In addition to providing comprehensive assistance to victims of domestic and sexual violence, our experts from the Crisis Intervention Team (KIT) are also dedicated to other related areas. They also educate themselves in them so that they can help effectively - for example, the children of victims.
At the expert discussion “Without bruises”
At the beginning of November (8.11.), they took part in an important professional discussion of the organization Centrum Slniečko in Satori stage in Bratislava, which was called “Without bruises”.
Daniela Borzová, lawyer at KIT, recalls, „The guests discussed, among other things, the sensitive and controversial topic of mutual cooperation between institutions, participating in this issue; the approaches of the helping professions to victims of violence; the issue of the absence of facilities providing assistance to victims...“ She also added that „in the free debate of the participants after the discussion, we managed to establish several useful contacts that could directly provide social assistance to our clients.“ An audio recording of the event can be listened to here.
Identification of child sexual abuse
Shortly thereafter (15.11.) the members of KIT: lawyer Daniela Borzová and psychologist Lucia Klimáčková went to Malacky, more precisely to the Office of Labour Social Affairs and Family Malacky. Identification of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) - from recognising possible warning signals after a more comprehensive perception of the pitfalls associated with CSA identification. The initial response of professionals to CSA (two alternative scenarios of the interview with the child: 1. child-initiated interview 2. professional-initiated interview) and other details were discussed in detail by the lecturer: doc. ThDr. Mgr. The topic was prepared for all those who work or are in daily contact with children and are much more likely to encounter the issue of sexual abuse.
Daniela Borzová, a lawyer at KIT, describes the event by saying, „The associate professor gave a very impressive lecture on the theoretical knowledge of CSA, which she enriched with practical experience from their practice. She presented a comprehensive picture of the child and his or her experience of sexual abuse or exploitation, addressing specific topics such as: the symptomatology of CSA, the prevalence of CSA, the framework and levels of false accusations, the issue of expert evidence, the possibilities and limits of identifying CSA, false accusations versus false accusations, tactics for interviewing children, etc..“
After the lecture, the KIT workers addressed the staff of UPSVR and presented them the concept of ADRA KIT, as well as its current form of functioning and ideas for the future. In this way they respond to the call for praticipating organizations to be involved in the local coordination activities of the former Bratislava - rural district. They discussed the possibilities of mutual cooperation on a practical level.
Discussion on life without violence and reproductive rights
As part of the international campaign „16 Days of Activism against Violence against Women“, a discussion entitled „The Right to a Life Without Violence and Reproductive Rights“ was held on 26 November at Artbooks coffee in Bratislava on the initiative of the NGO "Choice Opportunity" on the topic sexual and reproductive rights, and how efforts to control women's bodies relate to gender-based violence. The guests (activist and political scientist Adriana Mesochoritis and sociologist Barbora Holubova) discussed what gender-based violence is; how reproductive and sexual rights relate to gender equality; how and why these rights are under threat; and what needs to be improved.
During the discussion with the guests and their examples from practice, the KIT workers were given answers that relate to their home issues of sexual violence and women's experiences of violence as a victim of sexual abuse. Together they realised and verified the possible impact on the immediate surroundings and the whole society surrounding the victim. The event was supported by the Slovak-Czech Women's Fund.
Important education and networking
KIT members also attended a series of summer-autumn human rights gender trainings under the auspices of the association Option of Choice and thanks to the support of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic. The aim was to deepen the knowledge in gender issues and the application of gender and human rights principles in practice.
The KIT team would like to thank everyone who invites its members to such professional discussions and educational events. With each participation, the strengthen their capacities, they increase their outlook and knowledge of related fields, which is only to the benefit of their work with victims of violence.
itself networking in the area are also considered extremely important. This is because the assistance provided to victims is also more comprehensive thanks to collaborations and partnerships, and access to assistance (e.g. social support, accommodation in crisis centres, etc.) is also more effective.
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