When a woman seeks help after experiencing domestic violence, the response she receives can make a real difference. She needs to be heard, feel safe and know that her rights and choices matter.

For social services professionals, responding effectively means more than addressing an immediate crisis. It requires a coordinated, safe and victim-centred approach that recognises needs and circumstances.

To strengthen this response, the Department of Social Services and Child Protection and the Council of Europe project “Aligning laws and policies with the Istanbul Convention”, organised capacity building sessions on 2 and 13 October. These sessions focused on the Standards for Social Services for the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence, which were developed with the support of the project.

The sessions brought together 42 professionals (25 women and 17 men) from Centres for Social Work and shelters for victims of domestic violence. They focused on how to implement the standards effectively and how this can improve the quality and consistency of services provided to victims.

The Standards for social services provide practical guidance for the staff, from the first contact through each stage of service provision. They clarify staff responsibilities under existing legislation and support professionals to review the quality of their work and identify where services could improve.

Ultimately, the value of the Standards lies in their practical impact on victims’ lives. Their effective implementation helps ensure that support is not only available, but also coordinated, safe and tailored to individual needs. By placing victims at the centre of every intervention, social services can better protect their rights, restore their sense of security and uphold their dignity and well-being.