• Skip to language switcher
  • Skip to main categories navigation
  • Skip to secondary categories navigation
  • Skip to current category navigation
  • Skip to main navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Gender-based violence

  • What is gender-based violence?
  • Forms of violence
  • EIGE’s work on gender-based violence
  • Administrative data collection
    • Data collection on violence against women
    • About the tool
    • Administrative data sources
    • Advanced search
  • Analysis of EU directives from a gendered perspective
  • Costs of gender-based violence
  • Cyber violence against women
  • Femicide
  • Intimate partner violence and witness intervention
  • Female genital mutilation
    • Risk estimations
  • Risk assessment and risk management by police
    • Risk assessment principles and steps
      • Principles
        • Principle 1: Prioritising victim safety
        • Principle 2: Adopting a victim-centred approach
        • Principle 3: Taking a gender-specific approach
        • Principle 4: Adopting an intersectional approach
        • Principle 5: Considering children’s experiences
      • Steps
        • Step 1: Define the purpose and objectives of police risk assessment
        • Step 2: Identify the most appropriate approach to police risk assessment
        • Step 3: Identify the most relevant risk factors for police risk assessment
        • Step 4: Implement systematic police training and capacity development
        • Step 5: Embed police risk assessment in a multiagency framework
        • Step 6: Develop procedures for information management and confidentiality
        • Step 7: Monitor and evaluate risk assessment practices and outcomes
    • Risk management principles and recommendations
      • Principle 1. Adopting a gender-specific approach
      • Principle 2. Introducing an individualised approach to risk management
      • Principle 3. Establishing an evidence-based approach
      • Principle 4. Underpinning the processes with an outcome-focused approach
      • Principle 5. Delivering a coordinated, multiagency response
    • Legal and policy framework
    • Tools and approaches
    • Areas for improvement
    • References
  • Good practices in EU Member States
  • Methods and tools in EU Member States
  • White Ribbon Campaign
    • About the White Ribbon Campaign
    • White Ribbon Ambassadors
  • Regulatory and legal framework
    • International regulations
    • EU regulations
    • Strategic framework on violence against women 2015-2018
    • Legal Definitions in the EU Member States
  • Literature and legislation
  • EIGE's publications on gender-based violence
  • Videos
European Institute for Gender Equality logoEuropean Institute for Gender Equality
Search

Search form

English
  • EN - English
  • LT - Lietuvių kalba
  • EN - English
  • BG - Български
  • ES - Español
  • CS - Čeština
  • DA - Dansk
  • DE - Deutsch
  • ET - Eesti
  • EL - Ελληνικά
  • FR - Français
  • GA - Gaeilge
  • HR - Hrvatski
  • IT - Italiano
  • LV - Latviešu valoda
  • LT - Lietuvių kalba
  • RO - Română
  • PT - Português
  • MT - Malti
  • PL - Polski
  • FI - Suomi
  • HU - Magyar
  • NL - Nederlands
  • SK - Slovenčina (slovenský jazyk)
  • SL - Slovenščina (slovenski jezik)
  • SV - Svenska
  • Menu
  • Gender mainstreaming
    • What is Gender mainstreaming
      • Policy cycle
    • Institutions and structures
      • European Union
      • EU Member States
      • Stakeholders
      • International organizations
    • Policy areas
      • Agriculture and rural development
        • Policy cycle
      • Culture
        • Policy cycle
      • Digital agenda
        • Policy cycle
      • Economic and financial affairs
        • Economic Benefits of Gender Equality in the EU
        • Policy cycle
      • Education
        • Policy cycle
      • Employment
        • Policy cycle
        • Structures
      • Energy
        • Policy cycle
      • Entrepreneurship
        • Policy cycle
      • Environment and climate change
        • Policy cycle
      • Health
        • Policy cycle
      • Justice
        • Policy cycle
      • Maritime affairs and fisheries
        • Policy cycle
      • Migration
        • Policy cycle
      • Poverty
        • Policy cycle
      • Regional policy
        • Policy cycle
      • Research
        • Policy cycle
      • Security
        • Policy cycle
      • Sport
        • Policy cycle
      • Tourism
        • Policy cycle
      • Transport
        • Policy cycle
      • Youth
        • Policy cycle
    • Toolkits
      • Gender Equality Training
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is Gender Equality Training
        • Why invest in Gender Equality Training
        • Who should use Gender Equality Training
        • Step-by-step guide to Gender Equality Training
            • 1. Assess the needs
            • 2. Integrate initiatives to broader strategy
            • 3. Ensure sufficient resources
            • 4. Write good terms of reference
            • 5. Select a trainer
            • 6. Engage in the needs assessment
            • 7. Actively participate in the initiative
            • 8. Invite others to join in
            • 9. Monitoring framework and procedures
            • 10. Set up an evaluation framework
            • 11. Assess long-term impacts
            • 12. Give space and support others
        • Designing effective Gender Equality Training
        • Gender Equality Training in the EU
        • Good Practices on Gender Equality Training
        • More resources on Gender Equality Training
        • More on EIGE's work on Gender Equality Training
      • Gender Impact Assessment
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is Gender Impact Assessment
        • Why use Gender Impact Assessment
        • Who should use Gender Impact Assessment
        • When to use Gender Impact Assessment
        • Guide to Gender Impact Assessment
          • Step 1: Definition of policy purpose
          • Step 2: Checking gender relevance
          • Step 3: Gender-sensitive analysis
          • Step 4: Weighing gender impact
          • Step 5: Findings and proposals for improvement
        • Following up on gender impact assessment
        • General considerations
        • Examples from the EU
            • European Commission
            • Austria
            • Belgium
            • Denmark
            • Finland
            • Sweden
            • Basque country
            • Catalonia
            • Lower Saxony
            • Swedish municipalities
      • Institutional Transformation
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is Institutional Transformation
          • Institutional transformation and gender: Key points
          • Gender organisations
          • Types of institutions
          • Gender mainstreaming and institutional transformation
          • Dimensions of gender mainstreaming in institutions: The SPO model
        • Why focus on Institutional Transformation
          • Motivation model
        • Who the guide is for
        • Guide to Institutional Transformation
            • 1. Creating accountability and strengthening commitment
            • 2. Allocating resources
            • 3. Conducting an organisational analysis
            • 4. Developing a strategy and work plan
            • 5. Establishing a support structure
            • 6. Setting gender equality objectives
            • 7. Communicating gender mainstreaming
            • 8. Introducing gender mainstreaming
            • 9. Developing gender equality competence
            • 10. Establishing a gender information management system
            • 11. Launching gender equality action plans
            • 12. Promotional equal opportunities
            • 13. Monitoring and steering organisational change
        • Dealing with resistance
          • Discourse level
          • Individual level
          • Organisational level
          • Statements and reactions
        • Checklist: Key questions for change
        • Examples from the EU
            • 1. Strengthening accountability
            • 2. Allocating resources
            • 3. Organisational analysis
            • 4. Developing a strategy and working plan
            • 5. Establishing a support structure
            • 6. Setting objectives
            • 7. Communicating gender mainstreaming
            • 8. Introducing methods and tools
            • 9. Developing Competence
            • 10. Establishing a gender information management system
            • 11. Launching action plans
            • 12. Promoting within an organisation
            • 13. Monitoring and evaluating
      • Gender Equality in Academia and Research
        • Back to toolkit page
        • WHAT
          • What is a Gender Equality Plan?
          • Terms and definitions
          • Which stakeholders need to be engaged into a GEP
          • About the Gear Tool
        • WHY
          • Horizon Europe GEP criterion
          • Gender Equality in Research and Innovation
          • Why change must be structural
          • Rationale for gender equality change in research and innovation
          • GEAR step-by-step guide for research organisations, universities and public bodies
            • Step 1: Getting started
            • Step 2: Analysing and assessing the state-of-play in the institution
            • Step 3: Setting up a Gender Equality Plan
            • Step 4: Implementing a Gender Equality Plan
            • Step 5: Monitoring progress and evaluating a Gender Equality Plan
            • Step 6: What comes after the Gender Equality Plan?
          • GEAR step-by-step guide for research funding bodies
            • Step 1: Getting started
            • Step 2: Analysing and assessing the state-of-play in the institution
            • Step 3: Setting up a Gender Equality Plan
            • Step 4: Implementing a Gender Equality Plan
            • Step 5: Monitoring progress and evaluating a Gender Equality Plan
            • Step 6: What comes after the Gender Equality Plan?
          • GEAR action toolbox
            • Work-life balance and organisational culture
            • Gender balance in leadership and decision making
            • Gender equality in recruitment and career progression
            • Integration of the sex/gender dimension into research and teaching content
            • Measures against gender-based violence including sexual harassment
            • Measures mitigating the effect of COVID-19
            • Data collection and monitoring
            • Training: awareness-raising and capacity building
            • GEP development and implementation
            • Gender-sensitive research funding procedures
          • Success factors for GEP development and implementation
          • Challenges & resistance
        • WHERE
          • Austria
          • Belgium
          • Bulgaria
          • Croatia
          • Cyprus
          • Czechia
          • Denmark
          • Estonia
          • Finland
          • France
          • Germany
          • Greece
          • Hungary
          • Ireland
          • Italy
          • Latvia
          • Lithuania
          • Luxembourg
          • Malta
          • Netherlands
          • Poland
          • Portugal
          • Romania
          • Slovakia
          • Slovenia
          • Spain
          • Sweden
          • United Kingdom
      • Gender-sensitive Parliaments
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is the tool for?
        • Who is the tool for?
        • How to use the tool
        • Self-assessment, scoring and interpretation of parliament gender-sensitivity
          • AREA 1 – Women and men have equal opportunities to ENTER the parliament
            • Domain 1 – Electoral system and gender quotas
            • Domain 2 - Political party/group procedures
            • Domain 3 – Recruitment of parliamentary employees
          • AREA 2 – Women and men have equal opportunities to INFLUENCE the parliament’s working procedures
            • Domain 1 – Parliamentarians’ presence and capacity in a parliament
            • Domain 2 – Structure and organisation
            • Domain 3 – Staff organisation and procedures
          • AREA 3 – Women’s interests and concerns have adequate SPACE on parliamentary agenda
            • Domain 1 – Gender mainstreaming structures
            • Domain 2 – Gender mainstreaming tools in parliamentary work
            • Domain 3 – Gender mainstreaming tools for staff
          • AREA 4 – The parliament produces gender-sensitive LEGISLATION
            • Domain 1 – Gender equality laws and policies
            • Domain 2 – Gender mainstreaming in laws
            • Domain 3 – Oversight of gender equality
          • AREA 5 – The parliament complies with its SYMBOLIC function
            • Domain 1 – Symbolic meanings of spaces
            • Domain 2 – Gender equality in external communication and representation
        • How gender-sensitive are parliaments in the EU?
        • Examples of gender-sensitive practices in parliaments
          • Women and men have equal opportunities to ENTER the parliament
          • Women and men have equal opportunities to INFLUENCE the parliament’s working procedures
          • Women’s interests and concerns have adequate SPACE on parliamentary agenda
          • The parliament produces gender-sensitive LEGISLATION
          • The parliament complies with its SYMBOLIC function
        • Glossary of terms
        • References and resources
      • Gender Budgeting
        • Back to toolkit page
        • Who is this toolkit for?
        • What is gender budgeting?
          • Introducing gender budgeting
          • Gender budgeting in women’s and men’s lived realities
          • What does gender budgeting involve in practice?
          • Gender budgeting in the EU Funds
            • Gender budgeting as a way of complying with EU legal requirements
            • Gender budgeting as a way of promoting accountability and transparency
            • Gender budgeting as a way of increasing participation in budget processes
            • Gender budgeting as a way of advancing gender equality
        • Why is gender budgeting important in the EU Funds?
          • Three reasons why gender budgeting is crucial in the EU Funds
        • How can we apply gender budgeting in the EU Funds? Practical tools and Member State examples
          • Tool 1: Connecting the EU Funds with the EU’s regulatory framework on gender equality
            • Legislative and regulatory basis for EU policies on gender equality
            • Concrete requirements for considering gender equality within the EU Funds
            • EU Funds’ enabling conditions
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 2: Analysing gender inequalities and gender needs at the national and sub-national levels
            • Steps to assess and analyse gender inequalities and needs
            • Step 1. Collect information and disaggregated data on the target group
            • Step 2. Identify existing gender inequalities and their underlying causes
            • Step 3. Consult directly with the target groups
            • Step 4. Draw conclusions
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 3: Operationalising gender equality in policy objectives and specific objectives/measures
            • Steps for operationalising gender equality in Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes
            • General guidance on operationalising gender equality when developing policy objectives, specific objectives and measures
            • Checklist for putting the horizontal principle of gender equality into practice in Partnership Agreements
            • Checklist for putting the horizontal principle of gender equality into practice in Operational Programmes
            • Examples of integrating gender equality as a horizontal principle in policy objectives and specific objectives
          • Tool 4: Coordination and complementarities between the EU Funds to advance work-life balance
            • Steps for enhancing coordination and complementarities between the funds
            • Step 1. Alignment with the EU’s strategic engagement goals for gender equality and national gender equality goals
            • Steps 2 and 3. Identifying and developing possible work-life balance interventions
            • Step 4. Following-up through the use of indicators within M&E systems
            • Fictional case study 1: reconciling paid work and childcare
            • Fictional case study 2: reconciling shift work and childcare
            • Fictional case study 3: balancing care for oneself and others
            • Fictional case study 4: reconciling care for children and older persons with shift work
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 5: Defining partnerships and multi-level governance
            • Steps for defining partnerships and multi-level governance
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 6: Developing quantitative and qualitative indicators for advancing gender equality
            • Steps to develop quantitative and qualitative indicators
            • ERDF and Cohesion Fund
            • ESF+
            • EMFF
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 7: Defining gender-sensitive project selection criteria
            • Steps to support gender-sensitive project development and selection
            • Checklist to guide the preparation of calls for project proposals
            • Checklist for project selection criteria
            • Supplementary tool 7.a: Gender-responsive agreements with project implementers
          • Tool 8: Tracking resource allocations for gender equality in the EU Funds
            • Ensuring gender relevance in EU Funds
            • The tracking system
            • Steps for tracking resource allocations on gender equality
            • Step 1: Ex ante approach
            • Step 2: Ex post approach
            • Examples of Step 2a
            • Annex 1: Ex ante assignment of intervention fields to the gender equality dimension codes
            • Annex 2: The EU’s gender equality legal and policy framework
          • Tool 9: Mainstreaming gender equality in project design
            • Steps to mainstream gender equality in project design
            • Step 1. Alignment with partnership agreements’ and Operational Programmes’ gender objectives and indicators
            • Step 2. Project development and application
            • Step 3. Project implementation
            • Step 4. Project assessment
          • Tool 10: Integrating a gender perspective in monitoring and evaluation processes
            • Steps to integrate a gender perspective in M&E processes
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 11: Reporting on resource spending for gender equality in the EU Funds
            • Tracking expenditures for gender equality
            • Additional resources
          • References
          • Abbreviations
          • Acknowledgements
      • Gender-responsive Public Procurement
        • Back to toolkit page
        • Who is this toolkit for?
          • Guiding you through the toolkit
        • What is gender-responsive public procurement?
          • How is gender-responsive public procurement linked to gender equality?
          • How is gender-responsive public procurement linked to gender budgeting?
          • Five reasons why gender-responsive public procurement
          • Why was this toolkit produced
        • Gender-responsive public procurement in practice
          • Legal framework cross-references gender equality and public procurement
          • Public procurement strategies cover GRPP
          • Gender equality action plans or strategies mention public procurement
          • Capacity-building programmes, support structures
          • Regular collaboration between gender equality bodies
          • Effective monitoring and reporting systems on the use of GRPP
          • Tool 1:Self-assessment questionnaire about the legal
          • Tool 2: Overview of the legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks
        • How to include gender aspects in tendering procedures
          • Pre-procurement stage
            • Needs assessment
            • Tool 3: Decision tree to assess the gender relevance
            • Preliminary market consultation
            • Tool 4: Guiding questions for needs assessment
            • Defining the subject matter of the contract
            • Choosing the procedure
            • Tool 5: Decision tree for the choice of procedure for GRPP
            • Dividing the contract into lots
            • Tool 6: Guiding questions for dividing contracts into lots for GRPP
            • Light regime for social, health and other specific services
            • Tool 7: Guiding questions for applying GRPP under the light regime
            • Tool 8: Guiding questions for applying GRPP under the light regime
            • Reserved contracts
            • Preparing tender documents
          • Procurement stage
            • Exclusion grounds
            • Selection criteria
            • Technical specifications
            • Tool 9: Decision tree for setting GRPP selection criteria
            • Award criteria
            • Tool 10: Formulating GRPP award criteria
            • Tool 11: Bidders’ concepts to ensure the integration of gender aspects
            • Use of labels/certifications
          • Post-procurement stage
            • Tool 12: Checklist for including GRPP contract performance conditions
            • Subcontracting
            • Monitoring
            • Reporting
            • Tool 13: Template for a GRPP monitoring and reporting plan
        • References
        • Additional resources
    • Methods and tools
      • Browse
      • About EIGE's methods and tools
      • Gender analysis
      • Gender audit
      • Gender awareness-raising
      • Gender budgeting
      • Gender impact assessment
      • Gender equality training
      • Gender evaluation
      • Gender statistics and indicators
      • Gender monitoring
      • Gender planning
      • Gender-responsive public procurement
      • Gender stakeholder consultation
      • Sex-disaggregated data
      • Institutional transformation
      • Examples of methods and tools
      • Resources
    • Good practices
      • Browse
      • About good practices
      • EIGE’s approach to good practices
    • Country specific information
      • Belgium
        • Overview
        • Browse all Belgium content
      • Bulgaria
        • Overview
        • Browse all Bulgaria content
      • Czechia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Czechia content
      • Denmark
        • Overview
        • Browse all Denmark content
      • Germany
        • Overview
        • Browse all Germany content
      • Estonia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Estonia content
      • Ireland
        • Overview
        • Browse all Ireland content
      • Greece
        • Overview
        • Browse all Greece content
      • Spain
        • Overview
        • Browse all Spain content
      • France
        • Overview
        • Browse all France content
      • Croatia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Croatia content
      • Italy
        • Overview
        • Browse all Italy content
      • Cyprus
        • Overview
        • Browse all Cyprus content
      • Latvia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Latvia content
      • Lithuania
        • Overview
        • Browse all Lithuania content
      • Luxembourg
        • Overview
        • Browse all Luxembourg content
      • Hungary
        • Overview
        • Browse all Hungary content
      • Malta
        • Overview
        • Browse all Malta content
      • Netherlands
        • Overview
        • Browse all Netherlands content
      • Austria
        • Overview
        • Browse all Austria content
      • Poland
        • Overview
        • Browse all Poland content
      • Portugal
        • Overview
        • Browse all Portugal content
      • Romania
        • Overview
        • Browse all Romania content
      • Slovenia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Slovenia content
      • Slovakia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Slovakia content
      • Finland
        • Overview
        • Browse all Finland content
      • Sweden
        • Overview
        • Browse all Sweden content
      • United Kingdom
        • Overview
    • EIGE’s publications on Gender mainstreaming
    • Concepts and definitions
    • Power Up conference 2019
  • Gender-based violence
    • What is gender-based violence?
    • Forms of violence
    • EIGE’s work on gender-based violence
    • Administrative data collection
      • Data collection on violence against women
      • About the tool
      • Administrative data sources
      • Advanced search
    • Analysis of EU directives from a gendered perspective
    • Costs of gender-based violence
    • Cyber violence against women
    • Femicide
    • Intimate partner violence and witness intervention
    • Female genital mutilation
      • Risk estimations
    • Risk assessment and risk management by police
      • Risk assessment principles and steps
          • Principle 1: Prioritising victim safety
          • Principle 2: Adopting a victim-centred approach
          • Principle 3: Taking a gender-specific approach
          • Principle 4: Adopting an intersectional approach
          • Principle 5: Considering children’s experiences
          • Step 1: Define the purpose and objectives of police risk assessment
          • Step 2: Identify the most appropriate approach to police risk assessment
          • Step 3: Identify the most relevant risk factors for police risk assessment
          • Step 4: Implement systematic police training and capacity development
          • Step 5: Embed police risk assessment in a multiagency framework
          • Step 6: Develop procedures for information management and confidentiality
          • Step 7: Monitor and evaluate risk assessment practices and outcomes
      • Risk management principles and recommendations
        • Principle 1. Adopting a gender-specific approach
        • Principle 2. Introducing an individualised approach to risk management
        • Principle 3. Establishing an evidence-based approach
        • Principle 4. Underpinning the processes with an outcome-focused approach
        • Principle 5. Delivering a coordinated, multiagency response
      • Legal and policy framework
      • Tools and approaches
      • Areas for improvement
      • References
    • Good practices in EU Member States
    • Methods and tools in EU Member States
    • White Ribbon Campaign
      • About the White Ribbon Campaign
      • White Ribbon Ambassadors
    • Regulatory and legal framework
      • International regulations
      • EU regulations
      • Strategic framework on violence against women 2015-2018
      • Legal Definitions in the EU Member States
    • Literature and legislation
    • EIGE's publications on gender-based violence
    • Videos
  • Gender Equality Index
    • View countries
    • Compare countries
    • Thematic Focus
    • About Index
    • Publications
    • Index 2021 Conference
    • Index Game
    • Videos
  • Gender Statistics Database
    • Browse Gender Statistics
    • Data talks
    • FAQs
    • About
    • Search
  • Beijing Platform for Action
  • Countries
    • Belgium
    • Bulgaria
    • Czechia
    • Denmark
    • Germany
    • Estonia
    • Ireland
    • Greece
    • Spain
    • France
    • Croatia
    • Italy
    • Cyprus
    • Latvia
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg
    • Hungary
    • Malta
    • Netherlands
    • Austria
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Romania
    • Slovenia
    • Slovakia
    • Finland
    • Sweden
  • Topics
    • Health
      • Covid-19 and gender equality
    • Violence
    • Agriculture and rural development
    • Culture
    • Digital agenda
    • Economic and financial affairs
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Environment and climate change
    • Justice
    • Maritime affairs and fisheries
    • Migration
    • Poverty
    • Regional policy
    • Research
    • Sport
    • Tourism
    • Transport
    • Youth
  • About EIGE
    • EIGE's organisation
      • Management board
      • Experts' forum
      • EIGE staff
    • Our work
      • Stakeholders
      • EU candidate countries and potential candidates
        • About the IPA project
        • Examples from the region
          • Browse
          • About the examples
        • Gender equality indices in the Western Balkans and Turkey
        • Gender statistics in the Western Balkans and Turkey
      • Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies
    • Projects
      • Running projects
      • Closed projects
    • Planning and reporting documents
    • Documents registry
      • Request for access to EIGE documents
    • Contact us
    • Director’s speeches
  • Recruitment
    • Open vacancies
    • Closed vacancies
    • About Recruitment
    • FAQs
    • Selection procedure appeals
    • Relevant forms and information
    • Welcome guide
  • Procurement
    • Open procedures
    • Closed procedures
    • About Procurement
    • External Experts' Database
  • News
  • Events
    • Upcoming events
    • Past events
  • EIGE’s publications
    • Gender-sensitive Communication
      • Overview of the toolkit
      • First steps towards more inclusive language
        • Terms you need to know
        • Why should I ever mention gender?
        • Choosing whether to mention gender
        • Key principles for inclusive language use
      • Challenges
        • Stereotypes
          • Avoid gendered pronouns (he or she) when the person’s gender is unknown
          • Avoid irrelevant information about gender
          • Avoid gendered stereotypes as descriptive terms
          • Gendering in-animate objects
          • Using different adjectives for women and men
          • Avoid using stereotypical images
        • Invisibility and omission
          • Do not use ‘man’ as the neutral term
          • Do not use ‘he’ to refer to unknown people
          • Do not use gender-biased nouns to refer to groups of people
          • Take care with ‘false generics’
          • Greetings and other forms of inclusive communication
        • Subordination and trivialisation
          • Naming conventions
          • Patronising language
      • Test your knowledge
        • Quiz 1: Policy document
        • Quiz 2: Job description
        • Quiz 3: Legal text
      • Practical tools
        • Solutions for how to use gender-sensitive language
        • Pronouns
        • Invisibility or omission
        • Common gendered nouns
        • Adjectives
        • Phrases
      • Policy context
    • Work-life balance in the ICT sector
      • Back to toolkit page
      • EU policies on work-life balance
      • Women in the ICT sector
      • The argument for work-life balance measures
        • Challenges
      • Step-by-step approach to building a compelling business case
        • Step 1: Identify national work-life balance initiatives and partners
        • Step 2: Identify potential resistance and find solutions
        • Step 3: Maximise buy-in from stakeholders
        • Step 4: Design a solid implementation plan
        • Step 5: Carefully measure progress
        • Step 6: Highlight benefits and celebrate early wins
      • Toolbox for planning work-life balance measures in ICT companies
      • Work–life balance checklist
    • Gender Equality Index 2019. Work-life balance
      • Back to toolkit page
      • Foreword
      • Highlights
      • Introduction
        • Still far from the finish line
        • Snail’s-pace progress on gender equality in the EU continues
        • More women in decision-making drives progress
        • Convergence on gender equality in the EU
      • 2. Domain of work
        • Gender equality inching slowly forward in a fast-changing world of work
        • Women dominate part-time employment, consigning them to jobs with poorer career progression
        • Motherhood, low education and migration are particular barriers to work for women
      • 3. Domain of money
        • Patchy progress on gender-equal access to financial and economic resources
        • Paying the price for motherhood
        • Lifetime pay inequalities fall on older women
      • 4. Domain of knowledge
        • Gender equality in education standing still even as women graduates outnumber men graduates
        • Both women and men limit their study fields
        • Adult learning stalls most when reskilling needs are greatest
      • 5. Domain of time
        • Enduring burden of care perpetuates inequalities for women
        • Uneven impact of family life on women and men
      • 6. Domain of power
        • More women in decision-making but still a long way to go
        • Democracy undermined by absence of gender parity in politics
        • More gender equality on corporate boards — but only in a few Member States
        • Limited opportunities for women to influence social and cultural decision-making
      • 7. Domain of health
        • Behavioural change in health is key to tackling gender inequalities
        • Women live longer but in poorer health
        • Lone parents and people with disabilities are still without the health support they need
      • 8. Domain of violence
        • Data gaps mask the true scale of gender-based violence in the EU
        • Backlash against gender equality undermines legal efforts to end violence against women
        • Conceptual framework
        • Parental-leave policies
        • Informal care of older people, people with disabilities and long-term care services
        • Informal care of children and childcare services
        • Transport and public infrastructure
        • Flexible working arrangements
        • Lifelong learning
      • 10. Conclusions
    • Sexism at work
      • Background
        • What is sexism?
        • What is the impact of sexism at work?
        • Where does sexism come from?
        • Sexism at work
        • What happens when you violate sexist expectations?
        • What is sexual harassment?
        • Violating sexist expectations can lead to sexual harassment
        • Under-reporting of sexual harassment
      • Part 2. Test yourself
        • How can I combat sexism? A ten-step programme for managers
        • How can all staff create cultural change
        • How can I report a problem?
        • Eradicating sexism to change the face of the EU
    • Upcoming publications
  • Library
    • Search
    • About
  • Glossary & Thesaurus
    • Overview
    • About
    • A-Z Index
    • Browse
    • Search
Toggle sidebar menu
  • Home
  • Gender-based violence
  • Good practices in EU Member States

A training course for domestic violence advisors

PrintDownload as PDF
Good practice
Country: Non EU countries
Section:
Domestic Violence
Topics:
Health, Violence
Period:
2005 - 2014
Publication date:
06 March 2015
The CAADA IDVA training

In brief

Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) has developed a training course and professional qualification for independent domestic violence advisors (IDVAs), who work with victims at greatest risk of harm. The qualification is endorsed by the UK Home Office and accredited by the Open College Network (OCN) at level 3. Since 2005, CAADA has trained over 1,700 IDVAs.

The qualification aims to equip professionals with the skills to make victims of domestic abuse and their children safer. The training takes place over 14 days, organised in five classroom blocks, with an assessed worksheet at the end of each block which learners submit online. The course gives professionals the opportunity to develop an essential 'IDVA toolkit' of skills including motivational interviewing, applying the stages of change, active listening, assertiveness, negotiation, and pro-social modelling.

The course equips professionals with the skills to help victims of domestic abuse and their children, and make them safer. The effectiveness of the IDVA approach is well documented: of the 2,500 victim cases analysed in CAADA’s 2012 report, A place of greater safety, 63% of victims reported that the abuse stopped after the intervention of an IDVA, and 71% of victims said they felt safer. The most significant reductions were in respect of sexual abuse. Victims also reported improvements in their wellbeing following the intervention of an IDVA: 69% said that their quality of life had improved and 77% were confident in how to access support in the future.

The importance of independent advice to violence victims

In the UK, support services for victims of domestic abuse first developed with the refuge movement in the 60s and 70s. Today, the Women’s Aid Federation of England supports more than 500 domestic and sexual violence services nationwide. In recent years, important changes have been made to the way in which victims of domestic abuse are supported to live in safety. In particular, more attention has been focused on keeping victims safe in their homes rather than being obliged to move to temporary accommodation.

A key part of this process has been the introduction of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA). IDVAs are specialist case workers who work with high-risk victims of domestic abuse, those most at risk of homicide or serious harm. IDVAs work from the point of crisis on a short- to medium-term basis and play a key role in Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs). They work with the victim to assess the level of risk, discuss the range of suitable options and develop coordinated safety plans. IDVAs are able to access multiple resources on behalf of victims by coordinating the response of a wide range of agencies who might be involved with a case, including those working with perpetrators and children. IDVAs work in partnership with a range of statutory and voluntary agencies but are independent of any single agency. In common with other specialist domestic abuse services, their goal is safety.

What a domestic violence advisor needs to know

The IDVA training course was established in early 2005 with the aim of giving practitioners in this field a recognised qualification and a common framework for their practice and the development of service standards for IDVAs. The effectiveness of the training is proved by the fact that the training model gained formal recognition: it is accredited by the Open College Network at Level 3. CAADA is the Home Office endorsed provider of specialist IDVA training, with a contract to provide training until 2015, which guarantees sustainability until then. The efficiency of the training is evidenced by the number of learners passing through the training programme: in the last nine years the organisation has trained over 1,700 IDVAs.

CAADA provides the only specialist foundation Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) training course in the UK, run in partnership with the Home Office. The course provides IDVAs and domestic abuse practitioners with the skills and tools they need to effectively support high-risk victims of domestic abuse. The course equips learners with a clear understanding of how to identify risk, support clients and address the issues that they face in a consistent and professional way. The CAADA IDVA training has been designed to help build skills, knowledge and confidence, enabling professionals to provide the best possible support to improve the lives of high risk-victims of domestic abuse and their children. The ultimate aim of the course is to make victims of domestic abuse and their children safer. Motivating and empowering each client to make changes in their lives are key skills for effective IDVAs.

The course comprises 14 days of in-room training, delivered in five blocks, and the completion of five assessed worksheets which are submitted online. The curriculum is as follows:

Block 1:   the IDVA role and toolkit, self-care and vicarious trauma, diversity considerations

Block 2:   risk management, MARACs, multi-agency skills,

Block 3:   criminal justice response to domestic violence, case management, individual tutorials

Block 4:   civil law, safeguarding children, mental health and substance misuse

Block 5:   housing, BME clients, sexual violence.

The course aims to expand skills to respond to abuse by developing an 'IDVA toolkit' of practical skills which include motivational interviewing, applying the stages of change, active listening, assertiveness, negotiation, and pro-social modelling. It develops expertise and confidence in identifying, assessing and managing risk; provides expert input on criminal justice agency work; discusses safety options; builds confidence in multi-agency working; and introduces specialist tools, techniques and knowledge to respond to high-risk victims. It also builds understanding of risk management strategies, individually and in a multi-agency setting, such as MARACs, 'defensible decision making' – how to ensure accountability – and how to relate risk directly to individual client safety plans.

In recognition of the research and reporting information from all the key agencies responding to domestic abuse, the main focus of the training is on work with women experiencing domestic abuse from male partners or ex-partners. However, some training is provided on responding to women and men experiencing abuse within lesbian and gay relationships, and men experiencing abuse from a female partner.

All-round approval

The course meets with overwhelming approval, and 98% of learners say that they feel more confident in their role after receiving the training. Qualitative feedback reflects this, in that learners say they intend to change the way they work to improve the victims’ experience. It is also viewed positively by the authorities that employ IDVAs, and many service commissioners specify CAADA-trained IDVAs as a service requirement. The programme has Home Office funding until 2015. By sending staff on the course, services can demonstrate to funders that they are commissioning-ready.

The success of the IDVA training shows the effectiveness of multi-agency working, as well as the importance of having highly-skilled professionals with a clear understanding of how to identify risk, to support clients and address the issues in a consistent and professional way. It has also shown the value of having a professionally trained independent advocate to represent victims of domestic abuse in a multi-agency setting.

Its existence has improved services for high-risk victims of domestic abuse, with over 1,700 IDVAs trained since 2005. At the point of case closure, 63% of victims reported that they had not experienced any abuse in the past month, with a range from 64% of those receiving limited support to 71% of those receiving intensive support. The most significant reductions were in respect of sexual abuse. IDVAs reported a significant or moderate reduction in risk in 74% of cases, backed up by 71% of victims reporting that they felt safer. Victims reported improvements in their wellbeing: 69% said that their quality of life had improved and 77% were confident in how to access support in the future.

Finally, the work of IDVAs and MARACs has saved public money. CAADA estimates that existing high-risk services cost £70m (€87m) to run and for every £1 spent, £2.90 is saved.[1]

Continuous improvement of the course

The IDVA training programme is regularly updated so that the content reflects any changes in legislation, policy or best practice. This ensures that learners have the most up-to-date skills and knowledge to support their clients and are able to use all available options to make them as safe as possible.

Over the next five years, CAADA aims to work in partnership to halve the number of victims experiencing high-risk domestic abuse from 100,000 to 50,000, halve the number of children harmed by high-risk domestic abuse from 130,000 to 65,000, and halve the average time it takes victims to seek help from 5 years to 2½ years.

To achieve this, plans include:

  • ·promoting the early identification of domestic abuse, by finding ways to extend the reach of IDVA services to marginalised women who are not visible, or who are unwilling to access the criminal justice system, by integrating them more with health services;
  • ·providing training, support and practical tools to shape service provision nationally (especially for victims with complex needs);
  • ·sharing and embedding best practice both in terms of sustaining the multi-agency response and through the Leading Lights programme;

The CAADA Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme will assist in achieving these plans. The CPD programme offers additional training on particularly complex issues linked to domestic abuse and offers those who have graduated from the IDVA training further opportunities to specialise and develop. Courses developed so far include safeguarding children living with domestic abuse, substance misuse and sexual violence.

Spin-offs

The course has had several spin-off effects: other training providers have developed further qualifications for professionals working in the domestic abuse sector. CAADA is working in partnership with specialist services to develop CPD courses on subjects such as substance misuse, safeguarding children, working with young people, sexual violence and mental health. As part of the Leading Lights programme (a programme that has developed and supported services to achieve minimum standards of service provision), CAADA training has also been developed for domestic violence service managers.

Increased funding could increase the scope and scale of the training programme, opening it up to greater numbers of learners. However in fact ongoing funding cuts to domestic violence services nationwide are decreasing the number of services operating and reducing the training budgets of surviving services.

[1] CAADA (2012) A Place of Greater Safety. Bristol: CAADA

Contacts/Further Information

Contacts

Jo Morrish

Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA)

3rd Floor

Maxet House

28 Baldwin Street

Bristol

BS1 1NG

UK
+44 117 317 8750

queries@caada.org.uk

Further information

Good practice website

IDVA training

CAADA (2012) A Place of Greater Safety

CAADA (2009) Safety in Numbers

NB image copyright

Logo supplied by CAADA 12 Nov 14.

(No reply received from Refuge (+44 20 7395 7700 / info@refuge.org.uk) for use of photo I originally chose at: http://www.refuge.org.uk/what-we-do/our-services/independent-domestic-violence-advocacy/)

Downloads

CAADA IDVA - Gender training - UK
EN (PDF, 211.68 KB)

Metadata

Tool:
Competence development
  • In brief
  • The importance of independent advice to violence victims
  • What a domestic violence advisor needs to know
  • All-round approval
  • Continuous improvement of the course
  • Spin-offs
  • Contacts/Further Information
  • Downloads

Share:

Useful links

  • Who we are
  • Recruitment
  • News 
  • Events

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest EIGE's updates on a personalised basis. See all past newsletters.

Contact us

  • eige.sec@eige.europa.eu
  • Operations: +370 5 215 7444
  • Administration: +370 5 215 7400
  • Contact form

Find us

image of map

Gedimino pr. 16, LT-01103 Vilnius, Lithuania

Media enquiries

  • Christiane Rossbach
  • christiane.rossbach@eige.europa.eu

EIGE in social media

  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Youtube
  • Follow us on Linkedin
EIGE logo
Making equality between women and men a reality for all Europeans and beyond
 

© 2022 European Institute for Gender Equality

Help us improve

Take me to top

  • Web Accessibility
  • Legal notices
  • Personal Data Protection
  • Cookies Policy
  • The UK on EIGE's website
  • Contact us
  • Login