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Here’s a link to the personal safety plan — a list of recommendations that can help you to protect yourself and your family.
Remember: if you’re facing family violence, you’re never to blame for the way an abusive person treats you. It’s always an abuser’s choice to use violence, and it is never your fault. But there are some steps that you can take to make life for you and your children safer.
What should I do if I am in danger and need immediate help?
Find out the phone numbers of the police and/or emergency services (it’s better to do it in advance) and call them.
What should I do if I don’t speak the local language?
If you have to ask for help, but you don’t speak the local language, you may feel even more vulnerable. Try to learn the phrases you need to ask for help and share your location in advance. For example, “My name is… My husband is beating me and he might kill me. I need help. Please come to…[insert address here]”.
In some countries you can ask the police or medical service to provide you with an interpreter. You can also use Google Translate to translate the necessary phrases in advance and save them or write them down. For example: “I need help. I don’t speak English (or another language, depending on the country). Can I get an interpreter?”
If I have any migration issues (e.g., visa overstay or my registration has expired), is it safe for me to call the police?
If your registration has expired or you are staying in the country illegally, you may have problems while contacting law enforcement agencies and healthcare workers. If you have any issues with your migration status and your life is not in danger right now, it’s better to reach out to the organizations that help the survivors of domestic violence, refugees, and migrants (you can find their contact info on the internet). You can also try reaching out to charities and religious organizations.
What should I say when calling the police?
Unfortunately, the police don’t take calls for domestic violence as seriously as they should in some other countries. Try using the phrase “I want to report a crime”. Then briefly describe the situation without downplaying the danger (e.g. tell the police that your partner or a family member is beating you/is threatening to kill you/is beating you so bad that they may kill you).
If you know that the abuser has a weapon, was previously violent towards people or animals, or has an alcohol or a drug addiction, be sure to tell the police about it.
You also need to tell the police your full name, date of birth and your address.
How soon will the police come?
Unfortunately, it depends on the country you’re in. Sometimes the police come in a few minutes, but sometimes you have to wait for hours.
What should I do if they do not come?
You can try calling them again and say that you are still in danger.
What should I say when they come?
Explain in detail what happened to you. You can write the sequence of events on paper, so you don’t miss anything important.
The police will probably ask you how many times the aggressor hit you and where. Try to recall everything and explain it in detail. If the aggressor caused you any material damage (e.g. broke your phone, ruined your clothes), report that as well.
If you have been abused by this person before, tell the police about all the cases. Mention if you sought medical help, if you contacted the police, if there were any witnesses. If there were, give the police their names and contacts.
If you know that the abuser has a weapon, was previously violent towards people or animals, or has an alcohol or a drug addiction, be sure to tell the police about it.
Ask the police to take care of your personal safety and to take the aggressor to the police station. Also ask to get a referral to the medical organizational/specialized institution – they are going to record all of your injuries.
Before signing any papers, read them very carefully. If there are any inaccuracies in the report, ask for them to be corrected.
Will the police remove the perpetrator from the house?
It depends on the legislation of a country you’re in and in your circumstances. Usually the police take away the aggressor if the situation of violence continues and there is a threat to life and well-being of a person. You ask the police to take care of your personal safety and ask if they can remove the aggressor from the house.
Can I issue a restraining order against the aggressor?
It depends on the legislation of a country you’re in and in your circumstances. Some countries have legal mechanisms that prohibit the aggressor from approaching the survivor, contacting them, etc. Ask the police about this, and also contact the organizations that help the survivors of domestic violence, they will help you create a safety plan.
How can I get medical help?
You can go to the nearest medical facility on your own. If the injuries are serious and you find it difficult to move, you should call an ambulance. Find out the ambulance/emergency number (it’s better to do it in advance) and call them..
When talking with the doctor, tell them exactly what happened and how it happened, where you were hit. Show the doctors all the injuries that you have on the body – bruises, abrasions, redness, etc. Ask the doctor to describe all the injuries in detail in the documents. Feel free to tell everything in great detail and say how exactly you were beaten.
Make sure that the doctor records everything you’re saying and records the date when you got injured. Those documents are very important.
Make sure the doctor described your injuries correctly and in detail, described where you have them, how serious they are and when and how you got them.
It can be useful to get a document proving that you’ve contacted a healthcare organization regarding your injuries.
Don’t forget to take pictures of the injuries yourself, so you can attach them to the case in the future. Record any proof that you can and appeal for witnesses.
Do I need money or documents to call the ambulance?
It depends on the country you’re in. In some countries urgent medical help is free.
Where can I go for legal help and support?
Search for the local non-profit organization that helps survivors of violence,migrants, and refugees. You can also try reaching out to local charities and religious organizations. In some countries, survivors of domestic violence are provided with free legal, social, and psychological support, as well as other kinds of help.
Если сексуализированное насилие происходит со стороны вашего партнера, вам может помочь план по личной безопасности — он находится по этой ссылке. В нём приводятся рекомендации, которые помогут вам защитить себя и своих детей.
If you live with or plan to leave an abusive person, or have already left, a personal safety plan can help you—a list of recommendations to help you protect yourself and your children.
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