7th international EFJCA Conference

Program Day 1

Monday 6.10.25 - 10.00-17.00, Heraklion, Aquila Atlantis hotel

09.30
Registration

10.00
Opening
by Nicholas Spetsidis, UWAH – Pascale Franck and Bert Groen, EFJCA

10.15
Welcome
by Name TBC

10.30
The role of tackling gender-based violence and the role of local authorities by a representative of the Local Authorities of Crete

11.00
A travel to Family Justice Centers and Multidisciplinary Models
In a fast-paced overview, we explore how cross-sector collaboration transforms responses to gender-based and domestic violence, and how it unites professionals around a shared mission of safety, empowerment, and lasting change.
by Dries Wyckmans, Department gender related violence, Flemish Government and Bert Groen, EFJCA

11.30
Coffee break

12.00
Panel Discussion: Advancing Gender-Based Approaches in Multidisciplinary Responses to GBV and DV
This panel will explore the critical role of a gender-based approach in addressing gender-based and domestic violence, with insights drawn from international frameworks and monitoring reports. Special attention will be given to key lessons from GREVIO evaluations, the EU Directive, and the recent OECD report. The session includes time for questions from the audience.

Panel Host: Melina Daskalakis, Lawyer, Legal Advisor (TBC)

Speakers:

• Maria Andriana Kostopoulou (GREVIO), The Istanbul Convention and the Multidisciplinary Approach: Why a Gender-Based Perspective Matters, Insights from GREVIO Reports
• Representative of the Committee of the Parties, The New EU Directive: Implications for GBV Policy and the Sustainability of Multidisciplinary Centers
• Doron Wijker, OECD, OECD Findings: The Role of States and Governments in Shaping Effective GBV and DV Policies

13.00
Lunch

14.00
Experiences of FJCs in Europe: Building, Sustaining, and Centering a multidisciplinary approach
In this session, speakers from several European countries will share how Family Justice Centers and related multidisciplinary models have taken shape in their local and national contexts. Through storytelling and visual impressions, we explore how these centers were built, how they strive for sustainability, and how they embed a strong gender-based approach in their daily work. Speakers will reflect on both the opportunities and challenges they face in their regions, offering inspiration and practical insights for professionals across Europe.

Contributions from:

• Netherlands – Tanya Hoogwerf, FJC Filomena Rotterdam
• Italy – Giussy Barbara/Laila Micci, FJC Milan
• Belgium – Lilith Roggeman, Veilig Huizen Flanders
• France – Violette Perrotte, Re#Start, Maison des Femmes
• Iceland – Jenny Valberg, FJC Bjarkarhlíð Reykjavik

15.00
The Development of the FJC in Heraklion
Highlights of the process, structure, and key experiences in building a Family Justice Center in the Heraklion: the opportunities this journey has brought, as well as the challenges faced along the way.
by Nicholas Spetsidis, UWAH

15.15
Coffee break

15.45
From Surviving to Transforming: Understanding Perpetrators and Strengthening System Accountability
by James Henderson
Henderson brings a compelling and deeply personal perspective to the conversation on domestic violence. Drawing from his own experience as a survivor of family violence and his decades of work in offender accountability, probation, and system reform, he explores the complex profiles of perpetrators and the critical need for coordinated, informed responses. This keynote highlights the responsibility of institutions to not only hold perpetrators accountable but also to ensure safety and justice for victims. With clarity and passion, Henderson challenges professionals to move beyond victim-blaming and center their efforts on systemic change and perpetrator-focused strategies.

16.45
Closure
by Nicholas Spetsidis, UWAH

17.00
Welcome to network drink