Violence against women Domestic violence against women in Poland. Presentation prepared for the international conference in Adıyaman (Turkey) as a part of the EU project European Network of Trainers for Nonviolence and Resilience of Young people 7th - 11th march 2013 Source: Tygodnik Powszechny „Myszka w objęciach lwa” The scale of violence against women and girls in Poland is huge. Every year about 800,000 women experience violence, nearly 150 of them die as a result of "domestic misunderstandings". In Poland lives 38,8 milion of people. Blue Card Since 1998, the police have been implementing a special procedure called "Blue Cards" which defines a set of measures to deal with complaints of domestic violence, including remedial responses and cooperation with nonpolice entities. Both the police and the prosecutors cooperate with crisis intervention centers and district centers for family assistance. Number of victims of domestic violence according to the "Blue Card” procedure in 2011 youth 13-18: 10,704 children under 13: 21,394 men: 10,718 women: 70,730 Number of abusers in domestic violence according to the "Blue Card” procedure in 2011 women: 3,471 juvenile : 195 men: 68,248 Number of „Blue Cards” started in Legnica (100,000 citizen) 200 180 173 160 140 131 2011 120 100 2012 80 60 2013 40 20 0 13 January – February „loving” partner According to a nationwide survey 15 % of women admit there were hit by partner at least once, 5 % admit in happens regularly. But researchers agree that family picture emerging from the survey is highly idealized. Domestic violence which happens in Poland can be physical, economical, mental, and also sexual. But depending on different polls from 15 % to 45 % of adult Polish both sexes contend there is no such a thing like a marital rape, because sexual services is a wife’s duty. Source: Tygodnik Powszechny „Myszka w objęciach lwa” We signed the Convention 18.12.2012 Poland signed Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. This has been done despite the opposition of the church, and many Catholic circles, who saw in the Convention the threat to fundamental family values and traditional marriage model. Some social actions that took place recently in Poland: 25.11.2012 – 10.12.2012 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign. The action is organized every year since 1991 on the initiative of Center for Women's Global Leadership. On average, participates in this more than 2,000 organizations in 160 countries, every year. Some social actions that took place recently in Poland: 14.02.2013 – NAZYWAM SIĘ MILIARD / ONE BILLION RISING POLAND. In more than 200 countries and 25 cities in Poland, women, girls, little girls, and those men who truly love and support women danced on February 14 Valentine's Day. This way they wanted to publicize the problem of sexual violence against woman. Organizations in Poland that help women who experienced violence: • Fundacja „Pomoc Kobietom i Dzieciom” – help victims of domestic violence since the notification of the abuse until the final stage of help, which can be also eviction the abuser from their apartment. • Fundacja „Feminoteka” – runs an intervention telephone for women experiencing violence • Centrum Praw Kobiet – runs a shelter for women and children Blue Line National Helpline for Victims of Domestic Violence "Blue Line" Al. Jerozolimskie 155 02-326 Warszawa infolinia 801 120 002 niebieskalinia@niebieskalinia.info Thank you for your kind attention Creative Factory – Association for Cultural and Artistic Events Legnica, Poland