Towards the prevention, protection and support of victims and survivors of violence
Social Hut is a knowledge and information hub collecting experiences, practices and concrete tools linked to prevention of violence in all its forms with a special focus on gender-based violence. We encourage community approaches to protect and to better support people affected by gender based violence* and promote new models of practices to tackle violent and abusive behaviours.
* In our work, the term “people affected by gender based violence” refers to someone who has experienced or is experiencing violence based on their gender.
The hub is for:
Survivors of violence
or those at risk as they are at the center of our attention.
Communities
that host survivors or those at risk.
Professionals
who are working with vulnerable groups and who need to strengthen their capacities.
Other organisations
willing to collaborate on the matter and work together to prevent violence, protect and support survivors.
What?
We strongly believe in the importance of working at three levels:
Prevention
For the prevention of violence (and its repetition) by addressing the needs of different individuals and groups of people who might be at risk of violence, as pepretators or victims of violence.
Protection
On the protection of victims and survivors by informing them about available support services, and providing relevant tools and building capacities of professionals on effective protection measures.
Support
Towards supporting victims and/or survivors, communities, professionals and other actors by documenting, mapping and reporting different support programmes and available opportunities. We also link survivors with relevant services and opportunities, and support in building their competencies for their empowerment.
How?
With a firm belief that it is essential to create safe and protected environments, we work considering the following approaches and ethical principles:
Non-discrimination
The need to ensure that no one is treated unfavorably or faces negative or prejudicial attitudes due to their personal experiences and/or other characteristics (e.g. sex or gender, ethnicity, age, nationality, cultural differences).
Safety and security
A victims and/or survivor’s safety and security is strongly connected with their physical and psychological well-being. Therefore, healing and re-integration processes should consider relevant assessments to identify what constitutes risks to safety and security in each case.
Empowerment
The process by which victims and/or survivors are equipped with the skills, ability and confidence to draw on their own resources in the recovery process and to lead an autonomous life. Working on empowerment means regaining confidence in their own capacities and abilities fostering one’s sense of autonomy.
Gender and cultural sensitivity
It involves approaching victims and/or survivors, valorising the diverse backgrounds they belong to and considering how their gender, socioeconomic, cultural and linguistic background could affect their lives.
Avoiding
re-victimization
Supporting victims and/or survivors of violence is crucial to reduce any risk factors that could lead to feeling overwhelmed and experiencing intrusiveness affecting their healing process and perpetuating their victimisation.