IRELAND

Strengthening the Linkages:

Consolidating the European Network

Seminar Report

Greece September 2002

Strengthening the Linkages
Rape Crisis Network Europe –

The Daphne Project ‘Consolidating the European Network’

Contents

1.Introduction

2.The Daphne Project

  1. The Trans-national Seminar
  2. The Current Issues
  3. Case Studies
  4. Website
  5. Research
  6. The aims and objectives of the Rape Crisis Network Europe (RCNE)
  7. Country Reports

Czech Republic

Denmark

England and Wales

Finland

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Scotland

Sweden

Turkey

Appendix I:Guidelines for the Case Studies

Appendix II:Website Specification

Appendix III:Greece Seminar Evaluation Sheet

Report of the Seminar held in Greece.

1.Introduction

The seminar began with the lighting of a candle

'to remember all the survivors of sexual violence from all over the world, including

those present, who are the core of our being'

This seminar was organised as part of an EU Daphne Project that aims to provide analysis of trends, identify best practice in service provision, gain recognition for NGO provided training and provide a central point for information exchange between Rape Crisis Organisations across Europe. The main aim is to provide a point of contact for victims of sexual assault & rape.

2.The Daphne Project

The project comprises seven integrated actions to build a sustainable European Network acting as a resource to national networks, local rape crisis centres, public bodies and survivors. The actions are as follows:

  1. Development and enlargement of European Network
  • Develop aims and objectives
  • Identify missing countries
  • Access funding
  1. Compilation and documentation resources
  • Develop a website with links to national networks. Access to services, publication French & English
  1. Develop a sticker with logo & website address
  • Distribute to/through holiday companies
  • Tourist boards
  • Provide point of contact
  1. Mapping violence across Europe
  • Continue research on attrition
  • Disseminate on website
  • Compile a paper on forensic examinations
  1. Training
  • Explore NGO provided training
  • Develop links with public bodies to develop European wide accredited training
  1. Publication
  • Identifying key elements of best practice in service response to survivors
  • Disseminate as four page summary documents in partner languages

The primary outcome anticipated as a result of this project is that victims will have a point of contact no matter where the crime occurs in Europe. Members through participation will have a point of contact for information gathering, provision and support to utilise to raise awareness of rape, build the network and gain recognition across the EU for accredited training.

Outputs include two trans-national seminars, three project partner meetings, two summary papers one on attrition and one on forensic examinations and a strategy guide on models of best practice.

3.The Trans-national Seminar

The aim of the seminar was to bring together the various partners in the project in order to share information as to developments in each of their countries, assess the progress of the research and agree the aims and objectives of the network.

In order to situate the work the participants discussed a presentation of the context for the Daphne Project. Janice Ransom, Project Managers, Rape Crisis Network Ireland explained that the Daphne project was established to respond to a range of identified needs. Thus, the project involves the provision of analysis on trends, the identification of models of best practice in service provision, the identification of routes to recognition for NGO provided training and the provision of a central point for information exchange. Specific actions include the development of a website with links to local rape crisis services either directly or through national networks, a publication identifying key elements of good practice in service response to survivors and disseminated both as a full publication and also as a four page summary document in partner languages, reports from seminars, continued research into attrition throughout Europe and a paper on forensic examinations. In addition work to identify NGO provided training and develop links with public bodies to develop European wide accredited training is being undertaken.

Significant challenges remaining include the development of a symbol for recognition and its distribution to holiday companies, Tourist boards, Police authorities, making contacts with the appropriate agencies in the EU countries not currently represented and the securing funding for the continuation of this work.

The central objective is to develop a sustainable European network acting as a resource to national networks, local rape crisis centers, public bodies and most importantly survivors of rape and sexual violence. Actions were being delivered to develop and enlarge the Rape Crisis European Network, including this seminar to develop the aims and objectives and agree a mission statement for the Network.

The participants then discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the Rape Crisis Network Europe (RCNE) and highlighted the following:

  • The importance of sharing information about what is actually happening on the ground;
  • The need to build an understanding of the differences between countries and how they impact on victims as well as discuss the similarities;
  • The need to be vigilant in highlighting the reality for the victims and addressing the inadequacies of responses;
  • The need to contact organisation from all member states;
  • The need to tap into the strength that is gained by joining forces to challenge myths, address inadequacies in service provision, challenge institutional prejudices and ignorance and prevent and address discrimination;
  • The growth of trafficking and the importance of networks such as this to prevent it; and
  • The importance of highlighting the need for resources in all member states for work on the ground with the victims of Rape.

In her paper on attrition Linda Kelly identified that the main reasons that women do not report rape is that they fear an unsympathetic response, have little faith on the courts and are afraid of further attack. The key stages related to attrition are the decision to report itself, the police response and investigation, referral to prosecutors and trial. Research by Adler found that there were six factors associated with successful outcomes of trials including:

  • Sexually inexperienced victim;
  • ‘Respectable’ victim;
  • No previous consensual contact;
  • Resistance and injury;
  • Early complaint; and
  • Stranger assailant.

The reasons victims/survivors do not report, do not continue with cases and have unsuccessful outcomes form trials, in other words the reason for low attrition rates are very constant. Problems associated with initial police contact include the experience for the victim/survivor of disbelief, lack of respect and tendencies to test the evidence. Problems with prosecutors include victim/survivor not being kept informed, not being consulted and inaccurate presentations of cases.

The research evidence suggest that priority needs to be given to the establishment of sexual assault referral centres, specialist teams including prosecutors and police teams, specialist sexual violence courts and separate representation for the victim/survivor.ienced victim

 ‘rvictim

4.The Current Issues

A number of overarching themes emerged from the discussion of recent developments in each country notably:

  • The significance and variance between countries regarding changes in legislation;
  • The continued dominance of patriarchy;
  • The lack of change in attitude of professionals, particularly the police, the judiciary, the medical profession etc; and
  • The underlying problem of a lack of resources for the work of the member organisations.

Members highlighted the following issues. The law in the Czech Republic now recognises all sexual forms of sexualised violence not only intercourse and men are also included. However as highlighted at a recent national conference about rape the overwhelming conclusion was that the "law respects the perpetrator more than the victim" and there is very little information for victims and insufficient punishment for perpetrator.

In Hungary, there was no women's movement as such, but with change from socialism women now growing as a feminist network. In the recent past the organisation has had to argue with journalists about the fact that domestic violence exists. At least now people recognise that it does. There is only one NGO dealing with violence against women, including domestic violence, trafficking has become a huge problem and ‘professionals do not learn how to treat women’.

Importantly the EU accession report is considered an important point of interaction for criticising governmental policies and lack of action. The hope is that through membership of the EU standards for policies and service provision will be instigated.

The problem identified by the Finnish members is that even with the existence of what are considered progressive laws, i.e. good standards, the practice still reflects patriarchal attitudes and behaviours that discourage women from naming, reporting and prosecuting rape.

The lack of reporting and successful prosecution was highlighted by the members from Wales and England. Recently, a sex offence review was conducted (for first time in fifty years) which involved an independent examination of case files held by the Crown prosecution Service and the Police. One of the significant outcomes is the concrete recommendation of the necessity for specialist prosecutors. Alongside such work is the funding crisis currently being experienced by groups on the ground. The organisation is a networking one that has helped 50,000 women, only 12% of whom reported to the police yet there is currently a funding crises affecting directly the organisations providing support to women, with some operated on budgets of £250.00 per annum.

Despite this the groups uphold their ethos which recognises that women's experience of sexual abuse is entirely individual and requires a gynocentric response which seeks to affirm women, empower women sometimes using ancient and global healing therapies that impact on the mind, body and spirit so that the women can totally heal and they do.

In Italy, members highlighted that there is a huge need for information for women and defence services for women. Women need to talk to other women with similar experiences and so groups are essential to help women to deal with the range of emotions and feeling they have, for example the guilt they may feel.

In Denmark, the pressures arising from migration are being felt as services try to assist women from all over the world. Trafficking is also emerging as a serious concern in Denmark.

In Germany the tension that can arise because of a lack of resources for women’s issues, between Rape Crisis Centres and Shelters for victims of domestic violence is an issue as the problem of organisations competing for limited resources is not going away. The suffering of women who are victims of sexualised violence is reinforced by the lack of secure funding for centres and shelters. In 1999 the Federal Government had an action plan against violence against women, which seeks to reduce incidents, and there is a joint working group of federal and state governments.

In Sweden, the issue of breaking the silence on rape and incest is being addressed and the organisation have gone directly to the heart of the matter by produced a documentary called "homesickness" and showing it to politicians in their place of work. The film was premiered at a film festival and shown in Parliament to members of parliament. This work is complimented by a preventative programme for schools but there is much to be done as this programme is not yet on the curriculum and teachers have indicated that it is an issue that they find difficult to deal with.

In Greece, the victims of torture and trafficking are becoming a major part of the work. There are no centres that work exclusively with victims of rape however the EU Commissioner noted recently that she proposes to open a national observatory on violence in Greece.

In Scotland, devolution has provided opportunities and organisations recently received funding for three years for a national office. The importance of policies was highlighted. There is recognition of the fact that women experiencing violence experience social exclusion and a commitment in the strategy document to prioritise the safety of women. However there is so far very little evidence of actions and there is no national strategy on rape and sexual assault.

Involvement in national and local social partnership in Ireland has raised issues regarding media monitoring, legal monitoring and mainstreaming.

The concern is to ensure that whatever is actions are undertaken in whatever circumstances that the outcomes have a positive impact for the victims, on institutional responses, on prevention, on reporting of crimes, on defining criminal behaviour and on the societal values that prevail across Europe. There are many obstacles to change and participants agreed that there was a need to develop critical strategies to prevent rape and other forms of sexual violence against women and to ensure that our responses are sensitive and meet the needs of the victims. One of the most practical methods for achieving this for those who are working with the victims is to meet to share information and make links so that policies that are implemented across Europe and are effective. This understanding informed the discussion as to the aims and objectives of the Rape Crisis Network Europe.

5.Case Studies

The guidelines for the case studies (see Appendix II) were discussed. It was agreed that the aim of this publication is to identify models of best practice in service delivery of rape crisis and provide a menu of actions. The hope is that this publication will inform funders, policy makers and decision-makers. The publication will be launched at the seminar in Ireland in 2003 along with the website and other reports.

The members discussed for a lengthy period the problems associated with working in a number of languages in this area of work because of the way in which some words are gendered in some European languages. In other languages, especially English they rarely if ever are and this can cause misunderstandings, particularly when there are no resources for interpreters. Given the limited resources, members agreed, especially the English speaking members to be cautious about this and check regularly that there are no misinterpretations. Following discussion the participants agreed that the following are the most useful headings for each of the case studies:

Background

Briefly describe

the situation in the country,

  • the organisation including

Funding – is there core funding

Service provision

Staff – voluntary/paid

How long in existence

Client group

What are the threats/challenges tensions/constraints

Specific Actions and Methodologies

Describe what works well & why

  • Which of the services you provide are most effective for clients and why
  • Which of the services is least effective for clients and why

Lessons for Mainstreaming

Outline what is needed to provide the level of service that your clients need and how this can be achieved locally, nationally and at the EU level.

Bibliography - Reference material

Time frame

Countries are to go back to their membership to see if they wish to participate and to produce a case study. The work will be completed by January 2003 so that at the management meeting in February it can be discussed.

6.Website

Following discussion of the paper presented at the seminar (see Appendix III) and workshops it was agreed that the primary function of the RCNE website (RCNE.com) is to provide a central information resource for survivors of rape and sexual assault across Europe.

This will necessitate consideration of the following issues:

  • The importance of getting the tone and message right;
  • The importance of highlighting healing on the home page and clarifying basic terminology for victims;
  • The need to ensure accessibility by taking account of language difficulties and literacy levels for example, through the use of colours on the map of Europe, auditing for disability access etc.;
  • Concerns about pornography and links to offensive sights being out of the control of RCNE;
  • The fact that some members do not currently have their own website so will not be accessible through the RCNE site;
  • The level of work involved in maintaining such a site and keeping it up to date; and
  • Specific suggestions about layout including a) having three headings on the home page, i.e. Healing; General; What can men do; Campaigns, b) including a Bill of Rights for Women, Dispelling the Myths and challenging societies understanding of rape and c) considering possibilities in the long-term such as media monitoring.

It was agreed that all of the above would be examined and that work would continue to progress the website.

7.Research

In the previous project the research for ‘Rape: The Forgotten Issue’ has been completed and the report published which provides comprehensive insight into the rates of attrition in EU member countries and outlines the range of common barriers that limit the successful prosecution of rape across Europe. The researchers conclude among other things that there is a compelling need for a strong European network as a key method for ensuring that rape is not forgotten or ignored. Following the presentation of a paper (see Appendix IV) on developments participants discussed the methods of collecting information in each country and agreed to make contacts to gather the information on attrition rates in each member state.

8.The aims and objectives of the Rape Crisis Network Europe (RCNE)

The participants at this conference had set themselves the task of developing and agreeing the aims and objectives for the Network. To ensure that the discussion was as participative as possible members of the network broke into workshop groups and discussed their views, each coming back to the plenary with an agreed outline of the aims and objectives of the network. These were then put on the flip chart for all to review and ask questions. Following the discussion the rappatuer and the project manager prepared a position for all to discuss. The following was agreed.