At Shalom Bait we understand gender violence as a problem that seriously affects all aspects of women's lives in a transversal way, so its approach must take into account this level of complexity.

We conceive gender-based violence as an extremely complex and serious issue affecting women in every aspect of their lives, and as such it must be approached.

We carry out comprehensive interventions focusing on the strengthening and protection of women seeking help by providing support and orientation, group assistance, counsel and legal representation in relation to the abuse report as well as in relation to contact orders, financial support, parental responsibility and divorce.

We assist women who are victims of violence, women who survived abuse situations during childhood and adolescence, and mothers who suspect their children have been victims of sexual abuse.

In a context of warmth, empathy and confidentiality, we offer each woman the company and support needed to walk their way back to freedom, autonomy, self-esteem and the strength to protect their children.

Women who come to our institution for the first time have an individual interview with a psychologist who is an expert in the field. As a consequence of the violence they endure, they arrive feeling doubtful, unstable, confused, unsafe and afraid, and are filled with guilt. Through these initial interviews, we can get to know their personal situation, establish a relationship based on trust, assess risks and agree on a course of action. These first steps are extremely hard but, nonetheless, key to recovery. We recognize how valuable and how important their efforts and their request for help are. We see their potential to find a way out of violence and that is why we make all our support, commitment and expertise available to them.

Helping women to be aware of their rights and how to enforce them is part of the process of strengthening and empowering them. We provide legal advice and representation for violence reports as well as for legal filings related to children’s defense and protection, such as financial support, contact orders, personal care and divorce. Victims of gender-based abuse usually require legal aid. Ironically, access to legal professionals with the appropriate training and experience in the field stands as an exception. Scarcity of adequate legal service is the rule.

For us, legal aid must be approached with a comprehensive view, as a key element of the recovery process. The attorneys take regular part in our mutual help groups in order to clear up doubts and deal with any concerns their members have about legal aspects of their situation.

For women in abuse situations, coming together with other women undergoing similar situations, sharing their experiences, exchanging ideas, suggestions and thoughts has an undoubted healing power. It is an essential aspect of recovery.

There are 12 groups with 14 members tops each. These are coordinated by two professionals from our team. They are scheduled on different days and times (morning, noon, afternoon, evening). Each group holds a two-hour weekly encounter.

Based on the topics which women themselves bring forward, we work collectively on these goals:

»  Identifying and reviewing each member’s beliefs and previous ideas on women, men, children, marriage, couples, love and family.

» Socializing experiences of abuse as well as of survival.

»  Understanding the dynamics underlying violence, abuse, captivity and loss of freedom.

»  Acknowledging the pattern of victimization their children also suffered.

» Identifying the harm caused by abuse.

» Learning self-protection and safety strategies, getting to know their rights and their children’s.

»Gaining back economic independence and autonomy.

» Increasing self-esteem and personal strength involved in the decision-making process.

» Setting up support networks with women in similar situations.

» Sharing fear and frustration feelings.

» Sharing and celebrating achievements.

The group approach fulfills one of the first goals in the recovery path: ending the isolation in which victims of violence are normally immersed.