OSCE conducts specialized training course on effective responses to gender-based violence for Hungarian criminal justice practitioners

A four-day specialized training course on appropriate and effective responses to gender-based violence for criminal justice practitioners from Hungary was held from 6 to 10 May 2019, at the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) headquarters in Budapest, Hungary.

The course for police and prosecutors was organized by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department and is the first of a series of three national specialized training courses held as part of the regional project Effective Criminal Justice Strategies and Practices to Combat Gender-based Violence in Eastern Europe. The project is currently being implemented in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, and is financially supported by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020) and the government of Austria.

Delivered by trainers who have previously participated in a regional training-of-trainers programme, this course aimed at consolidating the skills and knowledge of first responder police officers and prosecutors to better meet the needs of victims of gender-based violence, including noticing the signs and signals of violence and referring them to specialized support services.

The course also explored how to improve the attitude and behaviour of criminal justice practitioners towards victims and perpetrators of gender-based violence, to avoid secondary victimization.

Built on a victim- and rights-centred approach, the course promoted the EU legislation on the wide protection of victims of violence, and focused on localized scenarios based on real-life cases.

Following the course was a one-day workshop where judges and social workers joined the police officers and prosecutors. The workshop highlighted the importance of a co-ordinated and integrated approach when fighting gender-based violence cases. Participants strengthened their understanding of how improving multi-disciplinary co-operation and interaction on gender-based violence cases can contribute to better meeting the needs of victims. They also discussed best practices that could significantly improve efforts to counter gender-based violence crimes.