International conference

“Domestic and gender based violence:
Taking steps for violence free lives”

29. 11. – 1. 12. 2017
Zagreb, Croatia

We are pleased to announce the international conference
“Domestic and gender based violence: Taking steps for violence free lives”
that will be held in Zagreb, Croatia.

Domestic and gender based violence is a worldwide problem of epidemic dimension. The consequences of violence pose a risk to victims’ physical and mental health, and quality of their lives. The consequences of violence affect not only the victims, but also the various communities and society as a whole.

Myths, misconceptions, and lack of knowledge in relation to domestic and gender-based violence are still very much present. Actions from relevant institutions, organizations, communities, and us as individuals are needed to prevent violence and provide proper support and aid to victims of violence to be able to live lives free from all forms of violence.

The aim of the conference is to provide an opportunity to gain new knowledge, exchange experiences, network, and contribute to much needed changes.

The conference will be an opportunity

…to bring together professionals from four EU countries and from different fields of work to discuss and exchange their knowledge and experiences about good practices, existing problems and challenges to ensure suitable aid and supportfor victims of domestic and gender based violence.

The conference is organized to include plenary and workshop sessions, panel and round table discussions covering both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives about the worldwide problem of domestic and gender based violence. Results from the various sessions will be used in shaping recommendations for needed changes and future training sessions as well as prevention activities.

Topics addressed

The conference is going to be held in English and simultaneous translation to Croatian will be available.

Domestic violence – a public health and human rights challenge
“Surviving domestic violence: victim’s perspective”
Treating childhood abuse trauma
International mechanisms for the fight against violence
Creating community solutions for effective psychosocial support to older survivors of violence
Good practices of effective programs for primary prevention of violence
Domestic violence, gender based violence and asylum: case studies from practice
War sexual violence and status of war survivors
Best practices of partnerships in communities to prevent domestic violence and gender-based violence
Human trafficking – dealing with a hidden crime in modern society
Pathways to reduced depression and suicide risk in cases of interpersonal violence and childhood abuse.
Engaging men in gender equity and interpersonal violence prevention
Providing proper aid and support to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse?
Friendly court proceedings for victims of domestic and gender based violence
Establishing new collaborations and alliances – power for making a change
The results of the project FIRST with a focus on national networks of first points of contact established in Croatia, Bulgaria, United Kingdom and Slovenia, and the FIRST e-toolbox for providing first psychosocial aid and support to victims of domestic and gender based violence will also be presented.

Conference program is available here.

Keynote speakers

The addressed topics will be presented by professionals with specialized knowledge and many years of experience working in different professional areas involved in domestic and gender based violence prevention, psychosocial and psychotherapeutic work with victims of violence, community work …

Dubravka Šimonović, Ph.D.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences

Prof. Gordana Flander Buljan, Ph.D.
Director of the Child and Youth Protection Center of Zagreb

Bruna Profaca, Ph.D.
Child and Youth Protection Center of Zagreb

Vita Poštuvan, Ph.D.
University of Primorska, Andrej Marušič Institute, Slovene Centre for Suicide Research & FAMNIT, Department of Psychology

Markella Papadouli, MSc.
The AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe), United Kingdom

Matej Čujovič, MSc.
Ljubljana High Court, Slovenia

Špela Veselič, Msc.
The Association SOS Help-line for Women and Children – Victims of Violence, Slovenia

Gašper Mlakar, Ph.D., Iztok Koren & Petar Hokman, MSc.
The Association for Nonviolent Communication, Slovenia & Status M, Croatia

Presentation of the speakers, lectures and workshops is available here.

We invite

…practitioners from different fields of work involved in violence prevention initiatives, researchers from relevant academic disciplines, decision makers, representatives of local communities, representatives from organizations – first points of contact for victims of violence, students and other interested individuals.

You will have the opportunity to gain new knowledge, exchange experiences and participate with your ideas and initiatives to create communities with “zero tolerance” for violence.

Registration

Due to great interest to attend the conference there are no available places anymore.
Everybody who applies from this point on will be placed on the reserve list and informed in case of any available place.

There is no registration fee.

You can apply via online form.

The deadline for registration is October 31st 2017.

Accomodation options

The conference will be held at Hotel Dubrovnik in the center of Zagreb.

Participants can book rooms in this hotel at a special conference price: single room = 85 EUR, double room = 96 EUR.
You can make room reservation by sending this form to pbaloban@hotel-dubrovnik.hr.

Information about the hotel, parking places and other accommodation options is available here.

The Organizing Committee

ISA institute, Slovenia
Centre for Women War Victims – ROSA, Croatia
The AIRE Centre, United Kingdom
Association Centre Dinamika, Bulgaria
The Association SOS Help-line for Women and Children – Victims of Violence, Slovenia
The Association of Centers for Social Work, Slovenia
B2 Ltd., Slovenia

The conference is organized as part of the international project FIRST – Capacity Building for First Points of Contact for Victims of Domestic and Gender-based Violence and will be hosted by the Consortium of the project.

Project FIRST is co-funded by the Rights, Equality and Citizenship (REC) Programme of the European Union.

More information about the FIRST project is available on the project’s website: Project FIRST

Contact for additional information about the conference

Center for Women War Victims – cenzena@zamir.net

ISA institute – info@isainstitut.si