Domestic violence („DV“) and intimate partner violence („IPV“) are a widespread phenomenon throughout the world, whereby one in three women has experienced some form of physical and/or sexual abuse by an intimate partner (WHO, 2017). Shifts in cultural norms in countries like Bulgaria, Serbia, Italy and others have somewhat decreased the social acceptability of domestic violence and femicide, and have given the issue more visibility. Nevertheless, domestic violence remains a pervasive human rights issue with major public health effects that is largely not adequately addressed through national and international policy and prevention strategies.

Whereas some factors which lead to marginalization are more obvious (e.g. sexual orientation, refugee status, low income, unemployment, etc.), victims and survivors of DV are often invisible. Social reactions to people affected by domestic violence such as stigmatization, shaming and blaming the victim silence victims and survivors, and prevent them from seeking help and/or support.

The lack of visibility of DV victims and survivors has both individual and social consequences. At the individual level, experiencing DV and keeping it a secret is associated with many long-term ramifications including mental health issues, addiction and substance abuse, low self-esteem, parenthood challenges, higher suicide incidence and more. Furthermore, social exclusion and invisibility of DV victims create the conditions for women and youth affected by DV to remain in long-term abusive relationships.

At the social level, the described issues represent a significant cost to communities and taxpayers, as DV affects the physical and mental health, as well as the employability and productivity of victims. In addition, whereas human rights law provides the framework to prevent, reduce and combat violence, social exclusion and invisibility of DV victims slow down the development of societies, and prevent the reduction and eradication of discrimination, as well as the adequate adherence to the rule of law.

Idea

Като младежки работници се срещаме и работим с млади хора, намиращи се в разнообразни житейски ситуации. Независимо дали се стремим да подкрепяме тяхното социално, емоционално, академично или физическо развитие,

трябва да сме способни да разпознаваме проблемите, които ги занимават, и да им предлагаме съобразена с нуждите им подкрепа. Домашното насилие и насилието, основано на пола в по-широк план, едва наскоро навлязоха в обществените дискусии в България с по-голяма честота. Тези проблеми дълго са били отричани и прикривани в много патриархални и традиционни общества, като в резултат липсват институционализирани механизми за подготовка и обучение на учители и младежки работници за работа с жени и млади хора, засегнати от домашно насилие.

Our training course aims to support the professional development of youth workers by enhancing their understanding of DV and equipping them with a range of tools to recognize youth affected by DV, as well as to offer informed support, and guide said youth on a path of healing and social inclusion. Additionally, the TC will build youth workers’ skills to manage stress and difficult emotions which arise from working with victims and survivors of violence, in order to minimize the risk for burnout, and ensure sustainable professional development.

Objectives

The main goals of the training course are:

▼ да осигури на младежките работници осведоменост и инструменти за разпознаване на жертви на домашно насилие сред младежите, с които работят

▼ да запознае младежките работници с разнообразна гама от инструменти за подкрепа, оценка

на опасността и планиране на мерки за безопасност

▼ да развие знанията и уменията на младежките работници как ефективно да водят пострадалите от домашно насилие към възстановяване и реинтегриране

▼ да осигури устойчивото професионално развитие на младежките работници чрез развиване на умения за управление на емоциите и редовна грижа за себе си

Through preparing youth workers to better address the needs of the youth populations they work with, and do so in ways that are responsible, thoughtful and do not put at risk neither the young people, nor themselves, our training course will contribute to the capacity building for quality youth work of their respective organisations.