"The Other Side of the Story: Perpetrators in Change" (OSSPC) is a project which will be implemented by: The Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family - APHVF, Cyprus as Coordinator and its partners, Bournemouth University (BU)- United Kingdom, Centro di Ascolto Uomini Maltrattanti Onlus- CAM, Italy, The Union of Women Associations of Heraklion Prefecture (UWAH), Greece, European Knowledge Spot, Greece and The Social and Medical Services Directorate (DASM), Cluj-Napoca.
The project is co-funded by the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (REC) of the European Union (2014-2020).
The aim of the OSSPC project is to prevent further domestic violence and change violent behavioral patterns by increasing the capacity of frontline workers that will further teach perpetrators of domestic violence to adopt non-violent behavior in interpersonal relationships and understand the impact of domestic violence on the them, family and community.
The specific objectives of the OSSPC project, in relation to participating countries pursue to:
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Facilitate national agencies and/or community-based organizations in formulating or re–formulating action plans for better and more effective responding to domestic violence through the provision of evidence-based research on the effectiveness of perpetrator programmes.
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Train 300 frontline workers and increase their competences by developing an effective capacity-building methodology and a corresponding training package.
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Foster multi-agency domestic violence strategy and create an efficient network of prevention and early intervention through the delivery of: reports on regional strategies for multiagency collaboration, organization of roundtables with relevant stakeholders aiming to foster multiagency and integrated response to domestic violence and of statement papers on multiagency collaboration and protocols of cooperation in domestic violence and perpetrator intervention programmes.
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Increase awareness on the importance of effective and high-quality information sharing as well as timely safeguarding response through the organization of regional roundtable meetings with 100 professionals and at least 50 agencies which will adhere to Protocol guidelines.
The expected results of the project are:
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Improved awareness on the need of perpetrator programmes as an important element of an integrated/comprehensive approach to preventing and combating violence against women.
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Increased knowledge and understanding of frontline workers of the dynamics behind domestic violence and abuse and of the typical beliefs, values and tactics of perpetrators.
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Strengthened multi agency collaboration in the field of the project.
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Appropriate tools will be produced and awareness raising events will be implemented to prevent abusive practices and urge the public and policy makers stand together against domestic violence.
The implementation period of the project is 24 months (01.05.2020-30.04.2022) and the approved budget of the project is 505543.72 Euro, with a European Union contribution of 404434.97 Euro.
