Justýna Counselling
In IUSTITIA has established Justýna Counselling to provide two registered services free of charge, namely specialized social counselling pursuant to Social Services Act and legal information pursuant to Act on Victims of Crime.
Justýna Counselling provides its services to people affected by bias violence and also to ones affected by expressions of intolerance, especially racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia, gender violence, and violence on the basis of age, health status, social status or subcultural membership.
Furthermore, Justýna provides its services to especially vulnerable victims and victims of grievous bodily harm.
OUR OFFICES
Prague and Czech Republic Office
IN PRAGUE AND THROUGHOUT THE CZECH REPUBLIC, OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO:
- Individuals at risk of bias violence.
- Victims of bias violence, i.e. persons attacked for whom they are or how they look (including the victim’s survivors).
- The loved ones and social circle of victims and individuals at risk of bias violence (family, partners, friends, representatives of institutions, co-workers etc.)
- Witnesses of bias violence.
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IN PRAGUE, OUR SERVICES ARE ALSO TARGETED AT:
- Victims that have suffered grievous bodily harm through an intentional criminal offence. Examples of grievous bodily harm:
– mutilation, dysfunction or paralysis of a limb,
– loss or significant impairment of a sensory function (vision, hearing, smell, touch or taste),
– damage to a vital organ, disfigurement, or protracted health impairment,
– causing a miscarriage or stillbirth,
– excruciating pain (physical or mental),
– loss or significant reduction of work capacity. - Murder victim’s survivors
- Women without shelter who are at risk of violence or have become victims of any violence (e.g., intimidation, stalking, extortion, theft, beating)
- Women at risk of homelessness (staying with their friends or in hostels) who are at risk of or have become victims of violence
OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED:
- Face to face at the counselling centre in Praha 6, Eliášova 28
MON & THU 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (upon prior appointment only)
- Face to face in the clients’ environment
MON to FRI upon arrangement by phone at +420 773 177 636 or at 800 922 922
- By email: poradna@in-ius.cz (we reply within three business days
Brno Office
N BRNO, OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO:
- Especially vulnerable victims of crime
- Individuals at risk of bias violence.
- Victims of bias violence, i.e. persons attacked for whom they are or how they look (including the victim’s survivors).
- The loved ones and social circle of victims and individuals at risk of bias violence (family, partners, friends, representatives of institutions, co-workers etc.)
- Witnesses of bias violence.
IN BRNO AND THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH MORAVIAN REGION, OUR SERVICES ARE ALSO TARGETED AT:
- Victims that have suffered grievous bodily harm through an intentional criminal offence. Examples of grievous bodily harm:
– mutilation, dysfunction or paralysis of a limb,
– loss or significant impairment of a sensory function (vision, hearing, smell, touch or taste),
– damage to a vital organ, disfigurement, or protracted health impairment,
– causing a miscarriage or stillbirth,
– excruciating pain (physical or mental),
– loss or significant reduction of work capacity. - Murder victim’s survivors
YOUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED:
- Face to face at the counselling centre in Brno, Malinovského náměstí 4, 602 00
MON 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (upon prior appointment) or as agreed on other days
- Face to face in the clients’ environment
MON to FRI upon arrangement by phone at +420 773 177 104
- By phone: MON to FRI at +420 773 177 104
- By e-mail: poradna.brno@in-ius.cz (dotazy zodpovídáme do tří pracovních dní)By e-mail: poradna.brno@in-ius.cz (we reply to inquiries within three business days)
HOW WE WORK
Who can use our services?
Justýna Counselling services are targeted at:
- Individuals at risk of bias violence.
- Victims of bias violence, i.e. individuals who have been attacked for who they are or how they look (including a deceased victim’s survivors).
- The loved ones and social circle of victims and those at risk of bias violence (family, partners, friends, representatives of institutions, co-workers).
- Witnesses of bias violence.
Also at:
- Victims that have suffered grievous bodily harm through an intentional criminal offence. Examples of grievous bodily harm:
– mutilation, dysfunction or paralysis of a limb,
– loss or significant impairment of a sensory function (vision, hearing, smell, touch or taste)
– damage to a vital organ, disfigurement, or long-term health impairment,
– causing a miscarriage or stillbirth,
– excruciating pain (physical or mental),
– loss or significant reduction of work capacity. (Prague, Brno, South Moravian Region)
- A murder victim’s survivors (Prague, Brno, South Moravian Region).
- Especially vulnerable victims of crime (only at the Brno office).
- Women without shelter (at risk of homelessness) who are at risk of violence or have become victims of any violence (in the territory of Prague).
Justýna Counselling services are only targeted at natural persons. Provision to legal persons (NGOs etc.) cannot be claimed and is always subject to a decision by the implementing team in view of the capacities of Justýna Counselling.
What kind of services do we provide?
LEGAL INFORMATION
Legal information pursuant to the Act on Victims of Crime:
- informing about the rights of the injured party and exercising one’s rights in criminal proceedings
- informing about claiming damages for bodily, material, or other harm
- informing about financial assistance for victims of crime
- writing submissions (e.g. criminal reports, complaints, appeals, applications)
- confidant’s services (accompanying victims) in dealings with police and courts
- informing about criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings
SOCIAL COUNSELLING
Basic and specialized social counselling pursuant to the Social Services Act:
- looking after personal matters in relation to the attack – e.g., accompaniment to dealings with medical professionals or police, help getting replacement income during sick leave, help getting new housing, etc.
- guiding through the criminal or administrative proceedings addressing the attack against the client,
- mediating psychological or therapeutic help if necessary
- creating a security plan to make sure the client is safe
- creating a media relations plan to reduce the risks of publicity, assistance and support in dealings with various institutions – police, public administration, the media, and others
- basic crisis intervention
FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION
- representation by an agent is provided depending on our current organizational (financial and staff) capacities.
- the client’s representation and accompaniment in all substantial actions taken in criminal proceedings (from examination by the police to conclusion of the proceedings or of our cooperation)
- filing motions, complaints, and appeals on behalf of the client
- mediating free representation by an attorney
Where and how do we provide our services?
We provide our services at two offices, in Prague and in Brno.
We also provide outreach counselling (face to face off-site, by telephone, and online).
JUSTÝNA COUNSELLING COVERS THE ENTIRE CZECH REPUBLIC AND PROVIDES ITS SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE.
What does our counselling look like?
- Counselling by telephone is provided by a trained staff member. They will discuss with you the situation in which you have found yourself. If you are in immediate danger, they will, in agreement with you, contact the police.
- Face-to-face counselling takes place at our counselling centre or in your home (whichever you prefer).
- Our counsellor will join you to go through the situation in which you are, inform you about your rights, and listen to your concerns.
- Together, you will plan the next steps. Every step of the way, you decide.
How to complain?
SHOULD YOU BE DISSATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF OUR SERVICES OR THE WAYS WE PROVIDE THEM, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO FILE A COMPLAINT OR SUGGESTION.
(1) You can file a complaint in case of any dissatisfaction or if you feel your rights are being violated or a member of staff has mistreated you.
(2) You can file a suggestion if you wish to propose a way of improving the services we provide.
(3) A client may file a complaint or suggestion. A complaint or suggestion filed by a person authorized by the client in writing will be addressed with the same level of diligence as a complaint by the client themselves. In IUSTITIA is bound by the duty of professional secrecy.
You can file a completely anonymous complaint or suggestion, without stating your name – no one needs to know that it’s just you.
We guarantee that your filing a complaint or suggestion will not result in any harm or disadvantage to you.
How can you file a complaint or suggestion?
(1) Orally – voice your concerns to a member of our counselling staff, who will join you to enter it into our Complaints Book. Off-site, our outreach worker will write your complaint down on a sheet of paper and subsequently insert it in the Complaints Book. You will be informed about the time frame for processing your complaint.
(2) In writing – write about your concerns in the Complaints Book, which will be provided by a counselling staff member. You can also bring your written complaint or write it down on paper, which will be inserted in the Book.
(3) By e-mail – write about your concerns in an e-mail message and send it to our Social Services Manager, Dušan Vaněk, at dusan.vanek(at)in-ius.cz or stiznosti(at)in-ius.cz. If you want to file an anonymous complaint, either get an e-mail address without your name or use someone else’s account.
(4) In writing by mail – write about your concerns in a letter and send it to our address:
In IUSTITIA, o. p. s.
Eliášova 28
160 00 Praha 6
Czech Republic
(5) By telephone – voice your concerns by calling our Social Services Manager, Dušan Vaněk, at +420 773 177 196.
How will your complaint or suggestion be handled?
Your complaint or suggestion will go from a counselling staff member to the Social Services Manager. He will examine your complaint or suggestion and, within 30 days of your filing it, reply to you in the same way you filed it (by mail, orally, by e-mail, inside the Complaints Book etc.) We will process your complaint through an adequate reply covering all its parts. We will inform you about the measures taken to eliminate any defects found. In case of an anonymous complaint, we will post the reply on our website and on the bulletin board inside our counselling centre for 60 days from the date of processing your complaint.
What will happen if I receive no reply to my complaint within 30 days?
The Social Services Manager will inform you about the reasons for exceeding the time frame. If you are not informed within the time frame, you are entitled to turn to the organization’s Director and to the Chair of the Management Board.
What should I do if I am not happy about the reply to my complaint?
In the reply to your complaint, you will be informed that you can appeal, i.e. express your disagreement with the reply and request that your complaint be re-examined. Expressions of disagreement with the processing of a complaint should be addressed to the organization’s Director and to the Chair of the Management Board.
What should I do if I don’t want to complain to counselling staff but rather “higher up”?
In that case, you can turn to bodies and institutions that supervise our organization and are tasked with monitoring and watching compliance with human rights and the ways we provide our services.
They include:
- Chair of the In IUSTITIA Management Board – Eliášova 28, 160 00 Praha 6, Czech Republic
- Office of the Public Defender of Rights, Údolní 39, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail: podatelna@ochrance.cz
- Prague City Hall, Department of Health Care, Social Services and Prevention, Charvátova 145, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic
- Ministry of Justice, Vyšehradská 16, 128 10 Praha 2, Czech Republic
For any other questions about complaints or suggestions, please ask our counselling staff. We will be happy to answer your questions.
If you have a reason to file a complaint or improvement suggestion, you may find yourself in a situation in which you are not feeling good. Some people may wonder if their complaint might result in termination of services or worsen their relations with the provider. Although Justýna Counselling strives to provide high-quality services, you may still find a reason for a complaint or suggestion. Please share it with us. Complaints and suggestions give us important information for improving our services.
How do we handle personal data?
Personal data protection is important to us, and the following information tells you:
- what kind of information about you we are processing
- why we are processing your data
- for how long we are going to process your data
- from whom we obtain your data
- how make sure your data is protected
- whether we can or have to transfer your data to someone else
- what your rights are with respect to the processing of your personal data
By this declaration, In IUSTITIA, o.p.s., registered seat: Rybná 24, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic, Identification Number: 26569655 (hereinafter referred to “In IUSTITIA”), as personal data controller, informs the individuals whose personal data it processes (hereinafter referred to as “data subject”), about the means and scope of personal data processing in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.
Do you have to provide your data to us?
Your cooperation with us is voluntary, and you can choose not to cooperate with us. If you want to cooperate with us, we will work together to attain the goals we have planned together. We are unable to provide the required service without some of your personal data. We need your contact address, e-mail address, and phone number to be able to communicate with you. We need to know the details of your case and of your situation to be able to provide effective and quality assistance.
What kind of data are we collecting and processing?
If your have provided them to us, then we are processing the following personal data:
- your full name, date of birth
- your contact information (address, phone number, e-mail address),
- information about the services used by you, records of our communication – mutual written communication, written summaries of our phone calls, and minutes of our meetings,
- data that you transfer to us so we can assist you, including special-category personal data (e.g. your health, ethnic origin, social situation, and other data transferred to us by you)
- data transferred to us by a person authorized by you (e.g. your partner, parent, lawyer) so we can assist you, including special-category personal data (e.g. your health, ethnic origin, social situation, and other data transferred to us by the person authorized by you).
For how long are we processing your data?
depending on the purpose, for the duration of our cooperation with you and then for 10 years after the termination of our cooperation with you.
From whom are we obtaining your personal data?
- from you
- from persons that you have designated for this purpose or granted a confidentiality waiver,
- in the event of legal representation, also from authorities conducting any proceedings in which we represent you
Why (for what purposes) are we processing your personal data?
- so that we can arrange our cooperation
- so that we can provide services to you
- so that we can meet our legal obligations
- to protect the rights of our organization and its legally protected interests
- for analytical purposes
How are we making sure your data is protected?
- we have advanced technical and security equipment in place
- every person dealing with personal data at our organization is bound by the duty of non-disclosure,
- we conduct regular security checks
- our staff undergoes regular trainings
To whom will we transfer your data if necessary?
- to authorities and bodies (e.g. the police or a court) conducting proceedings related to your matter, namely for the purpose of legal representation
- if you agree, at any point of our cooperation, to accept representation by an attorney at law mediated by us, we will transfer your personal data to that attorney with your consent,
- to agencies granting subsidies (especially from the government budget) if this is required for granting the money we need to provide you with free and quality social and legal counselling and, as appropriate, legal representation
- to government authorities if this is required by law
- to contractors hired to support our operations (e.g. system administrators), who have the same obligation to protect your personal data as we do
- to persons performing one-time tasks if this is required for us to assist you (e.g. an expert witness preparing their opinion)
- your data may be provided to additional entities with your consent or at your order
What are your rights with respect to our processing and transferring your personal data?
- you have the right to access your file and review the data we are processing about you
- the right to request having your personal rectified
- the right to request that your personal data provided to us be transmitted to you or another service provider. This service may be subject to a charge
- the right to request having your personal data erased. However, we cannot erase your personal data if their further processing is required for meeting legal obligations, for protecting the rights and legitimate interests of our organization, or for continued provision of services to you if you wish to continue cooperating with us
- the right to object to the processing of your personal data. We will review every objection submitted and inform you about the result
- the right to have the processing of your personal data restricted
Which supervisory authority can you contact?
you can turn to the Office for Personal Data Protection, namely file motions or complaints. The address of the Office for Personal Data Protection is: Pplk. Sochora 727/27, 170 00 Praha 7, Czech Republic.
MISSION, GOALS, AND PRINCIPLES
The mission of our specialized social counselling service
Justýna Counselling provides ambulatory and field services of specialized social counselling to individuals at risk of bias violence and their immediate social circle, to especially vulnerable victims, and to women without shelter (at risk of homelessness) who are at risk of violence or have become victims of any violence. The mission of this service is to provide clients with sufficient information and support to empower them to understand their situation and manage it on their own.
The mission of our legal information service
Justýna Counselling provides services for victims of bias violence, especially vulnerable victims, and women without shelter (at risk of homelessness) who are at risk of violence or have become victims of any violence. Legal information is provided in the form of ambulatory and field services. The mission of this service is to provide clients with sufficient legal information so they can understand their situation and get better access to justice. In this way, In IUSTITIA prevents additional damage to the victims that might arise from insensitive actions by the institutions involved.
Goals of the specialized social counselling service
- To prevent bias violence and identify those at risk.
- To help clients navigate what has happened and find a way out.
- To stabilize the client’s social situation and put them on a track back to their life before the assault or criminal act.
- To respect clients’ special needs.
- To ensure the services are provided professionally.
- To start cooperation and partnerships with other social services, the Police of the Czech Republic, and the public administration throughout the country with a view to improving services for the clients.
Goals of the legal information service
- To defend clients’ interests and improve their access to justice.
- To inform clients about their rights and help them exercise those.
- To prevent secondary damage following bias violence or criminal acts.
- To ensure the service is provided professionally
Our service provision rests on the following principles:
- Respecting clients’ individual needs and freedom of choice
- Discretion
- Accessibility
- Free provision
- Fairness and partnership
- Independence
- Equality and non-discrimination
- Anonymity
BEFORE INITIATING CONTACT WITH US, PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING:
- Gather all available documents (police examination protocols, medical reports, photographs, text messages, e-mails etc.) and bring them with you (or have them at hand if contacting us by phone).
- Think about who may have witnessed the attack against you.
- Consider publicity – the media can help you, but they can also draw unwelcome attention to you.
