CYIL vol. 15 (2024)

CYIL 15 ȍ2024Ȏ INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC PROTECTION FROM VIOLENCE OF PERSONS … rules, work rules, codes of ethics. 79 The research revealed that the internal rules of procedure and codes of ethics of the staff refer to fundamental rules of conduct, which stipulate that violence of any kind, whether against residents or service users or other staff, is not tolerated. Violation of these rules will result in appropriate liability (including dismissal). Social services institutions pay extra attention to the financial exploitation of people with disabilities, and a large number of social care institutions have adopted guidelines for the prevention of financial exploitation alongside their violence prevention plans. However, the study found that it is not known how many social care institutions have adopted specialised guidelines on prevention and response to violence. 80 Grigaitė and Klidziūtė further indicate that the definition of violence is not comprehensive whereas the social services mechanism does not further define institutional violence and the organisational response. It should be noted that the analysis of the documents suggests that they take a rather general approach to the definition of violence, although it is a very complex and multifaceted phenomenon, with many different forms, many different causes, on which different prevention measures, recognition, response and support depend in practice. General recommendations are a positive aspect, but there is a lack of more specific recommendations and guidelines on how to prevent, recognise, react and provide appropriate assistance in the case of specific different forms of violence, including gender-based violence, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence and institutional violence. 81 There is a lack of an algorithm in both sectors for identifying and responding to violence. In child protection, there is a very clear and specific procedure for responding to violence, but this is not the case in the context of adult protection. The need for a distinct algorithm to identify violence and outline subsequent actions was clearly expressed by all participants of the research mentioned above. This need is also linked to strengthening inter-institutional cooperation and developing communication channels. 82 There is also a lack of inter-sectoral cooperation at the national level. Institutions are often unaware of each other’s existence, with social and mental health services being unaware of specialised complex support centres. A significant lack of cooperation can be noted between different institutions, sectors, ministries, and systems, as well as a need for algorithms for joint, collaborative responses to assist clients and patients experiencing violence. Thus, it can be concluded that the national legal regulation foresees the general requirements on the prevention of violence in institutions and leaves it up to the particular social care institutions to set the specific provisions on the protection from violence of their residents. The implementation and effectiveness of those measures are ultimately dependent on the institution and its administration. 79 GRIGAITĖ, U., KLIDZIŪTĖ, G. Sankirta tarp smurto lyties pagrindu ir socialinių bei psichikos sveikatos priežiūros paslaugų teikimo moterims su negalia Lietuvoje: situacijos apžvalga ir rekomendacijos sisteminiams pokyčiams (The intersection between gender-based violence and the provision of social and mental health services for women with disabilities in Lithuania: a review of the situation and recommendations for systemic change) (2023) accessed 14 June 2024.

80 Ibid. 81 Ibid. 82 Ibid.

93