Did you know that violence against women and girls is one of the most systematic and common human rights violations, globally? EU countries are no exception. Eliminating physical or sexual violence requires intensive efforts of all relevant actors in our societies.
The EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 shows the commitment of the European Commission to do all it can to prevent and combat gender-based violence, support and protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable. In line with the Gender Equality Strategy and the international commitment embedded in the Istanbul Convention, the CERV funding supports civil society organisations active in this field. One of those beneficiaries is the European network of Family Justice Centres Alliance (EFJCA).
The EFJCA, supported by CERV, is an umbrella organisation with 82 member organisations in 34 countries, which aims at developing a strong and effective multidisciplinary approach to tackle gender-based, domestic violence, sexual violence and child abuse by setting up service centres in Europe (Family Justice Centres) where victims can go and be empowered via different tools.
A growing model worldwide, the EFJCA was started in Europe in 2013 by a group of professionals from six European countries, with the support of the European Union. Inspired by the Family Justice centres in the USA (founded in 2002), the project is based on the cooperation of institutions and professionals from the justice system, the social sector, physical and mental health care, youth care and the political sphere. Today, the Alliance has extended to 10 countries in the EU.
The Family Justice Centre model ensures that victims and their families have access to all necessary services in one place, which enables an efficient cooperation in a client centred way, providing immediate information sharing opportunities while preventing clients from dropping out.
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