PACT builds on the experience gathered in the Grundtvig project BACKGROUND – Acting on the Background for a higher Climbing Up of Women Survivors of Violence. BACKGROUND (2006-2008) focused on developing a European course with the aim to sustainably improve competencies of adult education staff in the area of violence against women in different institutional environment with the main purpose of supporting women survivors of violence.
The course itself was successfully delivered in June and September 2008 as well as in May 2009 on the basis of a fully fledged pilot course with a mostly local audience tested in May 2008 in Romania.
From the general feedback on the training courses derived that, although the thematic area of the course is recognised as being important, there is a great deal of reluctance to get involved with the topic. On the other hand, those people who have already gained some experience in the field clearly signalled their interest in further training opportunities focussing on their fields of activities, since they lack specific training helping them to better cope with situations in which they are confronted with cases of domestic violence. All participants in all four courses demonstrated a huge interest in a European exchange of expertise and experience.
The training course was developed with a modular blended learning concept and consists of training modules covering the following content areas:
- Introduction to the topic of domestic violence
- Stereotypes
- Types and signs of violence
- Cycle of violence and causes for the violence
- Perpetrator strategies
- Impact on women and children
- Women’s needs and life projects
- Assertiveness and self-esteem
- Communication
- Networks, services and resources
- Intervention models
- Basic lines of national legislation