Project: Improving Services for Survivors

Brief Description

This project, which started in 2008, has three components and is being executed by the Women's Department, the Police Department and Haven House. The Women's Department is the lead agency. The three components are:

• Component 1 - Information and Education, Public Awareness Campaign and Training
• Component 2 - DVU Office Rehabilitation
• Component 3 - Haven House Resource Center Construction

The objective of the Women's Department Component is: "To improve access to intervention and support services by victims of Domestic Violence" 

The sub-components are:

• Support to the Gender Awareness Safe School Program
• Reproduction of Women's Handbook on Domestic Violence
• Women's Rights Handbook
• Men Anti-domestic violence campaign
• Women's Rights Campaign
• Domestic Violence Act 2007 Campaign
• Anti-Domestic Violence Training for Community Leaders

In 2009, the Anti-Domestic Violence Training for Community Leaders component of this project was executed. The Women's Department held countrywide sessions with the objectives of

(i) conducting information sessions with community leaders from various communities throughout the country on the issue of domestic violence in effort to increase awareness of laws and services of community members;

(ii) developing a contact list of community leaders in various communities throughout the country who can serve as resource and liaison persons for the Women's Department anti-domestic violence programs.

The themes of the sessions were as follows: overview of violence in our society, definition of domestic violence, the Domestic Violence Act 2007, the role of services and supporting agencies, of the police, Family and Magistrate Courts, Women's Department, Ministry of Health, and non-governmental organizations.

These sessions had the participation of 108 women and men who were alcaldes, police officers, teachers, community nurse's aides and nurses, village chairpersons, hospital staff, youth group members, women's groups, justices of the peace, pastors (church leaders), peer educators and survivors of gender-based violence.

The funds that were allocated for this project for the period going from September 2008 to May 2010 were of USD 140,210.00.