THE WOMEN`S SHELTERS IN NORWAY

1. THE WOMEN`S SHELTERS IN NORWAY Tove Smaadahl director The Secretariat of the Shelter Movement in Norway (Krisesentersekretariatet) The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

2. Violence against women • Gender equality • Humanrights • Health • Crime The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

3. The faces of mens violence against women • Economic violence • Social violence • Psychological violence/threats • Materialistic violence • Physical violence • Sexual assaults – rape • Forced marriage • Prostitution – Trafficking in woman and children The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

4. Consequencesof the violence of men • Low self esteem • Damaging the ability to have good relations • Anxiety • Problems in concentration • Depressions • Insomnia • Traumas • Large consume of medicines and alcohol • Thoughts of suicide/suicide attempts • Fear • Isolation • Internal and external damages The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

5. The extend of men's violence against women • Worldwide: About every fourth women is experiencing violence in their own home • In 2005 more than 20 000 women was in contact with the shelters in Norway • Every year 2 500 woman has to spend the night in a shelter because of men's violence • Every year between 1800 and 2000 children has to stay in a shelter because of violence from their father • Every fourth woman in Norway has experienced different kind of violence or threats of violence • One of ten women over the age of 15 has experienced rape. Most of the rapist are a person known to the woman • 1100 woman was carrying alarm to protect themselves against violence from men (may 2005) • 50 to 60 % of the woman living in a shelter has evolved anxiety and depressions because of violence of men • 31 % of Norwegian teenagers claims they have been forced to have sex against their will. About half of the abusers are boys the same age as the girls, and most of the assaults is happening at parties The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

6. History • The first shelter was established in Oslo in 1978, with public funding. • Soon local woman's groups in different parts of the country started opening shelters. These women's groups constituted the unique and historic Shelter movement of Norway. • Since 1980, the Movement grew with more shelters being started up in different parts of the country. • Today there are 51 shelters in Norway. The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

7. FINANCIAL BASIS • The women starting the first shelter demanded public funding for running the shelters. They argued that wife beating was a societal problem. • That it is the State’s responsibility to provide support services and shelter for battered women. • Today all the shelters in Norway are based on public funding. 20% of the total budget comes from the Local authorities and the remaining 80 % comes from the Central government, through the Ministry for Children and Equality. • 145 million NOK in 2005 The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

8. 51 women’sshelters in Norway Open 24 hours all year Secure houses Near 30 years of experience working with violated women and their children Housing and follow-up The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

9. Shelters provide • A safe place of refuge for battered woman and their children • Support and counseling • Support in meeting the social services, doctors, lawyers, housing authorities, and other services • A meeting ground for battered woman to meet other woman in similar situations • Possibility to call for information and help regarding womens rights • Counseling and practical follow up during day time or by telephone The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

10. Who puts the battered woman in contact with the shelters ? The women her selves 36 % Family/friends/acquaintance 13 % Police 24 % Doctors/ER 8 % Social welfare office 5 % Children support office 7 % Other shelters 3 % Lawyers 2 % Refugee shelter 1 % Public health nurse 1 % Family office 1 % NGO`s 0,5 % Others 6 % Kilde: Wenche Jonassen NKVTS, Krisesenterstatistikk 2004 The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

11. What kind of other authority the residents was referred to: • Social welfare office 43 % • Lawyer 35 % • Police 29 % • Doctors/ER 23 % • Children service office 15 % • Housing service 7 % • Social security office 10 % • Family office 10 % • Psychologist 9 % • Other shelter 3 % • PPT/BUP 1 % • Other 8 % • No referring 18 % • Kilde: Wenche Jonassen NKVTS, Krisesenterstatistikk 2004 The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

12. Violence against children Being a witness to violence exposes a child to considerable risk of damage to its health and develpoment. Childeren who grow up with domestic violence experience inseccurity and suffering and are effected in different ways. - either by being directly exposed to physical or psychological violence or by living in a situation where they see and/or hear their mother being exposed to violence The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

13. Children who witness violence The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

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15. The women`s shelters services to help the child • Counseling • Staff • Competence • Guideline The Secretariate of the Shelter Movement 2007

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