An Online Advisory System to Empower Victims of Domestic Violence

This feasibility study examines the use of intelligent, online advisory tools to address the informational needs of domestic-violence (DV) victims. We examine the practical and conceptual challenges faced when helping emotionally stressed DV victims to make crucial life decisions. Our focus is on the information needs involved in the early phase of the decision process, viewed in terms of both the transtheoretical model and empowerment theory. We review DV victim-support sites in Australia, the U.S., and the UK to highlight their best-practice design elements. We further illustrate these elements with a paper-based prototype of a DV victim Online Advisory System (OAS) that uses personalisation techniques to provide a sense of empowerment for the DV victim. Empowerment increases the DV victim’s level of self-esteem, reduces their tendency towards self-blame, and reduces their level of anxiety

Refugee Outreach and Engagement Programs for Police Agencies

The world is in the midst of a global migration crisis. By the close of 2015, the number of forcibly displaced persons around the globe had reached 65.3 million, surpassing levels seen in the aftermath of the Second World War. Of these, 21.3 million were refugees—persons whose displacement forces them to flee their home countries due to a well-founded fear of persecution.Much of the attention surrounding the migration crisis in the past two years has centered on Europe, to which more than one million migrants and refugees made their way in 2015. Most came from Syria, fleeing the violence that has beset the country since 2011.Historically, however, it is the United States that has resettled more refugees than any other country in the world.4, 5 Since 1975, more than three million refugees have begun new lives in the United States. For police agencies across the country, this means that every year refugees are joining the communities they serve. Refugees often face unique challenges when building new lives in the United States, and police departments play a critical role in ensuring their successful integration into the community.In 2016, and as part of a general support grant from Carnegie Corporation, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) examined promising practices and lessons learned for police outreach to refugees in the community. As part of this study, PERF documented the impact that refugee outreach has on police work, public safety, and building trust with the community. PERF conducted site visits with police departments and their community partners, as well as in-depth telephone interviews with police practitioners across the country. With support from Carnegie Corporation, PERF also held a one-day forum in Washington, D.C. on September 13, 2016 for police agencies and their community partners to discuss refugee engagement and methods for success. This report details PERF's findings. Intended to serve as a guide for police professionals, this report presents promising practices and lessons learned for conducting outreach to your refugee community.

Health and the primary prevention of violence against women

This position paper focuses on the primary prevention of violence perpetrated by men against women. It develops a position on primary prevention (as distinct from secondary and tertiary interventions). It also identifies examples of good practice across settings, and factors for success for primary prevention programs. The paper has been developed as a resource for public education, debate and community activities related to the primary prevention of violence against women.Intimate partner violence is prevalent, serious and preventable; it is also a crime. Among the poor health outcomes for women who experience intimate partner violence are premature death and injury, poor mental health, habits which are harmful to health such as smoking, misuse of alcohol and non-prescription drugs, use of tranquilisers, sleeping pills and anti-depressants.  The cost of violence against women to individuals, communities and the whole of society is staggering and unacceptable. Every week in Australia at least one woman is killed by her current or former partner, and since the age of 15, one in three women has experienced physical violence and one in five has experienced sexual violence. The annual financial cost to the community of violence against women was calculated by Access Economics in 2002/3 to be $8.1 billion (Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, 2004), a figure which is likely to increase unless the incidence of violence against women can be reduced and ultimately eliminated.&nbsp

Second action plan 2013-2016 – moving ahead – of the national plan to reduce violence against women and their children 2010-2022

All Australian governments are strongly committed to reducing the alarming rates of violence against women and their children in this country. Commonwealth, state and territory governments are working together, with the community to implement the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (the National Plan). The National Plan is a 12-year strategy with a vision that Australian women and their children live free from violence in safe communities. This is the Second Action Plan of the National Plan. It runs from 2013 to 2016 and contains 26 practical actions that all governments agree are critical if we are to move ahead in improving women’s safety. The First Action Plan laid a strong foundation for the changes we want to see in the future by establishing essential national infrastructure and innovative services. The Second Action Plan will build on this by increasing community involvement in actions that will prevent the violent crimes of domestic and family violence and sexual assault. It will focus on women and communities that have diverse experiences of violence, on strengthening and integrating services and systems, and on improving responses to perpetrators across the country. Governments will also continue to work together to build and improve the evidence base around violence against women and their children, and to bring together and disseminate research that can inform policy and practice. Reducing violence against women and their children is a community issue - it needs effort from us all. Living free from violence is everyone’s right, and reducing violence is everyone’s responsibility.&nbsp

Landscapes of violence: women surviving family violence in regional and rural Victoria

In this research, family violence survivors have identified issues and barriers they have encountered, and have provided suggestions in regards to how both the criminal justice system and the broader Victorian community might assist survivors and help prevent family violence. Overview This project combines the findings of two studies undertaken by the Centre for Rural and Regional Law and Justice. Drawing on and extending the findings in Women\u27s experience of surviving family violence and accessing the Magistrate\u27s court in Geelong, Victoria (2013), this report extends the research in terms of geographic areas, issues covered and range of participants. It examines the experiences of, and outcomes for, women survivors of family violence in regional and rural Victoria, considering their contact with, and perceptions of, government agencies (including Victoria Police, the Victorian Magistrate\u27s courts and the Department of Human Services) as well as private and community advocates (legal services, women\u27s services and family violence services) and healthcare professionals. Through this research, survivors have identified issues and barriers they have encountered in escaping family violence, and have provided suggestions in regards to how both the criminal justice system and the broader Victorian community might assist survivors and help prevent family violence. As well as being informed by survivors, this publication includes insights provided by government and non-government practitioners and organisations who have offered their views on this report\u27s key findings and recommendations. In addition to the generous contributions of these participants, this report utilises relevant data and emerging research in an effort to identify best practice responses to family violence; improve access to justice, support and safety; and protect and promote women\u27s rights and entitlements

Building Effective Responses: An Independent Review of Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Services in Wales

Independent researchers from the Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence based in the School of Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire were commissioned by the Welsh Government in 2013 to conduct research into violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence services in Wales. The research aimed to inform the forthcoming Ending Violence Against Women and Domestic Abuse (Wales) Bill, implementation of the legislation and future policy more generally, as well as informing future funding decisions. The remit of the review covers: Domestic abuse, including that experienced in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) relationships and elder abuse. Violence against women, including female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and honour-based violence. Sexual violence including rape, sexual assault and harassment Sexual exploitation including prostitution and trafficking1 for sexual purposes. Services for women and men who are victims or perpetrators of violence against women, domestic abuse or sexual violence. The review does not encompass criminal justice services or housing services and, with the exception of prevention work, services for children and young people in Wales were also excluded from this study

Exited Prostitution Survivor Policy Platform

Survivors of prostitution propose a policy reform platform including three main pillars of priority: criminal justice reforms, fair employment, and standards of care. The sexual exploitation of prostituted individuals has lasting effects which can carry over into many aspects of life. In order to remedy these effects and give survivors the opportunity to live a full and free life, we must use a survivor-centered approach to each of these pillars to create change. First, reform is necessary in the criminal justice system to recognize survivors as victims of crime and not perpetrators, while holding those who exploited them fully responsible. Second, reform is necessary to assist survivors in finding fair employment by offering vocational training, financial counseling, and educational scholarships, as well as offering employment opportunities that utilize survivors’ vast array of skills and interests. Finally, standards of care for survivors exiting prostitution should focus on supporting survivors in our journeys and support short- and long-term resources that empower us. These systemic changes are necessary to recognize survivors as the valuable human beings we are and to support survivors in fulfilling our vast potential

Groups and communities at risk of domestic and family violence: a review and evaluation of domestic and family violence prevention and early intervention services focusing on at-risk groups and communities

A review and evaluation of domestic and family violence prevention and early intervention services focusing on at-risk groups and communities. Summary This report sets out the findings of research into domestic and family violence (DFV) prevention initiatives focused on groups and communities identified as being at greater risk of experiencing DFV and/or having difficulty accessing support services. These groups include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities (CALD), people who identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ), young women and women in regional, rural and remote (non-urban) communitie