2023

Rise up

The project Rise up against anti-LGBTI hate crimes is implemented in a partnership of Prague Pride, the National Institute of Mental Health, and In IUSTITIA. Its goal is to prevent discrimination or bias attacks against LGBT+ people by raising awareness among professionals and the general public in the Czech Republic. The project also seeks to reduce the latency of bias attacks against LGBT+ people.

In addition to the main goal, the project includes an activity to improve the current state of data collection and mapping in the area of bias violence and intolerance against LGBT+ people with a view to ensuring long-term monitoring at the local and international levels and data comparability in future.

The individual project activities will involve the Police of the Czech Republic and other professionals to spur legislative and political changes for improving access to justice among LGBT+ victims of crime.

Last but not least, professional services will be provided to LGBT+ victims of bias violence.

In IUSTITIA, o.p.s. is a partner of Prague Pride, z.s. in the RISE UP project (No. 963772) funded from the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014–2020). The project is co-funded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Právem proti předsudkům – Active citizens fund (Nadace OSF)

(By Law against Prejudice)

Od 1. března 2020 In IUSTTIA realizuje nový projekt, jehož cílem je prostřednictvím reprezentativního výzkumu, právní analýzy a praktických zjištění na základě strategické litigace připravit komplexní legislativní návrh optimalizující postavení a ochranu obětí předsudečné trestné činnosti.

Pod garancí odborného partnera bude navržena systémová právní úprava. Ta bude následně komunikována aktérům, a to prostřednictvím konference, tak prostřednictvím advokačních činností a kampaně s videospoty. Do realizace projektu budou přímo zapojeny ohrožené skupiny z řad LGBT osob a osob s hendikepem.

Projekt podpořila Nadace OSF v rámci programu Active Citizens Fund, jehož cílem je podpora občanské společnosti a posílení kapacit neziskových organizací. Program je financován z Fondů EHP a Norska. Více informací o projektu je možné nalézt na webových stránkách projektu.

  

Since March 1, 2020 In IUSTTIA has been implementing a new project whose goal is to optimise the position and protection of bias crime victims through a representative research, legal analysis and practical findings on the basis of strategic litigation to prepare a comprehensive legislative proposal.

Under the guarantee of a professional partner, systemic legislation will be proposed. It will be then communicated to the stakeholders through conferences, advocacy activities and campaigns with video ads. Vulnerable victims within LGBT+ community and people with disabilities will be directly involved in the project implementation. More information can be found on the project website.

The project is supported by the Open Society Fund Prague from the Active Citizens Fund. The programme promotes citizens’ active participation in the public life and decision making and builds capacities of civil society organisations. The Active Citizens Fund is financed from the EEA and Norway Grants.


https://www.activecitizensfund.cz/

Justýna Counselling (social service) – Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Through its ambulatory and field services of specialized social counselling, In IUSTITIA provides support and assistance to victims of bias violence throughout the Czech Republic, to especially vulnerable victims in Brno, and also to women in difficult life situations who have experienced or are at risk of violence in Prague.

All services are provided free of charge throughout the Czech Republic, including two brick-and-mortar counselling centres (Prague and Brno). In IUSTITIA guarantees service availability within 3 business days of being contacted by those interested. The impacts of bias violence and the impacts of criminal acts on especially vulnerable victims may lead to their social exclusion or exacerbate one that already exists. By providing its services to the above individuals, In IUSTITIA strives to prevent the development or exacerbation of social exclusion.

Furthermore, the services provided play an important role in preventing secondary victimization, i.e. damage caused by actions of bodies and institutions with which the victim comes into contact; such damage leads to serious deterioration of quality of life. Bias attacks and criminal acts against especially vulnerable victims make a fundamental impact on a person’s everyday life by causing deterioration of health both physical and mental, loss or reduction of income, loss of risk of losing one’s job, exclusion from the educational process, social isolation, development of mental conditions (including post-traumatic stress disorder), etc.

Victims of bias violence are provided with comprehensive services, whereas timely provision has the potential to mitigate the negative impact of criminal activity and to enable optimal processing of the violence survived into the victim’s life experience. The service works with the victims on a long-term basis. According to their needs, we guide them through their difficult situation following the assault until they fully come to terms with the new situation.

Our specialized social counselling service consists of long-term guidance, provision of information, and counselling in the following areas: health, mental well-being, security and media relations planning, financial assistance to victims, rights of the victim in criminal proceedings, the victim’s right to claim damages. Depending on their needs, we will accompany the injured parties to dealings with the authorities, medical professionals, police, and courts.

Subsequently, the victims will be provided with legal information services pursuant to the Act on Victims of Crime or with an attorney’s legal services to ensure access to justice. The services are provided by telephone, by e-mail, and face to face at a brick-and-mortar counselling centre or in the victims’ natural social environment.

The project is implemented throughout the calendar year of 2023 and funded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Justýna Counselling (social service) – Prague City Hall

Safe In Your New Home – Prague City Hall

The goal of the project is to raise general and legal awareness among foreigners, especially EU citizens, who live in Prague and are at risk of bias violence. Furthermore, we seek to increase their integration potential, prevent social exclusion and isolation, and reduce the risk of radicalization. The project also targets the general majority public, given its importance in the effort to integrate foreigners at risk of bias violence, strengthens neighborhood relations, and creates a natural barrier against bias violence in the public space.

Under the project, we will also print and distribute informational materials for foreigners in several language versions. Outreach workers will use these materials to actively contact foreigners at risk of bias violence. Those contacted will obtain information about Czech laws, rights, and obligations in the context of bias violence, as well as ways to prevent social exclusion that might result from criminal acts. They will also receive contact information for organizations assisting foreigners in other areas of social work.

Our outreach work will be followed up by the provision of social and legal services, funded under other projects.

The project is funded by a City of Prague grant for the year 2023 under the programme Activities to Support Integration of Foreigners in Prague, specifically in the section on cultural, social, and awareness-raising activities, language education, and community work.

Justýna Counselling (legal information) – Ministry of Justice

The main goal of the project is to prevent secondary victimization among victims of bias violence and other especially vulnerable victims by applying the instruments foreseen in the Act on Victims of Crime, in particular the provision of legal information and legal aid by an agent, throughout the Czech Republic, with a special focus on Prague and Brno.

A specific goal of the project is to stabilize the target group, help victims navigate criminal proceedings, and maintain the existing quality of care for victims of bias violence nationwide.

The main target group consists of victims of bias violence throughout the Czech Republic. The secondary target group includes especially vulnerable victims as defined by the Act on Victims of Crime. These individuals receive legal information as part of In IUSTITIA’s comprehensive services for victims of bias violence. The service works with victims on a long-term basis, guiding them through their difficult situation following the assault until they fully come to terms with the new reality.

The legal information service includes:

• Informing victims about their rights and how to exercise them in criminal proceedings

• Explaining how to claim damages for bodily, material, or other harm

• Providing information on financial assistance available for victims of crime

• Assisting with writing submissions (e.g., criminal reports, complaints, appeals, applications)

• Offering confidant’s services (accompanying victims) in dealings with police and courts

• Informing about criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings

The services are provided by telephone, e-mail, and in person at a brick-and-mortar counselling centre or in the victims’ natural social environment.

The project is implemented throughout the calendar year of 2023 and subsidized by the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic from the budget appropriation for Development of Services for Victims of Crime.

Justýna Counselling (crime prevention) – Prague City Hall

The goal of the project is to enhance the sense of security among Prague residents, provide assistance and counselling to especially vulnerable victims—specifically victims of bias violence—and raise legal awareness among those at risk, victims and witnesses, public administration, police, and the general public.

Under the project, victims of assault will receive legal counselling and aid, including agent’s and confidant’s services (i.e., accompaniment to dealings with police and courts). Additionally, outreach activities will provide information to individuals at risk of bias violence in their natural social environment. The project also includes workshops aimed at informing the general public, individuals at risk, and public administration.

The project is funded by a City of Prague 2023 crime prevention grant under the Crime Prevention Programme for the year 2023 – Assistance to Victims of Crime.

is project secures additional funding for the social service already supported by the Ministry of Justice.Justýna Counselling Brno 2023 – Brno City Municipality

Justýna Counselling (social service) – South Moravian Region

In IUSTITIA provides specialized social counselling to victims of bias violence and especially vulnerable victims throughout the South Moravian Region. Services are available at our Brno counselling office and in the field for those unable to visit in person.

This service is complemented by separately funded legal information in accordance with the Act on Victims of Crime, including agent’s and confidant’s services (accompaniment to dealings with police and courts). Victims receive comprehensive assistance, guiding them through legal proceedings and addressing the social impacts of the criminal act on their lives.

Justýna Counselling is the only service in the Czech Republic focused specifically on supporting victims of bias violence, complementing existing services for victims of crime in the South Moravian Region. Our support helps victims adjust to their new situation, minimizing the risk of permanent negative impacts, secondary victimization, social exclusion, or radicalization.

Originally planned for the entire calendar year of 2022, the project was extended to 30 June 2023. It aligns with the priorities of the Medium-Term Plan for the Development of Social Services in the South Moravian Region 2021–2023 and is funded by the South Moravian Region.

Increasing the Recognition of Hate Speech in Ostrava – U.S. Embassy in Bratislava

In cooperation with the University of Ostrava, this project focuses on bias violence training for social workers and social work students. The initiative offers three courses of professional education on bias violence, accredited by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, providing a total of 21 hours of recognized mandatory education for participating social workers.

The courses were hosted at the Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ostrava, during the spring semester (February–April). Invitations were extended primarily to students of the Faculty, social workers from various NGOs, local authorities, and other institutions within our network. The courses were conducted by In IUSTITIA’s experienced lecturers and experts in legal and social support for bias violence victims. Educational content was tailored to the local context of Ostrava and the Moravian-Silesian Region.

Participants learned to identify bias violence, understand its specifics, the rights and obligations in filing criminal reports, the course of criminal proceedings, the Act on Victims of Crime, security planning, and best practices in media communication. These workers often encounter victims of bias violence first-hand, and enhancing their skills benefits not only the victims but the wider community. Providing adequate support helps to reduce the risk of secondary victimization, social exclusion, and radicalization of both victims and their social circles.

The project runs from 1 October 2022 to 30 May 2023 under the Power of Cities II programme, in collaboration with the Strong Cities Network. It is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava via Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia.

Assistance to Ukrainians on the Run – Supporting Crime Survivors 
 

The project focuses on supporting people fleeing Ukraine who became victims of a war crime in Ukrainian territory or victims of bias violence or grievous bodily harm in Czech territory. The comprehensive project consists of several parts.

The first two parts focus directly on the main target group. Our peer outreach workers contact them in the field, and we add a community therapist’s psychological support for targeted individuals to the service portfolio of In IUSTITIA. The third part focuses on making our services overall better accessible to Ukrainian refugees by (1) creating a website in Ukrainian and Russian for the target group that contains important information about bias violence, war crimes, and options for where to seek help; and (2) ensuring linguistic education for our direct care staff to master basic communication in Ukrainian. The final part of the project targets other service providers or government institutions who come into contact with refugees from Ukraine or are involved in investigating genocide. The goal is to initiate the establishment of an elaborate system of working with and caring for war crime victims and witnesses.

All these activities will be conducted to prevent social exclusion and other consequences of unchecked trauma in the target group of people who have experienced war crimes, bias violence, or other criminal acts.

The project is implemented thanks to financial support by the City of Prague.

Supporting Individuals at Risk of Bias Violence – T-Mobile, Via Foundation

The contribution from Via Foundation’s T-Mobile Fund allocated for supporting individuals at risk of bias violence is primarily used for awareness-raising activities – amplifying the topic of bias violence, disseminating information benefiting those at risk, and last but not least, campaigning for a legislative change to remedy the insufficient protection of LGBT+ people and people with disabilities against bias violence. We pursue these goals by publishing information on websites, taking to social media, placing paid online ads, publishing press releases, or maintaining media relations. 

While In IUSTITIA primarily provides direct assistance to crime victims, the project is consistent with its additional long-term effort to prevent bias violence, raise awareness, and promote information about the rights of victims. 

The project is implemented thanks to a financial contribution from Via Foundation’s T-Mobile Fund.