Live chat. A live chat has been added to the APHVF website and allows anyone to ask for help 24/7.

SMS +357 99984042. A mobile number available to the public for sending a text message asking for help 24/7.

Hotline 1406. A hotline, part of the perpetrators’ programme ‘Proteas’ allows someone to receive information about PROTEAS program; make appointments for counselling to perpetrator; and referrals to other APHVF services.

Day Care Centre Service Educators and child carers babysit or engage children staying at the shelter in interactive and educational activities.

Laptops given to officers of the help centre.

VoIP Calls Laptops were given to officers of the help centre, allowing them to work from home. They included an open-source portable SIP softphone allowing officers to respond to calls on the 1440 helpline from home.

Online Trainings / Seminars to organisations Aiming to train relevant experts on DVA and IPV.

Online Awareness Raising Events and Campaigns Aiming to inform and sensitize the public and inform victims on the issues of gender-based and domestic violence and available services

TV Spot and, daily TV and radio interviews During the lockdown APHVF in collaboration with all tv channels aired a tv spot on staying safety during lockdown for raising the awareness of women the new ways of asking for help.

Shelter Health Safety Protocol. These Protocols for Health Safety were introduced at the shelters to ensure that all pandemic safety measures are applied according to the government instructions.

Funding by the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance, for the support of operation of live chat and SMS services, Social Service, and alternative housing structures. The funding covers operational costs of services, accommodation and subsistence expenses as well as transportation, clothing and medical expenses of the women and their children that are hosted in the alternative housing structures.

Networking with European and International networks aiming to exchange knowledge and skills to better support victims during the pandemic

Lobbying at the House of Representatives and parliamentary committees to inform and raise awareness on the increase of violence in the family and against women, and acknowledge victims’ and society’s needs

Purchase of services from professionals to support and strengthen the operation of APHVF programs (shelters and emergency housing, counselling services, help center)

Training of the staff on the use of live chat

Specialized program for victims of violence adapted designed and adapted to be provided during Covid -19 pandemic

In the periods of the strictest restrictions we switched to remote consulting — phone, skype, viber, messenger, etc.

Association “Demetra” runs 2 crisis centers for accommodation on the territory of the country with general capacity 18 places. • In 2020 accommodation was provided for 36 women and 25 children in the crisis centers run by Demetra Association. • During the pandemic situation it provided accommodation for the victims, their admission to the crisis center is guaranteed. Medical examination is available for Covid19 of the victims. •Humanitarian packages with first-class items are also provided. need for 20 casualties. • 15 tablets are provided for online provision as well as education of the children accommodated in the crisis centers during the pandemic situation. • Crisis centers operate 24 hours a day providing a calm and protected user environment. 24/7 telephone line for survivors of sexual violenceand abuse on the territory of “Help Center of victims of sexual violence – Universe”, in the city of Burgas

Hotline of the Alliance for protection against gender-based violence 080011977
The telephone line is staffed by specialist psychologists and operates every day, 24 hours a day. Upon receiving the call, depending on the specifics of the case, psychologists perform initial/crisis counseling to help the person manage the emotion of the trauma and articulate a need. Depending on the needs of the client and the region they are calling from, clients are referred to Alliance member organizations for future work with clients to overcome the trauma of violence. The line also has a Facebook page, where help can also be sought by sending a message via messenger

Support for women victims of violence for buying disinfectants, safety measures, food products.

Implementation of alternative channels for the dissemination of information.
We directed the dissemination of information to places that were not restricted by visiting people — pharmacies, drugstores, mobile operators, post offices, shops, etc. Information about the social service was mainly disseminated through thematic materials (hairbrushes, mirrors, nail files), which were transferred to drugstores, hairdressing salons, cosmetic studios. A contact phone, an email, an organisation’s contacts was printed on the materials.

We developed audio visual materials for education/training of children, which were used in conducting distance trainings.
This resource of educational materials remains available and continues to be used. Association Naia, Targovishte

Fund raising from donor programs, companies and private donors to support humanitarian victims of domestic violence during the COVID crisis. Since mid-2020, provision of packages of food and medicines, utility bills, money for clothes and shoes for children and preparation for school.
This approach is followed at least three times a year. Association Naia, Targovishte

GENERAL MEASURE: A Law on Social services has been adopted and entered into force in 2021. The law regulates the provision, use, planning, financing, quality, control and monitoring of social services in the Republic of Bulgaria. (2) The objectives of this law are: 1. guaranteeing equal access to social services meeting the individual needs of individuals; 2. guaranteeing the quality and efficiency of social services; 3. ensuring the right of every person to support for living in a home environment and in the community; 4. promotion of the integrated approach in providing support to individuals; 5. promotion and development of public-private partnership in the provision of social services.

First mobile application “Za teb/For you” in Eastern Europe, to help fight domestic violence against women and children.The app is available in English and Bulgarian language. It contains useful information not only for people who are victims of domestic violence, but also for their friends and acquaintances. The victim’s localization as well as the nearest location support centers. National, 24-hour help lines, and a quick dial-up button 112. A test consisting of 13 questions prepared by a narrowly specialised psychologist aiming to find an answer whether a person is in the form of domestic violence.

Since March 30 of 2020 year, the “Reception office for Victims of Domestic Violence” at the University multiprofile hospital “Pirogov”has been providing consultations remotely at the “Psychological 24-hour crisis service line” – 0700 40 150.
The uniqueness of the Reception consists in the fact that three professionals, a doctor, a psychologist or a social worker and a police officer, can provide help in one place. With the end of the state of emergency/lockdown on 2020, the Reception office is returning to normal working hours every weekday from 09:00 to 17:00, but will keep the 24-hour line because the team sees the benefits of it. It is a convenient option for older people who do not have the necessary technical knowledge, devices or access to the Internet, as well as for people outside Sofia.

Amendments to existing legislation – A project for amendments of the Law for protection against domestic violence has reached the 47th Parliament. Among the new protection measures being introduced are a ban on the possession and carrying of firearms, ammunition and pyrotechnics. An obligation to build an information system to maintain statistics on the various cases of domestic violence is introduced.

Providing assistance to victims of domestic violence: social, psychological and legal counseling. Primary and crisis counseling for victims of domestic violence through the National Hotline of Alliance for protection against gender-based violence – 080011977
Provision of assistance to victims of domestic violence: social, psychological and legal counseling. Implemented by the Alliance for protection against gender-based violence, called “Outstretched hand: Prevention and protection from domestic violence for all – provision of emergency psychological, social and legal assistance during the pandemic in the Republic of Bulgaria”

Chat tool

Shelter provision to different places

Counselling service targeted to trauma caused by Cyber violence

Intensive media campaign

Educational activities (crete, Attica, Thessaly)

Outreach activities for the LGBTIQ+ community and isolation by the family

Outreach activities for elders’ abuse – efforts to mobilise neighbours in times of lockdowns

Intensive support provision through helplines towards the protection of children

Special order by the director of the Supreme Court of Greece to the police Authorities and Courts for an increased readiness for support to reports of violemce

Order by the Ministry of health to all th Health Care Entities for the provision of health exams for free to victims of violence

Coordinated actions by the Hellenic pharmaceutical Association and the Heraklion Pharmaceutical Association to provide all the assistance and room for women to call and ask for help from the premises of pharmacies

Collaboration of the GSFEP with the local Association of hotels in Attica for the provision of shelter and safe place to the women victims of violence

Very close collaboration of public sector and WSS for the provision of assistance to women victims of violence;

Structured mechanism for awareness raising and support by UWAH at regional level

A three-party collaboration among the Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI), which is funded and supervised by the Ministry of the Interior, and NGOs providing translation services to women survivors of domestic violence, when required, and relevant training, is ongoing. Via the SURVIVOR project (Enhancing services for refugee and migrant GBV survivors), migrant women requiring assistance for domestic violence issues, can receive information regarding the transportation during COVID-19 translated in Farsi and Arabic while the Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI) conducted the translation of information leaflets regarding the COVID-19 restriction measures in various languages.

Reinforcement of remote communication/support tools such as video call, SMS, WhatsApp and email. Introduction of the videoconference as a new form of operacionalisation of contacts with the victim and provide support.

Strengthening of the helpline services, through the creation of a new form of contact with support services – the SMS (Short Message System)

Increased monitoring of all cases. Both police and organisations have increased the number of times that they would get in contact with victims to monitor the risk and provide support if necessary. Contacts were mostly made by phone and messages.

Appointment of a team for urgent requests and situations. The team was composed by staff members of several support services and shelters

In person assistance in urgent situations, with alternating teams despite the mandatory lockdown

Close cooperation with other services and municipalities to respond to urgent requests for shelter

Increased training activities on domestic violence

Primary prevention programs implemented in schools adopted to be implemented online. It was a very important measures to keep discussion about gender equality during the pandemic and create a moment of online discussions between the young people that is less formal (than a regular class).

Participation in several national and local meetings to address impact of the pandemic

Public notes and communicates on prompt response or actions needed (e.g. Demanding od immediate removal of the aggressor from the residence upon the report to the police)

Awareness raising campaigns and materials (e.g., Not everything has to be between 4 walls)

All services within the National Support Network for Victims of Domestic Violence adopted contingency plans (including isolation rooms)

In the context of the PT2020 funds, and as an exceptional measure, reimbursement decisions will be automatic following 30 working days after the claim is made by the beneficiaries

All services in charge of supporting, sheltering and transporting survivors, provided by the National Support Network for survivors of Domestic Violence, are considered essential services and remain active.

The Decree-Law specific for Emergency State mentioned the possibility of victims of domestic violence to travel without breaking the law (Decree-Law n.º2-A/2020 – Portuguese Republic Diary n. 57/2020, 1º Suplement, Serie I dated of 2020-03-20)

WSS had to find more food baskets for victims of domestic violence (due to an increased need)

Partnerships with several entities and companies to guarantee that all services of the National Support Network for survivors of Domestic Violence continue to access essential goods and resources during this emergency period, such as food, medicines, personal care products, cleaning products and IT equipment.

Availability of a new email address violencia.covid@cig.gov.pt accessible to survivors and professionals. Launch of the new SMS 3060 line by the Vodafone Foundation, free and confidential, so that survivors can send written requests for help

All local Commissions for the Protection of Children and Young People were given specific guidelines on procedures in cases of domestic violence during the pandemic.

Additional shelter accommodation for more 100 women. Temporary measure, women were shortly after the lockdown moved to existent shelters.

Extension of the statutory time limits during which survivors remain in shelters.

Protection orders in domestic violence cases were automatically extended (without the need to be re-analysed and discussed by the police and judge)

Security forces intensified their action by contacting known domestic violence cases, to verify potential situations of increased risk and to engage in protective measures, where necessary.

Creation of Technical Scientific Group of the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality Advisory Council

Definition of a specific procedure between the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) and the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) to respond to suspected cases of COVID-19 within the National Support Network for survivors of Domestic Violence.

Campaign #SegurançaEmIsolamen[In English] #SafetyInIsolation to, on social media, television, radio and press – to remind survivors that they can always ask for help, to let them know about support services and to alert the community to be vigilant, to help and to report.

Awareness raising action directed to children and adolescent with message – “If you are at home but feel that the school is safer, it is because something is wrong. If you are being a victim of abuse or violence, call: Line of children in danger…”

Awareness raising campaign directed to health professionals. General Directorate of Health, attentive to the issue of Domestic Violence, launched the #violenceOFF campaign, publicizing the support lines coordinated by the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality.

The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology launched a call – Gender Research 4 COVID-19 – for new studies on the gender implications of the current pandemic, with a total available amount of 500.000 euros

GENERAL MEASURE: Extraordinary parental leaves. During lockdown, with schools closed, parents with children until 12 years old could remain at home.

WSS had to buy laptops and telephones for all staff. Additionally bills of individual telephones for staff increased.

Implementation of alternative channels of communication such as social media and social networks, instant messaging

Online/phone interviews and email counselling

In-presence interviews carried out in compliance with the distancing and protection provided for by the anti-legislation COVID-19

Digital conversion of education, training and awareness raising

Online campaigns informing survivors about the availability of WSS, how they could be accessed and other useful information, such as: #noicisiamo (We are there); “Come chiamarci in sicurezza” (How to call us safely); “Cosa puoi fare tu?” (What could you do?); “Uscire si può” (Going out is possible); #iorestoacasa ma #laviolenzanonsiferma (I stay at home but violence does not stop).

List of measures adopted by member organisations to continue supporting women

Hospitality in bed and breakfast or in other temporary locations

Open letter to the Ministry of Equal Opportunities, Parliament, Government to prompt appropriate response and public support to respond to the needs of anti-violence centres and shelters in order to continue their work

Fundraising initiatives to cover extra cost due to Covid and to receive in-kind resources (food, tablets for children, personal protection equipment)

Fundraising actions specifically devoted to cover economic needs of IPV survivors

Smart and remote working modalites

D.i.Re Data collection

Government FAQ on Covid-related measures stating that violence is a justification for leaving home during lockdown

Government FAQ on Covid-related measures declaring shelters and WSS essential services

Public bid for Covid-related expenses for WSS and shelters

Communication inviting Prefectures to verify the existence of additional accommodation solutions, even temporary ones

#LiberaPuoi campaign, promoting the National helpline 1522 and its app

Memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Pharmacist Orders, Federfarma and Assofarm to enhance information for women victims of domestic violence and / or stalking during the coronavirus emergency

Initiative with Poste Italiane (Italian Postal Service) to spread 1522

App YouPol updated to include the possibility to report incidents of domestic violence

Specific data collection on the impact of covid-19 on violence and WSS

GENERAL MEASURE: Emergency income

Communication (21 March 2020) to Police Headquarters to facilitate access to services and protection

Shelters included among the recipients of PPE

Freedom Income for IPV survivors

GENERAL MEASURE: “Special care time”, (German: Sonderbetreuungszeit) for children: On 16.03.2020, a new federal law came into force which allows employees to be granted a special care period of up to three weeks for caring for children until the age of 14, who are subject to compulsory care. For the duration of the special care period, the employee retains their full entitlement to continued remuneration. Women affected by violence could ensure childcare without risking their employment. Stressful situations of combining work and childcare are an additional risk factor which was leading to violent situations. The support did however not cover the full time necessary.

GENERAL MEASURE: Care duties bonus

Extension of chat counselling services (haltdergewalt.at)

Higher staffing of phone counselling line (national helpline)

Homeworking of WSS workers (most if not all services)

Assurance of additional bed spaces for quarantine. Women’s shelters, whenever possible, allowed 2 weeks of quarantine in the primary months of the pandemic

StoP Placards: Neighbourhood project StoP developed placards to place in each house which instructs residents on how to react in case of violent situations. It is based on the idea of civil courage (Zivilcourage)

Two large supermarket chains and a well-known coffee house chain have printed the telephone number of the women’s helpline on their cash receipt in cooperation with the AÖF. An equally well-known company that produces milk, in cooperation with the AÖF, printed the telephone number of the women’s helpline directly on the milk cartons.

Digitalisation of women’s shelters: Privately funded project “Digitalisation against violence” was implemented by AÖF and allowed to purchase 31 devices (18 laptops and 13 tablets) for AÖF women’s shelters (for residents, children and staff)

On 23.11.2020 an official letter to the Minister of Interior has been issued by the Association of Autonomous Austrian women’s shelters – AÖF, mentioning cases of women victims of violence difficulties with accessing justice through contact with police during 1st year of Covid-19 pandemic.

Extra- funding for WSS to extend online counselling offer through HelpChat

Campaign „Safe at home” (Sicher zu Hause). The aim of the campaign is to inform wide society about the offer of violence protection services and WSS such as National helpline (Frauenhelpline) and national HelpChat. Channels of communication were: advertisement in national TV stations, info-flyers in supermarkets.

1st COVID-19 Civil Justice Act Also regulated in this act, and still possible, is the submission of applications (e.g., barring or protection order) online by e-mail. The court must be first contacted by telephone. On the phone, the e-mail address is announced, through which the application can be submitted.

Amendment to the Security Police Act (SPG) As of September 1, 2021, dangerous persons who have been issued a barring or protection order must attend six hours of violence prevention counselling at a violence prevention counselling centre.

In May 2021, the government presented a nationwide package of measures to protect against violence in the amount of 24,6 Million Euros:
– Prevention officers in every police station (increase of number of trained officers from 500 to 800)
– Data exchange between institutions is to be improved: in the case of stalking incidents, violence protection institutions are to proactively contact victims after a report has been filed, so far not the necessary legal adjustment, which is to be made as soon as possible
– Better networking between public prosecutors and victim protection institutions
– Judges and public prosecutors should receive mandatory training at victim protection or welfare institutions during their training.
– Convene more case conferences.
– Backgrounds and motives of violent acts to be better looked at
– Additional funding for violence protection and prevention across more ministries

Information related to current Covid-19 regulations and safety measures at courts were disseminated via public pages of Ministry of Justice and through pro-active dissemination to violence protection services.

Austrian Integration Fund offered online seminars for migrant women on the topic of violence against women.

Dissemination campaign #CONFICURES (“conficare”) of the Young Centre supporting sexualities (Centre Jove d’Atenció a les Sexualitats – Cjas) to help identify and act against gender-based violence. In addition, posters with information about a service providing emotional support to young women victims of violence- are disseminated.
Dissemination campaign of five audio-visual capsules containing explanatory videos and images with the main messages regarding strategies to take in case of experiencing male violence.

Times of care: creation of webpage with videos with recommendations on women’s self-care and mutual care during the COVID lockdown. Videos in Spanish, Catalan and sign language. Videos include recommendations such as rituals to overcome distance from loved ones and daily life routines, and fictional “care stories”

Conversation group: What is loneliness? A virtual conversation space set up every week during the months of lockdown in May and June 2020. Objective: mental health in the face of confinement and the creation of a space for trust.

Gender equity plan, including measures to promote self-care and wellbeing

Helpdesk to support women requesting basic income according to the new requirements, including online procedures

#SomEssencials
Demands to public administrations for support measures to alleviate the consequences that Covid-19 is having on the social and associative sector, which works with women.

Campaign for Abortion and Universal Health Care in Catalonia.The government is asked to extend the abortion and health card measures on the occasion of Covid.

“Las mujeres no Podemos esperar más”
A group of several women’s specialist support services and feminist collectives drafted a letter to the Barcelona city council to generate urgent measures and changes concerning gender-based violence. This letter also makes visible the conditions of women and women’s support services before Covid and calls for structural transformations regarding women’s particular needs

“We are with you. We stop gender-based violence together”.
Campaign to prevent gender-based violence, emphasising that it is a problem that concerns the whole of society and not just the domestic sphere. Posters with care services in several languages. They are shared through various communication channels.

An action guide for women suffering from gender-based violence in a homestay situation by Covid-19. A guide with the necessary information for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence.

As a result of the confinement, a WhatsApp messaging system via WhatsApp with psychologists who are experts in gender violence was set up.

AlertCops

Service provided through a free application on mobile devices, which provides a direct channel with the State Security Forces and Corps to report an event of which one is a victim or witness. During the Covid pandemic, the service was disseminated focusing especialy on victims of intimate partners violence (IPV) and a new SOS button was included, allowing quick exit from the app to victims of IPV and health personnel, while requesting discreetly immediate assistance from the State Security Forces and Corps, together with an audio recording attachment to allow officers to assess the risk.

New measures for implementing the Plan to guarantee the rights of victims of sexual exploitation, ensuring their specific needs.

As part of the public campaign launched during the lockdown by the Municipality of Barcelona (Barcelona from home) and the strengthened Municipal service agasint GBV (SARA) several flyers were produced in Spanish, Catalan and English to raise awareness about GBV and faciliate its identification. The campaign included flyers with recommendations for women as potential victims, neighbours and retailers about what to when.

Care, Recovery, and Shelter Service – SARA.
Provides counselling to professional staff and people in the victims’ environment.
It offers:
-information and advice
-employment insertion service
-advice to professionals

This municipal outpatient service offers specific outpatient care to victims of male violence (women, children and adolescents, and LGTBI people or people in their immediate environment directly affected by this violence):
-Personalised and comprehensive treatment.
-Access to the specific protection service for male violence.

Thinking of women who do not want to leave their pets in the aggressor’s home due to the high risk of violence they run, it has set up a hotline to manage safe spaces for the animals: 673765330.

Precautionary suspension of visits due to state of alarm. The Agreement of the General Council of the Judiciary of 13 March 2020 allows the competent family court to order the precautionary suspension of visits during a state of alarm, considering the risk of contagion due to the mobility of the child.

Urgent aid to support the rental of housing for victims of gender violence:
-They can be transitional financial aid in the form of loans without costs or interest, in loans to be repaid over six years, extendable for a further four years.
-Or aid and housing solutions to address the most acute social and economic vulnerability situations that are not resolved with the aforementioned transitional aid.

The aid of up to 600 euros per month and up to 100% of the rent or price of the housing solution found.
In cases especially justified by the granting body, it may reach up to 900 euros per month and up to 100% of the rent or price of the housing solution. To be agreed upon by the competent social services.

#AgafaElGuant
To increase the protection and safety of children, adolescents, and young people in the face of male violence in the current reality derived from the COVID-19 social and health crisis.
We aim to enable children and young people to identify the violence they are suffering in its different manifestations, bring them closer to existing resources, and promote a virtual space of support and collective sorority that breaks their isolation.

During the confinement, the 900900120 service that provides care for women is reinforced, given that it is a telephone service that can guarantee care at any time and hour of the day. It is also used for emergencies and centralizes and offers updated information on the status of the services of the entire care network that depends on other departments of the Generalitat de Catalunya, administrations, and organizations.
The communication and dissemination of the 900 900 120 are also reinforced, especially in its written communication mode: it is also available through the e-mail address 900900120@gencat.cat.

Call to local businesses from various regional entities (executive and police) to collaborate with the campaign “safe establishment against male violence”. Specifically, businesses are asked to hang up a poster with the following information: “Safe establishment against male violence. If these days of confinement you feel that your home is no longer a safe space for you or your sons and daughters, here we call for you on 900 900 120 or 112. #NoEstàsSola #JoActuo”.
This poster was available for download online in nine languages and a printable version.
Call to local businesses from various regional entities (executive and police) to collaborate with the campaign “safe establishment against male violence”. Specifically, businesses are asked to hang up a poster with the following information: “Safe establishment against male violence. If these days of confinement you feel that your home is no longer a safe space for you or your sons and daughters, here we call for you on 900 900 120 or 112. #NoEstàsSola #JoActuo”.
This poster was available for download online in nine languages and a printable version.