The project consists of a comprehensive five day domestic violence train-the-trainer seminar that will be piloted in Tetovo SVR. The seminar is designed to promote a multi-discipline evidence based approach to handling domestic violence investigations. Beneficiaries will be Police Officers, Social Workers and NGO’s with a family and or women’s focused agenda.
Domestic violence is a serious and pervasive problem in the Host Country as it is common in most of the countries.Those who work directly with victims of domestic violence report that the problem is widespread and that it affects all ethnic groups and classes of people. In addition, strong social pressures keep the problem of domestic violence within the family. A lack of quality shelters and other social services gives victims little incentive to discuss their problems publicly.
Some Social Services Case Workers have received training on domestic violence. However, their focus is on maintaining the family unit not on holding the offender accountable for his abusive behaviour.
Evidence available from hospitals, doctors, legal professionals and other sources indicates that domestic violence is a serious widespread problem in the Host Country. The police generally do not make arrests nor do they routinely attempt to remove the perpetrator of the assault from the home.
Evidence has been gathered from two years of field work in the country’s north/north-west area. The field work has consisted of interviews with police officers from all ranks, doctors, social workers, lawyers, NGO Volunteers, and judges. In addition, frequent monitoring of police patrols and reviews of police reports have revealed a complete lack of understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence.
In addition several one day training seminars have been held on the dynamics of domestic violence in the country’s north/north-west area. Frequently the feedback from students showed that the typical myths about the causes of domestic violence were strongly believed.
This pilot project builds on the Community Policing work that has already taken place in the country and reflects the current priorities of the Ministry of Interior and the Police Development Department as well. PDD is wishing to improve the quality of police services and promote a seamless system approach to domestic violence investigations. For that reason PDD will test a domestic violence training material in a pilot training course in Tetovo SVR, therefore next year we will be able to identify and implement a countrywide initiative. PDD staff counts with expertise and capacity to deliver the pilot training course.