’s refuges and counseling centers • launching awareness-raising campaigns • initiating legal reforms • monitoring the implementation of policies and measures addressing violence against women • Financing • Social service providers- subsidized with public resources, • to a limited extent • have to rely on year to year financing • municipalities announced cuts in social spending • Women organizations and NGOs mostly depend on foreign fundsand private donations

9. The EU funds and initiatives, including the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism are still an important source of financial support for NGOs working in the field of violence against women and gender equality promotion. They are, to a limited extend, but nevertheless very importantly substituting the support of the state, which it is obligated to provide when meeting the international commitments. Thank you for your attention

10. PRO GENDER E-QUALITY          • Freedom of Choice, Women expert and advocacy NGO • Aims: • To raise the awareness about the issue of gender equality • To contribute to successful implementation of the concept of gender equality • To prepare gender equality workshops • To incorporate the concept of gender equality into the Human Rights curriculum   • Grant Awarded: 53.971,32 EUR • Beneficiaries: expert team of the client, NGOs working in the field of anti-discrimination, municipal coordinators of the high school “Human Rights Competition”, responsible municipal officials, high school pupils   • Project/Responsible Institution webpage: www.moznostvolby.sk

11. ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF THE POLICE, PROSECUTOR OFFICES AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS AND DECISIONS ON SAFETY OF WOMEN EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE • FENESTRA - Interest Association of Women, • women advocacy NGO and provider of services to women survivors of violence • Aims: • To identify key-factors that have a negative impact on women security during legal processes • To draft proposals aiming at the gradual improvement of women’s security • To raise the awareness among national and municipal institutions • To monitor activities of the police and their treatment of cases of domestic violence • Grant Awarded: 70.877,20 EUR • Beneficiaries: female victims of domestic violence, relevant Institutions dealing with the issue, relevant Ministries • Project/Responsible Institution webpage: www.fenestra.sk

12. GENDER EQUALS TO EQUALITY Civil Association We Mothers – Mothers Centre, Provider of services to women experiencing VAW Aims: • To raise the awareness of the issue among young individuals • To broaden women’s understanding of the right to equal treatment • To disseminate information concerning the right to equal treatment • To launch an extensive PR campaign • To engage the public Grant Awarded: 33.537,472 EUR Beneficiaries: high school students, teachers, teaching assistant, University students, artists, media, NGOs, the public   Project/Responsible Institution webpage: www.mymamy.sk