Networking

One primary goal of our networking efforts is to combine our strengths and improve the exchange of information between different groups so we can work better in the interest of women and children suffering violence.

Berlin Intervention Project Against Domestic Violence

[Berliner Interventionsprojekt gegen häusliche Gewalt – BIG]
The project was founded by BIG e.V. in 1994. Its goal is to build a broad, city-wide coalition against domestic violence in cooperation with authorities, organizations, and other projects. The BIG coalition develops measures and actions to reduce the incidents of violence against women and to increase awareness about the severe criminal nature of violence against women. Their work addresses police and social work, civil and penal law, and politics.
The BORA Counseling Center, Shelter, and the Communal Housing Program serve on various boards and participate in the BIG committees.
http://www.big-interventionszentrale.de

Alliance of Berlin Women's Shelters and Women's Counseling Centers

[Bündnis der Berliner Frauenhäuser und Frauenberatungsstellen (BBFF)]

The BBFF Alliance was founded in 1998 to improve and institutionalize everyday networking and co-operation between the women's shelters and counseling centers. The main focus of its work is community outreach to women, supporters, politicians, and the broader public.
Write to: BBFF c/o Frauenraum, Torstraße 112, D-10119 Berlin, Germany
email to:
BBFF c/o Frauenraum, Torstr. 112, 10119 Berlin, Deutschland
E-Mail: frauenraum@t-online.de

International networking and cooperation

BORA is especially interested in the international perspectives of anti-violence work. We support and promote solidarity between women's projects in many different countries. Thus BORA presented its work in Crakow (Poland), Casablanca (Morocco), Helsinki (Finland), and San Francisco (USA). In turn, we welcomed guests from France and ten Arab or Turkish-speaking countries to Berlin.

Very important to us is the "Purple Rose"-Campaign for Filipino women and child victims of international sex trafficking. We also strongly support the work of the Palestinian women's project "Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling", www.wclac.org, with programs in Eastern Jerusalem and Hebron.

We support and feel part of all international women's movements working for women's liberation, especially those who fight against violence against women and girls. Our deep admiration and respect goes to the women of organizations and groups such as e.g. "RAWA" from Afghanistan, www.rawa.org, and many others who at the highest peril of their own lives speak up against the discrimination of women and girls.

More links: Local Ressources.

Cooperation with Authorities and Committees

BORA e.V. cooperates with government authorities and local government committees. The goal is to make authorities better understand the situation of our mutual clients. Improved cooperation between government agencies and support programs helps us to work more effectively for women escaping violence. In the past we were able to come to an arrangement with local Social Welfare Offices, police-stations, Psychiatric Services and Socio-Psychiatric Committees ["Sozialpsychiatrischer Arbeitskreis"]. As a result of our educational work the staff and case-workers in many agencies gained a better understanding of the situation of women escaping from violence.

Despite of all these improvements lengthy and extensive bureaucratic procedures often prevent women from leaving the abusive situation and from moving on with their lives. We hope that our work helps to speed up these processes so that quick and easy solutions to "red tape" hassles can be found more often.