Women Leaders present to Wolverhampton
During International Women’s Week 2009 partners from Women’s organisations in Russia and Uzbekistan travelled to Wolverhampton to deliver presentations on how Domestic Violence is addressed in their countries.
Mavluda Shirinova,
Director of SABR,
Uzbeksitan
Leaders from long standing Haven partners – the Crisis Centre ‘Ekaterina’, Russia and the Socio-Economic Development Centre ‘SABR’, Uzbekistan, took part in Celebrations co-ordinated by The Haven Wolverhampton. Ludmila Ermakova: Director and Founder of Ekaterina and Mavluda Shirinova: Director and Founder of SABR delivered presentations about their organisations as part of The Haven’s Conference ‘Improving Futures: Working Together to End Domestic Violence – New Solutions for a New World’.
Accompanying Ludmila Ermakova, were Maria Zakharova and Natalia Sukareva from the Regional Guild of Lawyers in Russia who also gave compelling presentations on the work being done to support victims of Domestic Violence through the Russian Criminal Justice System.
Our guests used the visit as a platform to share best practice and voice their message to a wider audience. We would like to thank our visitors for taking part in The Haven Wolverhampton’s celebrations and are grateful to them for sharing their experience. This visit has enabled us to learn more about different cultures, build bridges to other communities and was truly inspirational.
For more information on The Haven Wolverhampton’s International work please visit www.havenrefuge.org.uk/International/International.htm
Grace Lee
Public Relations Officer
Russian experts thank The Haven Wolverhampton
Representatives from
The Haven meet with partners
in Russia
Staff from the Crisis Centre ‘Ekaterina’ in Russia thanked staff at The Haven Wolverhampton for their continued support during their 10 years of partnership work since the centre was established in 1998.
The latest ‘Life Without Fear’ project (2006 - 2009) funded by the Big Lottery Fund included provision of specialist Domestic Violence training for Judges, Lawyers, Police Staff and Women’s Organisations in Russia with the focus on supporting women taking their Domestic Violence cases through the Criminal Justice System. During the 3 years of the project a total of 220 Justices of the Peace, 123 Lawyers, 270 Crisis Centre Staff and 82 Police officers received training. In total 695 Professionals have directly benefited from The Haven Wolverhampton’s expertise.
Many Criminal Justice Professionals in Russia lack a basic understanding of the problem and were subject to common myths and stereotypes including ‘it must be her own fault’ and ‘if it is so bad, why doesn’t she just leave?’. This programme helped to raise awareness of Domestic Violence and subsequently lead to a number of positive changes in the way cases of Domestic Violence are dealt with.
The Haven Wolverhampton is proud to say that the Crisis Centre ‘Ekaterina’ is now viewed as one of the most advanced centres in Russia in developing strategies to tackle Domestic Violence.
The ‘Life Without Fear’ Project has steadily shifted the attitude towards Domestic Violence in the Sverdlovsk Area, Russia. “Ekaterina” and The Haven were invited to share their experience at the national seminar “Prevention of Domestic Violence” organised by the Consortium of Women’s Non-Governmental Organisations in April 2009, in Moscow, Russia. We at The Haven Wolverhampton are proud to be able to share our knowledge with ‘Ekaterina’ and other Women’s Organisations abroad in order to enable them to provide more effective support for Women and Children experiencing Domestic Violence.
Elvira Wilson
Project Manager
Building links with Saudi Arabia
In December 2008 The Haven Wolverhampton hosted a visit from Senior Representatives of the Saudi National Family Safety Programme (NSFP). Ms Madeha-Al Ajroush, NFSP Board Member and Dr Majid Al-Eissa, Head of Medical and Social Services of the NFSP and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, attended a week long training programme on Domestic Violence facilitated by The Haven Wolverhampton. The programme included an introduction to the problem of Domestic Violence in the UK, National UK strategies and services for victims of Domestic Violence at The Haven Wolverhampton.
Ms Madeha Al-Ajroush
and Dr Majid Al-Eissa
receiving training
The visitors attended a meeting hosted by Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum which included various stakeholders and agencies from across the City. Our visitors also met with staff from the Safeguarding Children and Young People Service of Wolverhampton City Council to learn about support services available for children.
Our visitors were impressed with the work of The Haven Wolverhampton and positive about the training programme. Feedback from the visitors stated that the training had helped them reflect on their own attitudes, values and work practices.
We are grateful to the British Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for supporting and sponsoring the visit.
Elvira Wilson
Project Manager
Saudi Child Protection Conference
Following a visit from Senior Representatives of the Saudi National Family Safety Programme (NFSP) to The Haven Wolverhampton in December 2008, Dr Majid Al-Eissa, Head of Medical and Social Services of the NFSP, extended an invitation to staff from The Haven Wolverhampton and the Safeguarding Children Team of Wolverhampton City Council to attend the 3rd Arab ISPCAN Regional Conference on Child Protection.
The 4 day Conference was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and included distinguished keynote speakers from across the world. Kath Rees -CEO of The Haven Wolverhampton, Gillian Atkins – Chair of the Board of The Haven Wolverhampton, Alison Worton-Jones – Training Coordinator of The Haven Wolverhampton and Jan Toplis – Head of Service for Safeguarding Children and Young People at Wolverhampton City Council attended the conference and listened to the various presentations with the help of translators. The representatives also took various pieces of literature and publicity material on The Haven Wolverhampton and Safeguarding Children which were incorporated into an exhibition which proved to be very popular with the Conference delegates.
The 3rd Arab ISPCAN Regional Conference on Child Protection was the first ever Conference in Saudi Arabia held with Men, Women and Children in the same Auditorium.
In a newspaper article from May 2008 it was reported that experts had gathered at a two day forum to discuss publicly the problem of Domestic Abuse and develop a national strategy for preventing and dealing with family violence. This was quoted as being ‘the first’ and was under the sponsorship of Princess Adela bint Abdullah. Alison Worton-Jones who attended the Conference stated “Given this, it does feel that we were present at the making of history in championing the rights of women and children in Saudi Arabia”.
Grace Lee
Public Relations Officer
Daphne Project
In May 2009, Soledad Posek Senior Counsellor/Trainer and Alison Worton-Jones, Training Coordinator at The Haven Wolverhampton travelled to Goettingen, Germany to participate in a 4 day training programme which is part of a Daphne project “JoinTheNet IV – All Over Europe”. Training included Train-the-Trainer-workshops and Implementing an European competence-network on post traumatic stress disorder.
The trip was funded through the Evaluation and European Policy Team, Advantage West Midlands. The Haven Wolverhampton is currently developing links with partners across the EU to gain knowledge and understanding in European DV policy and research through comparative reviews of how other EU countries have invested and resourced support services in Domestic Violence, particularly around preventative measures.
Popinder Kaur
Economic Development Manager
