Coordinating community responses to violence against women in Galicia (NW Spain)

Abstract

Services in the form of shelter, support, education, and legal advocacy may be crucial in the success of other community efforts to address domestic violence. This poster provides an overview of different mechanisms for coordinating community responses to domestic violence and examines some of their individual components. As specific policies and practices vary depending upon regional normative and the characteristics of local agencies, the poster focuses on three types of coordination that exist in the Autonomous Community of Galicia (NW Spain): (1) local intervention and support networks; (2) women information centers; and (3) protection orders regional coordinating centers. The focus will be on the procedures related to interagency coordination and that lead to more uniform responses. Components of a coordinated community response include: follow-up support and advocacy for victims; carrying out and enforce medical and legal interventions; and education and prevention.