Impact assessment of Istanbul Convention in Romania

Project addresses all forms of violence against women and girls in Romania, and violence against women subject to intersecting forms of discrimination by trying to find existing models at national level which can be used as forms of inspiration.

Project call on Romanian government to work closely with women’s civil society organisations, in particular on awareness-raising campaigns, research and education programmes, training, and the monitoring and evaluation of prevention and protection measures, as well as of related legislation, policies and institutional practices being in place;

Objective 1) Development of 3 national collection of good practices and critical steps available in Romanian and English languages -on the impact of Istanbul Convention on prevention of male violence and PROSECUTION of perpetrators, on supporting and PROTECTING all women and girls, taking into account their diversity in Romania and on PROVIDING services to victims/survivors.

Objective 2) Building capacity of the 25 Women NGOs members of ROWL, on the impact of Istanbul Convention on Romania through a national training for NGOs “How to use good practices for raising awareness and demand more resources for addressing violence against women” and organising a national networking seminar for promotion of the three publications with participation of various stakeholders as well as of universities of sociology, social studies in Iasi and Bucharest, governmental representatives, independent experts and other relevant stakeholders.

Objective 3) Capacity strengthening of EWL with ROWL by proposing a ROWL study visit to Brussels and or Strasbourg to enable tailored skills and knowledge sharing sessions on impact of Istanbul Convention on Romania as a future possible model to be used by other members of EWL, Observatory on Violence of EWL -experts and GREVIO experts and introducing the topics to the newly elected members of European Parliament, particularly from Romania.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1
Development of 3 national collections of good practices and critical steps on the impact of the Istanbul Convention in Romania

The activity focuses on BUILDING THE CAPACITY of ROWL members by creating 3 collections of good practices on women’s rights issues, such as gender-based violence - which can also be used by other EWL members and the LEF Violence Observatory.

The 3 publications of good practices will be easily accessible: shorter and easier to read documents to allow members to quickly gain a basic understanding and guide them to further information or more detailed ROWL analyses.

Sub-activity 1.1
Development of a national collection of good practices and critical steps available in Romanian and English - on the impact of the Istanbul Convention on the prevention of male violence and the prosecution of perpetrators.

The study will collect actions identified in Romania that aim to raise awareness of the issue and influence social attitudes and behaviour, through concrete actions in the field of formal and informal education and training, carrying out awareness campaigns, training of public service professionals. , establishing self-regulatory codes in the media sector.

Addressing the criminal PUNISHMENT of perpetrators:

The study will also collect actions in Romania that aimed at implementing the principle of background checks, underlining the crucial need to hold perpetrators accountable for their violence, ensuring access to justice and remedies for all female victims.

Models - if available - on how women, regardless of their migratory, civil or housing status, are taken into account and treated appropriately when reporting acts of male violence to the police, as well as during investigation and prosecution procedures.

The study will also analyze the existence of programs for perpetrators and whether they are developed from a feminist perspective and funded by the perpetrator or the state;

Sub-activity 1.2
Development of a national collection of good practices and critical steps available in Romanian and English - on the impact of the Istanbul Convention on the support and PROTECTION of all women and girls, taking into account their diversity in Romania

This study will focus on actions in Romania that aim to provide the most protective legal measures to protect victims, such as protection orders, establishing sufficient and easily accessible information and counseling services, ensuring coordination between the different institutions and bodies involved in the assistance and care of victims/survivors, training professionals in the field of gender equality and women's human rights.

The study will also analyze whether there are conditions under which victims are no longer economically or legally dependent (including in terms of immigration, housing, social security payments and marital status) on the perpetrators of violence, showing sensitivity in particular to the most vulnerable. /marginalized groups of women.

Sub-activity 1.3
Develop a national collection of good practices and critical steps available in Romanian and English - on the impact of the Istanbul Convention on PROVISION of services to victims/survivors.

The study will focus on actions in Romania aimed at establishing a diversity of services that respond to the diversity of women's needs, pursuing the highest standards of provision of such services, by implementing guidelines and protocols for all agencies based on the quantity and quality of international standards and in partnership with women's NGOs. Such services include national and local women's helplines, accessible and adequate women's shelters and safe houses, rape crisis centers, health and legal services, economic security, etc. To achieve quality standards, services for women should aim to empower them, provide an individualized approach and treatment, be gender-specific and specialized.

Activity 2

Organisation of a national training for NGOs “How to use good practices for raising awareness and demand more resources for addressing violence against women”

Participants - Romanian Women’s Lobby member organisations (25 women NGOs) and Romanian Network of NGOs on violence against Women -improving capacity of dissemination of good practices on local, regional, national and international arena
Duration -2 days
Expected results -Increased capacity of participants to present the 3 publications as well as ROWL and EWL positions on GBV, Istanbul Convention and the New Directive on VAW.
A crucial role in changing gender-biased attitudes and behaviours is played by the training of women and girls in order to deconstruct prevailing myths about gender-based violence and to develop prevention skills (recognising potentially dangerous situations, implementing prevention and protection strategies, especially verbal and physical self-defence).

Activity 3

Organising a national networking seminar for promotion of the three publications on good practices of Istanbul Convention impact in Romania

Proposed guests to the 4 hours Bucharest national event:
1. national working group for elaboration of secondary legislation regarding provisions of Romanian legislation on violence against women and domestic violence -no. 174/2018 of modification of law 217/2003, coordinated by National Agency for Equal Opportunities Romania and national working group on national strategy on sexual violence – Recommendations and proposals regarding good practices and improvement of actual flaws
2. Romanian Women’s Lobby member organisations (25 women NGOs) and Romanian Network of NGOs on violence against Women -improving capacity of dissemination of good practices on local, regional, national and international arena
4. Universities of sociology, social studies in Iasi and Bucharest -can use as a starting point the recommendations and good practices in starting further extended research on the topics of interests.
5. Governmental representatives, independent experts and other relevant stakeholders