Groundbreaking work by Wolverhampton experts helping Russian women victims of domestic violence has been hailed a major success after nearly 600 Russian workers involved in the criminal justice system completed domestic violence training.

The Haven Wolverhampton has been providing services for women and children experiencing domestic violence in Wolverhampton for the last 35 years. Now the team of experts are working with Russian partners based in a women's crisis centre in Sverdlovsk called 'Ekaterina'. The Haven Wolverhampton has been working with Ekaterina since 1997, however in 2006 The Haven received funding from the Big Lottery Fund and a three year international programme called 'Life Without Fear' was established.

The 'Life Without Fear' project aims to raise awareness and educate the Russian people on importance of recognizing domestic violence as a serious crime. Services provided under the program include training for judges, lawyers and police officers and domestic violence training for various other women's organizations.

According to Amnesty International a woman is murdered by her partner in Russia every 40 minutes. Russian women are also five times more likely to be killed by their partners than women from other Western European countries.

'Life Without Fear' Project Manager Elvira Wilson said; "Domestic Violence is a criminal act which has to be dealt with accordingly. Women have the right to live without violence and there is a need to prioritize 'women's rights.'

During the first two years of the 'Living Without Fear' programme, 20 Justices of Peace, 75 Lawyers and 223 crisis centre staff and 81 police officers received domestic violence training. In total 599 people have benefited from The Haven's expertise with 95.9% saying they found the training useful.

Elvira Wilson states "Domestic Violence training is important in Russia as there appears to be a basic lack of understanding and compassion for domestic violence victims. It is a really complicated process even to make a complaint. If a case does reach court, which is very rare, the presiding Justice of the Peace has no awareness of domestic violence. That is where our work is making a difference."

Statistics collected throughout the project show a steady decrease in the number of domestic violence cases closed and an increase in the number of perpetrators brought to justice by the criminal justice system.

For more information on the Life Without Fear project call Elvira Wilson on 01902 572122