European Anti-Violence Network (EAVN) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, founded in 2006, with its headquarters based in Athens, Greece (Reg. No in the Greek Court of the First Instance: 448520/31-10-2006).
EAVN is also member of WAVE Network (Women Against Violence Europe).
EAVN’s activities include the design, implementation and evaluation of capacity building, training, educational and awareness raising activities as well as research activities aiming at primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of violence against women and girls (VAWG), intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic violence (DV) and/or sexual violence. More specifically, EAVN carries out its mission through activities such as:
- Development of educational and awareness raising material (leaflets, books, etc),
- Design, implementation and evaluation of:
- information and awareness raising activities targeted to the general population
- primary and secondary prevention interventions targeted to adolescents (e.g. at schools)
- training seminars targeted to professionals of various disciplines (educators/teachers, health, mental health and social care professionals, police officers, lawyers, etc.) on gender equality, VAWG, IPV and DV
- Development of methods and activities for the empowerment of women survivors of domestic violence
- Design and conduct research
- Network organisations whose activities are related to prevention and combating of domestic violence (develop synergies with organisations, other networks, etc.).
EAVN operates also a specialized support service for abused women, aiming to provide holistic support on the basis of their needs, where they obtain information about their rights and how to claim them, assistance before-during-after civil or criminal proceedings, including psychological support as well as advice and support for legal, financial and practical issues; peer-support and empowerment as well as women’s involvement in decision making processes is promoted. EAVN uses a strength-based approach for the support of women having/had experiences of abuse, with central elements being the holistic approach of each woman’s needs and the use of their own strengths for both being empowered and contribute to the empowerment of their peers.
EAVN has designed, implemented and evaluated the Gender Equality Awareness Raising agianst Intimate Partner Violence (GEAR against IPV) approach aiming at primary and secondary prevention of IPV in adolescents in 7 EU Member States.
Publications include extensive educational material for training professionals and sensitizing adolescents on IPV issues, and supportive material for abused women. EAVN monitors all data collected by Greek Authorities on VAWG and DV, monitors the adoption and way of implementation of policies and exerts pressure towards the compliance of Greece with EU and International standards.