How to identify and form partnerships with key local stakeholders. Topic: Shelter Best Practices

Networking Your Shelter: Creating Alliances and Allies Local, national and international networking and partnerships: the experience of the Italian autonomous women’s shelters Anna Pramstrahler [email protected] Casa delle donne per non subire violenza - Bologna – Italy

Brief introduction to Italy † † †

First Shelters in Italy opened in 1989, about 10-15 years after North-European Centres opening Shelters in Italy have a feminist background and are run by independent women’s Associations Organised mostly into two structures „ „

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Public counselling Centre (with hotline) “Secret” refuges where women and children live

Antiviolence Centres are working in the field of all types of gender based violence, not only DV, including sexual violence, forced prostitution, violence against children Now there are more than 100 Centres, but it is not enough because only 40 of them offer emergency housing

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Violence against women in Italy †

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There is no national law that ensure financing for the shelters; even more troubling, there is no national action plan, furthermore there are no special courts or health emergency rooms specialized for DV In the last 20 years Italy has witnessed some changes, most of them due to women’s growing pressure to increase awareness of governments and individual politicians, as well as of the media and professionals working on issues of violence Violence against women is not a individual problem, but rather a social problem; the condition to eliminate this violence is that it be recognised and that it gets social response This is still not always possible in Italy because of a lack of common vision of the problem and the lack of concern for action against violence

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Survey of violence in Italy (2006) †

Despite the absence of the support from government and its agencies, the National Institute for Statistics made the first national survey on DV, interviewing 25.000 women (aged from 17 to 60).

The research had revealed a large proportion of gender based violence in Italy: „ 31,9 % Italian women suffered a lifetime of gender based violence „ 93% of DV is not reported „ Partners or ex-partners are responsible in almost all of the cases of all forms of physical violence and to a larger extent for sexual violence „ Domestic violence acts are for the most part (34,5%) very severe „ 18,8% women suffered from stalking during or after separation

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Many things still to accomplish in Italy † After 20 years of the Shelter movement, the most important goal was reached: nobody can not say anymore that violence against women does not exist in Italy † This result changed also the opinion of the mass media, especially in TV, can not ignore anymore this huge problem † Despite that, many aims are still to realized in order to achieve the Northern-European standard

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Presentation of 2 models of Shelters † Two models of partnership: financial support to shelters is very different from town to town † Shelters of Meran and Bologna : „ run by autonomous women’s associations „ 20 years experience „ run Counselling Centre and Shelters

† Both Centres are members of the Italian Network of Women Shelters Against Violence and the Centre of Meran is also member of the Austrian Women's Shelter Network

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First Model: strong presence of local government † The "privileged" position of Meran has led the local Government (1989) to issue a local law under the pressure of women’s' associations; this first Italian law has been taken as a good example of public commitment on the topic of violence against women † The Shelter is recognized and has been chosen as a cooperative partner by governmental stakeholders and this allows building up an essential local network with visible positive results † Depending totally on public funding (and the connected political stance) and preserving the full autonomy of the shelters

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Second Model: instability of the local government † The different experience of Bologna Shelter, which has no law guaranteeing public funding, can be an encouraging example, but also raises criticism on the lack of stability in public funding † In 20 years of existence, this Shelter had to struggle a lot for its survival, but managed to become one of the most important Italian Shelters, building up a local and national network with all stakeholders and an international cooperation on several projects † This example shows how it is still possible to be seen by public and private stakeholders as an expert in DV, obtaining necessary funding using different strategies and practices.

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Governmental Stakeholders † Local government and its agencies need Antiviolence Centers and their engagement and commitment † Public supporters and good laws are essential, but can create risk in preserving shelter’s autonomy † Without governmental support or with weak support, creating and increasing non-governmental partners is a strategic plan that helps to grow, and even creates and raises up shelter’s activities

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Social Network †

Promotion, prevention, communication and creation of cultural and social events

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Newsletter and Mailing List for the 2.500 individual supporters

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Strong commitment increases promotion activity and helps organizing events mostly by volunteers Website as important instrument for communication www.casadonne.it www.centriantiviolenza.eu

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Social Network Promotion

Fundraising

Increasing Social Network

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Women`s Network Bologna’s Women Network

Local Women’s Documentation Center Women’s Library Emigrant women’s group Lesbian + Gay groups

National feminist organisation

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Regional Shelters Network Shelter

International

projects

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National Shelters Network

WAVE: European Shelters Network 1st World Conference of Women’s Shelters

Women`s Network

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Service providers Schools Social services Economic sustain for poor women, housing services, work

Police, Courts Emergency, report, process

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Prevention, sensibilisation (work with teachers and children, teen-agers)

Health services Emergency (Sexual violence and DV) Basic medical care

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Communities associations †Connection with local associations †Feminist men groups: White Ribbon Campaign †Commitment with Labour Union †Collaboration with Universities and private research institutes

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Communication Mass media: creation of a journalist database and increase of personal contacts † Vision of gender based violence is often incorrect and partial † Shelters need to protect women and children from mass-media † Creation of materials to rise the interest of the media Communication strategies often are not a priority but should be essential to all private and public partners †

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Private Donors † Set up a fundraising plan and investing human resources † Bring actively to the private donors the topic of gender based violence: most do not have any knowledge of our mission „ „ „ „

Local Banks International Foundations Local Companies and Corporations Local and National Cooperatives, etc.

† Identifying women managers/directors or organizations with female employees † Private organisation have also social responsibility

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Comparing 2 models Budget 2008 - Casa delle donne, Bologna Euro 392 000

Budget 2008 - Casa delle donne, Meran Euro 520 000

Public funds for Shelter

5%

1%

32%

22%

Special projects with partners

Other funds

Fundrasing activities

41%

Public funds for Shelter

Training activities

99%

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Conclusion † †

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Gender-based violence has to be recognised as a social problem Social responsibility is not only addressed to public agencies but also to private organisations and individuals †

Government should „ guarantee more to cover financial needs „ give its support to create large alliances „ share values against gender-based violence

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Shelters should „ network private partners „ increase their alliances among citizens and organisations „ invest more in communication, promotion, networking Edmonton, September 11, 2008

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Thank you! Merci beaucoup – Mille grazie!

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