Vacancy: International Consultant in psycho-social support for helpline operators for victims of gender-based violence
Background
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo increased its monitoring of the mechanisms addressing gender-based violence/domestic violence in Kosovo in line with its mandate to monitor human rights in Kosovo. The monitoring has placed emphasis on the first respondernts to cases of domestic violence, which have increased by around 30% between March and May 2020 in comparison to the previous year, as per the Kosovo Police reports. With significant movement restrictions in place, the helpline for victim of crime, particularly victims of gender-based violence/domestic violence, became the main source of information and support.
The helpline, initially only for domestic violence and human trafficking cases, was first established in Kosovo in 2005 in the framework of the Victims Protection and Assistance Division (VPAO) under the Ministry of Justice. In 2011, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo supported the re-establishment of the helpline run by the Victims Assistance and Advocacy Office (VAAO, now within the Kosovo Prosecutor Office) with the main objective to serve as the main point of contact for (potential) victims of domestic violence and trafficking in human beings; to enable the identification and reference of victims to the proper institutions; and serve as a source of information for all stakeholders, including the general public. Since 2013, due to the introduction of the new SOP for VAAO, the Office has been assisting all victims of crime; however, over 50% of phone calls still refers only to domestic violence cases. Furthermore, in July 2020, the shelter for victims of domestic violence in Novo Brdo/Novobë rdë was also assigned a phone number to support victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence, particularly from non-majority communities.
According to the Istanbul Convention, in order to respond to the specific needs of women victims of gender-based violence, the helpline must ensure integrated provision across all forms of violence against women (VAW), whether it is through one dedicated helpline or through a set of helplines that specialize on specific forms. Consequently, the operators should be regularly trained on providing, inter alia, victim-centered and gender- sensitive psycho-social support to the victims who place the call. At present, only one of two operators in the VAAO central office in Prishtinë/Priština have been partially trained on assisting gender-based violence/domestic violence victims while other Victim Advocates operating in seven regional centers in Kosovo as well as operators of the shelter helpline in Novo Brdo/Novobërdë have not received such training.
The duration of consultancy is fifteen (15) working days.
Objective
The objective of the training is to improve capacities of helpline operators and duty officers, located in VAAO as well as in the shelter for victims of domestic violence in Novo Brdo/Novobërdë in order to properlty assist and refer victims of gender-based violence/domestic violence to other service providers. That includes victim-centered emotional support based on the type of gender-based violence incident that the victim has experienced.
Tasks and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the project and activity managers, the consultant will be tasked to deliver four two-and-a-half day trainings on psycho-social support to victims of gender-based violence/domestic violence for the operators of the VAAO helpline, VAs officers on duty placed in seven regional centers in Kosovo as well as operators of the helpline run by the shelter in Novo Brdo/Novobërdë. The training should be interactive to ensure engagement of the participants, with practical examples and case-studies and encompass the following topics:
- What are the forms of domestic and gender based violence (including the emergency context)?
- How to secure adequate physical space for service delivery (including official mobile phone in case of remote service provision)?
- What is the difference between abuse of women and girls, children, elderly people and people with disabilities (including women with disabilities)?
- What are the signs and consequences of domestic and gender based violence?
- How to ensure immediate risk assessment and safety planning in line with victim’s needs?
- Provision of minimal list of questions/issues to be considered for risk assessment and safety plan;
- Provision of crises counseling;
- Provision of first aid psycho social support (PFA);
- Suggest mitigation and coping strategies;
- How to support the victim: dos and don’ts;
- Provision of adequate information on seeking help in order to leave the abusive relationship;
- Ensuring follow up of the case;
- Leaving an abusive relationship;
- Life after leaving the abusive relationship;
- Provision of referral to other GBV services in line with the survivor’s needs;
- Importance of helpline in times of COVID-19.
