““I LOVE. I DO NOT HIT. THE WHOLE EUROPE I LOVE. I DO NOT HIT. THE WHOLE EUROPE AGAINST CHILD ABUSE”,AGAINST CHILD ABUSE”,

WARSAW, 3.- 4.3.2011WARSAW, 3.- 4.3.2011

Lea JAVORNIK NOVAK, M. Sc.Lea JAVORNIK NOVAK, M. Sc.Ministry of Labour, Family and Social AffairsMinistry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs

Republic of SloveniaRepublic of Slovenia

COMBATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SLOVENIA – SOCIAL VALUES

AND LEGISLATION

A CASE OF SLOVENIAA CASE OF SLOVENIA

FAMILY VIOLENCEPROTECTION ACT(in force since 2008)

Resolution on National

Programme of Family Violence

Protection2009-2014

Government Campaign

Against Family Violence

Two-year action plan2010-2011

WHY NORMATIVE REGULATION WHY NORMATIVE REGULATION IS NECESSARYIS NECESSARY

INDIVIDUAL

FAMILY

SOCIETY

THE ROLE OF THE STATETHE ROLE OF THE STATE the state appears when family failsthe state appears when family fails protects protects the best the best interests of the childinterests of the child influences the educational patterns and breaks the stereotypical gender influences the educational patterns and breaks the stereotypical gender

rolesroles communicates that the violence against children and in families is a communicates that the violence against children and in families is a

serious social problemserious social problem sharply sanctions violation of fundamental human and children's rightssharply sanctions violation of fundamental human and children's rights

FAMILY VIOLENCE ACTFAMILY VIOLENCE ACT

is is the first actthe first act defining family violence defining family violencedeterminesdetermines role, tasks, network and role, tasks, network and

cooperation cooperation of diverseof diverse state bodiesstate bodiesparents are bound to protect a child from parents are bound to protect a child from

public exposurepublic exposure (mass media) (mass media)a child is a victim even when witnessing a child is a victim even when witnessing

violence in a familyviolence in a family

THE ACT DETERMINES THE ACT DETERMINES TYPES OF VIOLENCE TYPES OF VIOLENCE

PhysicalPhysicalPsychologicalPsychologicalSexualSexualEconomicEconomicNeglectNeglect

WHO WHO AND WHEN AND WHEN REPORTS THE REPORTS THE VIOLENCEVIOLENCE

ALLALL bodies and NGO’s are bound to bodies and NGO’s are bound to immediately notify a social work centreimmediately notify a social work centre

In case of suspicion that In case of suspicion that a childa child is a victim of is a victim of violence,violence,anyoneanyone must file a report must file a report

A report of violence A report of violence against a childagainst a child takes takes priority over protection of professional priority over protection of professional secreacy secreacy (e.g. teacher, doctor etc.)(e.g. teacher, doctor etc.)

VICTIM'S SAFETYVICTIM'S SAFETY

Victim's safety measures:Victim's safety measures: protecting life and ensuring the victim's protecting life and ensuring the victim's

personal safetypersonal safety (upon entrance to (upon entrance to accommodation premises)accommodation premises)

abandonment of the abandonment of the shared shared apartmentapartment housing safety in case of violence after housing safety in case of violence after

divorce. divorce. The principle of protection of The principle of protection of interests of children interests of children prevails, therefore the prevails, therefore the apartment is awarded by the court to the apartment is awarded by the court to the spouse with which spouse with which the children livethe children live..

VICTIM'S RIGHTSVICTIM'S RIGHTS

a victim can choosea victim can choose an attendantan attendanta victima victim is entitled to free-of-charge is entitled to free-of-charge

legal aidlegal aid in court proceedings in court proceedingsa victima victim has the right to has the right to a defense a defense

counselcounsel

NETWORKNETWORK

Safe houses and maternity homes (Safe houses and maternity homes (2020))Crisis centres for the young (7)Crisis centres for the young (7)Crisis centres for children (1)Crisis centres for children (1)NGOs – counselling (8)NGOs – counselling (8)

The Act was the first step ….

… followed by The Resolution on the 2009-2014 National Programme on

Prevention of Family Violence

THE GOALS OF THE THE GOALS OF THE RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION

To achieve To achieve zero tolerance zero tolerance to violenceto violenceTo encourage new NGO’s programmesTo encourage new NGO’s programmes for for

victims and perpetratorsvictims and perpetratorsTo ensure To ensure effective awareness among effective awareness among

childrenchildren regarding basic human rights regarding basic human rightsProhibition of corporal punishmentProhibition of corporal punishment and and

humiliating treatment towards childrenhumiliating treatment towards children

TWO-YEAR ACTION PLANTWO-YEAR ACTION PLAN

Period 2010–2011Period 2010–2011 Is Is a concretisationa concretisation of the Resolution of the ResolutionWithin the plan, there are cleWithin the plan, there are cleaarly statedrly stated

tasks for individual institutions, deadlines tasks for individual institutions, deadlines and meansand means

GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNE GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNE AGAINST VOLENCEAGAINST VOLENCE

Stress on Stress on risk groupsrisk groups ( (childrenchildren, , elderlyelderly, , persons with special needspersons with special needs, , persons with disablitiespersons with disablities))

In the time of global recessionIn the time of global recession violence growsviolence grows (decreasing of social (decreasing of social and economical security)and economical security)

OTHER PROJECTSOTHER PROJECTS

Peter Klepec Telephone Peter Klepec Telephone – – 080 1552080 1552, , free-of-charge, anonymous blue number free-of-charge, anonymous blue number 24/724/7

Project Project “We, the grownups, are here “We, the grownups, are here to help you"to help you" – information leaflet for all – information leaflet for all primary school children on identifying primary school children on identifying types of violence and forms of helptypes of violence and forms of help

Be aware that:Be aware that:All that is important during childhood All that is important during childhood

happens in the family.happens in the family.In the system of values of grownups, In the system of values of grownups,

the family maintains its significancethe family maintains its significance..We, the grownups, do not have the We, the grownups, do not have the

choice of whether to help children or choice of whether to help children or not - it is onot - it is ouur r duty duty ! !

Thank you for your attention.Thank you for your attention.

lea.javornik-novak1(at)gov.silea.javornik-novak1(at)gov.si