Press Release janurary 2023

Press Release

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS TRANSFERRED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

APIC CR Prague, January 24, 2023

In 2022, intervention centres for persons at risk of domestic violence in the Czech Republic registered 1700 children as witnesses of partner violence or directly threatened by violence. These children are often left without protection, sometimes they are forced by the court to have contact with a violent person, or they are even left with their care. Many institutions still do not know how to deal with child victims of domestic violence, where to send them, and how to help them.

According to the chairwoman of the Association of Intervention Centres of the Czech Republic, Martina Vojtíšková, M.A., domestic violence within families is transferred from grandparents to parents and their children. The number of cases of so-called trans-generational violence is increasing: "Transfer is caused by strong traditional stereotypes in families, unwanted adoption of role models and, last but not least, social pressure from the environment." In addition, the phenomenon of domestic violence is still accompanied by a number of myths, a high level of social tolerance and insufficient qualifications of experts.

The Association of Workers of Intervention Centres of the Czech Republic is therefore launching the nationwide project Children without Violence, focused on the phenomenon of trans-generational violence: "We want to draw attention to toxic relationships in families and the dangerous transfer of violence from generation to generation," explains Martina Vojtíšková, M.A., and adds: "The main activity of the project is extensive sociological research among experts, the general public and users of services intended for vulnerable persons, focused on the topic of the transfer of violence to children. Our goal is to remind the public of the mission of intervention Centres, describe the phenomenon of trans-generational violence and start an interdisciplinary discussion on the topic of improving the quality of assistance to vulnerable children."

As part of the project, APIC ČR is preparing workshops, courses and educational programs intended for experts, is preparing the publication of a popular science book with case studies, as well as an awareness campaign aimed at parents: "Violence experienced by children in the family directly threatens their health, psychological well-being and partner relationships in adulthood. That's why we also want to address parents as people who influence whether their children will be successful in school, in relationships and in their future life."

The project Children without violence is supported by Norwegian funds, the research will be carried out by the project partner, the company SocioFactor s. r. o., Ostrava. The results of the research should contribute not only to increasing the level of protection of persons at risk of domestic violence, but also to improving the quality of the work of experts with the perpetrators of violence.

Contact person:

Martina Vojtíšková, M.A., chairwoman of the Association of Workers of Intervention Centres of the Czech Republic, email: vedouci.ic@spirala-ul.cz, tel.: 604 170 384