Many OECD governments regularly identify violence against women as the top gender equality issue their country faces. Yet in all countries, addressing this multifaceted issue presents serious governance and implementation challenges as victims/survivors have complex needs both during and after experiences of violence.

Many OECD governments regularly identify violence against women as the top gender equality issue their country faces. Yet in all countries, addressing this multifaceted issue presents serious governance and implementation challenges as victims/survivors have complex needs both during and after experiences of violence. Different service delivery providers such as health, justice, housing and social protection must work together seamlessly - across governmental and non-governmental providers - to provide an effective response. This report presents a stocktaking of OECD governments' efforts to integrate service delivery to address the most prevalent form of gender-based violence against women: intimate partner violence. It presents an overview of different strategies for coordinating key services commonly offered in OECD countries: healthcare, justice, housing, child services, income support, and preventative programmes to stop the reoccurrence of violence. Based on extensive feedback from 35 out of 38 OECD countries and a consultation with non-governmental service providers, this report identifies best practices and investigates the barriers to resolving one of the most pressing human rights issues in OECD countries today.

For survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), housing is a key to establishing a new life free from abuse. Home Safe Home offers a multifaceted analysis that both values the perspectives of IPV survivors and accounts for the practical challenges involved in providing them with adequate permanent housing. As it traces how housing options and support mechanisms for IPV survivors have evolved over time, this book also offers innovative suggestions for how to better meet the needs of this vulnerable population.

This case study investigated what constitutes survival skills and a supportive living environment from the perspective of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Transitional Living Program participants and YWCA support staff. Research questions that guided this investigation are the following: (1) What survival skills do you need to live independent (self-sufficient, free) from an abusive relationship? And (2) what does a supportive (encouraging, caring, helpful, accommodating) living environment mean to you in a transitional living environment? Such questions help gather insight for improving intervention programs for abused women; although great improvements have been made in terms of legislation, policy, and federal funding, such advances have not been enough to improve the situations of abused women. Excerpts from interviews and other data were separated into common themes that emerged and were then grouped by categories - Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs pyramid (safety and security, belongingness and love, self-esteem, and self-actualization) and social support network (emotional support, informational support, and material support, and collaboration). The perceptions of the Transitional Living Program participants and YWCA support staff were used as recommendations for intervention programs. Programs recommended are the following: Assertiveness training, self-defense workshops, stress management classes, self-esteem building classes, family bonding programs, and facilitated support groups for mothers, children, and teenagers.

Fiyyah Alexander Born and raised in Boston, MA; Received a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Wheelock College in Boston, MA. I have been working with victims of domestic violence for over 13 years as a Victim Advocate. I have over time noted some very crucial information that all victims need to know when they are in a domestic violence relationship, if they are trying to get out of a domestic violence relationship, or have just left a domestic violence relationship. If any of the above applies to you or someone you know or love this book may prove to be of great benefit to you. Don't wait till it's too late; get the information you need to make a safe and clean break from the violence. www.fiyyahsdaydream.biz