Co-authors: Stefan Hopf (Vienna Centre for Societal Security, Austria), Emanuel Tananau Blumenschein (Vienna Centre for Societal Security, Austria), Norbert Leonhardmair (Vienna Centre for Societal Security, Austria), Joachim Kersten (Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei, Germany), Natalie Köpsel (Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei, Germany), Sandra González Cabezas (Asociación Askabide Liberación, Spain), Hilde Hellbernd (S.I.G.N.A.L. e.V., Germany), Jarmo Houtsonen (Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu, Finland), Ainhoa Izaguirre Choperena (Universidad De La Iglesia De Deusto Entidad Religiosa, Spain), María Lopez Belloso (Universidad De La Iglesia De Deusto Entidad Religiosa, Spain), Angelika May (S.I.G.N.A.L. e.V., Germany), Marianne Mela (Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu, Finland), Suvi Nipuli (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Finland), Seija (Parekh Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Finland), Lorea Romero Gutierrez (Universidad De La Iglesia De Deusto Entidad Religiosa, Spain) and Margarita Vassileva (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France)
Research on the epidemic of domestic abuse reveals lack of overlap between police crime statistics and victim surveys indicating that although domestic abuse is widespread only a minor part of victims are served by the help system. Moreover, only 30% of the victim-survivors of domestic violence turn to the various care structures, while the majority turns to their networks of family and friends. In order to identify determinants of successful pathways, we interviewed 108 victim-survivors from vulnerable groups (i.e. migration background, LGBTIQ+ identification, health impairments, rural/remote areas) from Austria, Finland, France, Germany, and Spain on their search for help, asking for enabling and hindering factors in contact with various institutions of the help system. Regarding the pathways, results of the interviews indicated that approaches to help are various, but they can be dissected into different steps that might take place. Firstly, respondents often reported a preparatory step, this includes seeking out information, planning contingencies, and acknowledging one’s own victimisation. Secondly, direct support seeking measures can be undertaken, often reaching out to informal networks, where available. Support seeking steps often included the use of formal support structures as well, whether general or dedicated support services. These range from LEAs and shelters, to general practitioners and therapists. Lastly, instances where reporting was done externally, i.e., without the go ahead of respondents, can play an important role within the support seeking process, as it might serve as a starting point or a first negative experience with support services, either motivating or hampering further activities by victims. The interviews highlighted the experiences of vulnerable victims, which further illustrate the weaknesses of the support system and the accumulated difficulties that both victims and frontline responders have to overcome.