Supporting Lives Free from Intimate Partner Violence
Towards Better Integration of Services for Victims/Survivors
Many OECD governments regularly identify violence against women as the top gender equality issue their country faces. Yet in all countries, addressing this multifaceted issue presents serious governance and implementation challenges as victims/survivors have complex needs both during and after experiences of violence. Different service delivery providers such as health, justice, housing and social protection must work together seamlessly – across governmental and non-governmental providers – to provide an effective response. This report presents a stocktaking of OECD governments’ efforts to integrate service delivery to address the most prevalent form of gender-based violence against women: intimate partner violence. It presents an overview of different strategies for coordinating key services commonly offered in OECD countries: healthcare, justice, housing, child services, income support, and preventative programmes to stop the reoccurrence of violence. Based on extensive feedback from 35 out of 38 OECD countries and a consultation with non-governmental service providers, this report identifies best practices and investigates the barriers to resolving one of the most pressing human rights issues in OECD countries today.
Integrating the justice system in the service delivery response to intimate partner violence
The justice sector plays a foundational role in enabling victims/survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) to seek justice and safety in response to violence. Although the justice sector in general, and police officers in particular, can be involved from emergency situations to long-term recovery, victims/survivors have too often been underserved by victim-blaming and underestimated risk assessments. Integrated service delivery (ISD), including co-location/referrals to partners in other social sectors and legal advocacy, can help repair these gaps and promote victims/survivors’ holistic recovery.
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