The association “Center MARTA” and project partners organized a Latvian-Lithuanian cross-border cooperation training “Interinstitutional Communication and Cooperation – The Key to Success assistance to victims of domestic violence” on May 30 and 31, 2019 in Klaipeda.

The project “Safe City” (LLI-392) is implemented in Liepaja and Klaipeda within the framework of the “Interreg V-A Latvia – Lithuania Program 2014-2020”. The seminar was attended by project partners from the Center MARTA, Liepāja City Council Social Service, Klaipėda Social and Psychological Services Center and Klaipėda Family and Child Welfare Center, as well as representatives from Liepāja City Municipal Police, State Police, Liepāja City Orphan’s Court, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda region police department etc. institutions. A two-day seminar aiming at to promote improved cooperation between institutions took place at the Klaipeda District Police Commissariat. The seminar was opened by Alfonsas Motuzas, Head of Klaipėda District Police Commissariat, Audronė Liesytė, Head of the Social Support Department of Klaipėda Municipal Administration, Head of the Coordination Group and Juris Dilba, Safe City Project manager and head of the Liepaja Branch of the MARTA Center.

On the first day of the training, under the leadership of Olga Kirajeva, a representative of the Klaipeda Psychological and Social Assistance Center, participants jointly evaluated a video of the Lithuanian police from the scene of domestic violence and then participated in the workshop “First contact with the victim – what remains hidden?”. Linga Švanienė, a psychologist and psychotherapist, Integral Neuro Programming specialist, spoke to participants about the basic principles of successful communication.

On the closing day of the seminar, Margarita Jankauskaitė, an equal opportunities expert from the Center for the Promotion of Equality, delivered lectures on inter-institutional cooperation and effective teamwork, and participants developed a common understanding of gender-based violence and systemic intimate partner violence. Based on various international studies, a portrait of the perpetrator was drawn up.

The Safe City project aims to reduce domestic violence in Liepaja and Klaipeda, and will improve support and counseling services for women and children who have experienced domestic violence. In order to combat domestic violence more effectively, the project is focusing on improving cooperation between institutions. The project will include a study on the needs of victims and the availability of services in Liepaja and Klaipeda, joint training for representatives of responsible institutions and guidelines for professionals working with cases of domestic violence.