First steps to a FJC in Hungary
Organisation/Third party
Magyar Ökumenikus Segélyszervezet /Hungarian Interchurch Aid
Grant amount
€ 22.000
Website
Country
Hungary
Title of the project
First Steps to a Family Justice Center in Hungary
Project duration
7 months
Target groups
The project addresses a complex and interrelated set of target groups, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of domestic violence prevention and response. The intervention is designed to engage both primary and secondary target groups, including frontline professionals, institutional stakeholders, decision-makers and, ultimately, victims of domestic violence. The structure of the project ensures that these groups are not treated in isolation, but as part of an interconnected system where improved cooperation and shared understanding are essential for effective support. The primary target group of the project consists of professionals and institutions directly involved in the prevention of and response to domestic violence. These include actors from the social sector, child protection system, law enforcement, victim support services and probation services.
Their active involvement is essential, as they are the ones who encounter victims in different stages of the support pathway and whose cooperation determines the effectiveness of the overall system. A key entry point for the project is the crisis ambulance operated by Hungarian Interchurch Aid, which has been providing trauma-informed support services to victims of domestic violence and their relatives for the past eight years, with the support of the responsible line ministry. The service focuses primarily on prevention, aiming to prevent escalation into life-threatening situations by offering social, psychological and legal counselling.
Over time, the service has developed strong working relationships with a range of partner organisations, with more than half of its clients being referred through these partnerships. The project builds on this experience and network, with the intention of further developing the service and exploring its transformation into a pilot Family Justice Center. Among the most important stakeholders are representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, which plays a central role in shaping the institutional framework of domestic violence response in Hungary. Since 2023, Hungarian Interchurch Aid has been entrusted with a methodological mandate in the field, supporting the professional work of crisis services nationwide, including crisis ambulances, shelters and helplines.
This role provides a unique opportunity to ensure that project results contribute not only to local practice but also to broader system-level development, including potential policy and regulatory improvements. Law enforcement actors, including representatives of county and local police, are also key stakeholders. Their role is critical in identifying acute crisis situations, making immediate decisions and ensuring the safety of victims. Hungarian Interchurch Aid maintains a strategic cooperation agreement with the National Police Headquarters, within the framework of which it contributes to the continuous professional development of law enforcement personnel, including the training of approximately 600 police officers annually. Strengthening their understanding of trauma-informed approaches and improving cooperation with other actors is essential for preventing further harm and ensuring effective intervention.
Child protection professionals form another crucial target group, including family support workers, case managers, school and kindergarten social workers and guardianship authorities. In many cases, children are direct or indirect victims of domestic violence, and their needs must be addressed alongside those of adult victims. However, not all professionals in the system are equipped with a trauma-informed perspective, which can limit the effectiveness of support and, in some cases, lead to victim-blaming attitudes. The project therefore aims to strengthen their capacity and ensure that the best interests of the child are consistently represented. Victim Support Centers and related services also play a central role, as they are often among the first to come into contact with victims after a crime has occurred.
They provide immediate assistance, including financial support and crisis intervention, and frequently refer victims to longer-term support services such as the crisis ambulance. Their involvement is essential for ensuring continuity of care and effective referral pathways. The probation service represents another important institutional actor, working directly with perpetrators of domestic violence. By supporting behavioral change and preventing reoffending, probation officers contribute to reducing the risk of repeated violence. Their role also includes maintaining contact with victims and encouraging them to seek support when needed. Their inclusion in the project reflects the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses both victim support and perpetrator management. In addition to frontline stakeholders, the project also targets decision-makers at local and national levels.
Their involvement is crucial for ensuring that the lessons learned and solutions developed within the project can be translated into sustainable institutional and policy-level changes. Through stakeholder consultations and strategic planning processes, the project seeks to create ownership and commitment among these actors, including the potential for future pilot implementation of the Family Justice Center model. While professionals and institutions form the primary target group, victims of domestic violence are at the center of the project’s overall approach. Their needs, experiences and perspectives are systematically integrated into the project through research, data collection and feedback mechanisms. The longitudinal data collection carried out during the project ensures that victims’ voices are not only heard but actively shape service development, training content and strategic planning.
In this sense, victims represent both a direct and an indirect target group, benefiting from improved services while also contributing to their design. The project also contributes to embedding evidence-based and good practices within existing services and emerging multidisciplinary models. By combining local experience with international knowledge exchange through cooperation with EFJCA, the project supports the adaptation of proven approaches to the Hungarian context.
The ecosystem assessment and subsequent strategy development process will result in a structured understanding of the local system and a set of proposed development pathways aligned with the principles of the Family Justice Center model. Stakeholders are actively involved in this process, and the project aims to secure their commitment to further cooperation, including the potential establishment of a pilot FJC through formal or informal partnership agreements. Overall, the project targets a system rather than a single group, recognizing that effective response to domestic violence requires coordinated action across sectors.
Additional note: No project activity directly targets children as a primary group. However, in a following project cycle, updating the current Child Safeguarding Policy will be prioritized.
Project summary
The project “First Steps to a Family Justice Center in Hungary” aims to lay the groundwork for the introduction of a Family Justice Center (FJC) model in Hungary, with a pilot focus on Miskolc and the wider Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén region. Implemented by Hungarian Interchurch Aid in close cooperation with the European Family Justice Center Alliance (EFJCA), the project seeks to strengthen coordinated, victim-centered and multidisciplinary responses to domestic and gender-based violence.
The project combines ecosystem assessment, stakeholder mapping, victim-centered research, international knowledge exchange, capacity building and strategic planning into a coherent development process. Key activities include a regional ecosystem assessment, longitudinal data collection among survivors supported by crisis services, study visits to established FJCs, stakeholder consultations, multidisciplinary trainings and the development of an e-learning programme for professionals.
Building on Hungarian Interchurch Aid’s existing domestic violence support services and methodological role in the Hungarian crisis care system, the project aims to improve cooperation between social services, child protection, law enforcement, victim support and other relevant actors. The final outputs include strategic recommendations, a Theory of Change and an implementation roadmap supporting the future establishment of a pilot FJC model in Hungary.
Project activities
1. Project Kick-off and Coordination
Launching the project together with EFJCA, establishing a shared understanding of objectives, expected results, roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms to ensure effective implementation throughout the project.
2. Regional GBV Ecosystem Assessment
Conducting research in the Miskolc region to analyze the current domestic and gender-based violence response system, identify key stakeholders, map existing services and cooperation mechanisms, and assess gaps, challenges, and opportunities for integrated support.
3. Longitudinal Victim Feedback Collection
Collecting and analyzing victim feedback through a six-month survey process across four crisis outpatient centers to better understand survivors’ needs, experiences, and perceptions of available services, while generating evidence for future service development.
4. International Knowledge Exchange and Study Visits
Learning from established Family Justice Center models through study visits to Antwerp and Rotterdam and professional exchanges with other European initiatives, identifying good practices and adaptation opportunities for Hungary.
5. Capacity Building and Policy Dialogue
Bringing together professionals, decision-makers, and service providers to strengthen multidisciplinary cooperation, promote victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches, and initiate dialogue on the introduction of the FJC model in Hungary.
6. E-learning Programme Development
Developing a scalable online training programme for professionals working in victim support and related sectors, incorporating project findings and introducing the principles of multidisciplinary and victim-centered service delivery.
7. Stakeholder Consultations and Strategy Development
Facilitating consultations with key stakeholders to discuss project findings, build consensus, and jointly develop strategic directions, recommendations, and future cooperation frameworks for the implementation of the FJC approach.
8. Sustainability Planning and Project Closure
Synthesizing project results into a comprehensive implementation package, assessing sustainability options, and preparing practical recommendations, partnerships, and next steps for the future establishment of a Family Justice Center model in Hungary.
Qualitative results
1. Project Kick-off and Coordination
Shared understanding of project objectives, expected results, roles and responsibilities established among project partners, creating a strong foundation for cooperation and implementation.
2. Regional GBV Ecosystem Assessment
Improved understanding of the regional domestic and gender-based violence response system, including service gaps, stakeholder roles, cooperation mechanisms, and opportunities for integrated victim support.
3. Longitudinal Victim Feedback Collection
Enhanced understanding of victims’ needs, experiences, barriers, and perceptions of existing services, providing evidence for service improvement and future FJC development.
4. International Knowledge Exchange and Study Visits
Increased knowledge of Family Justice Center models, multidisciplinary cooperation mechanisms, and practical approaches that can be adapted to the Hungarian context.
5. Capacity Building and Policy Dialogue
Strengthened stakeholder cooperation, improved professional capacities, and increased awareness of victim-centered, trauma-informed, and multidisciplinary approaches.
6. E-learning Programme Development
Creation of a shared knowledge base for professionals working with victims, supporting consistent understanding and application of multidisciplinary victim support principles.
7. Stakeholder Consultations and Strategy Development
Greater stakeholder ownership of the FJC concept, stronger consensus on future priorities, and enhanced commitment to cooperation and system development.
8. Sustainability Planning and Project Closure
Clear strategic direction and implementation pathways established for future FJC development, supported by strengthened institutional commitment and sustainability planning.
Quantative results
1. Project Kick-off and Coordination
- 1 online kick-off meeting conducted
- 1 Project Handbook developed
- 1 agreed work plan and implementation framework established
2. Regional GBV Ecosystem Assessment
- 1 validated research plan developed
- 1 desk review completed
- 1 focus group conducted
- Minimum 5 stakeholder interviews completed
- 1 stakeholder map developed
- 1 regional ecosystem assessment report produced
3. Longitudinal Victim Feedback Collection
- 1 validated questionnaire developed
- 1 data collection protocol established
- 6 months of continuous data collection implemented
- Minimum 150 questionnaires collected across 4 crisis outpatient centers
- 1 structured dataset and 1 analytical report produced
4. International Knowledge Exchange and Study Visits
- 2 international study visits conducted (Antwerp and Rotterdam)
- 2 online professional exchange meetings organized
- 1 collection of good practices and adaptable solutions developed
5. Capacity Building and Policy Dialogue
- 1 two-day stakeholder meeting organized
- 1 three-day training programme delivered
- Approximately 30–40 professionals engaged through training and dialogue activities
- Training curriculum and materials developed
6. E-learning Programme Development
- 1 online learning platform developed
- 1 one-hour e-learning programme created
- Multiple training modules and lessons produced and validated by EFJCA
7. Stakeholder Consultations and Strategy Development
- 2 stakeholder consultation workshops organized
- Minimum 10 participants per consultation meeting
- 1 strategic document package developed
- Minimum 3 partnership intentions or cooperation commitments generated
8. Sustainability Planning and Project Closure
- 1 final project package produced
- 1 sustainability and embedding plan developed
- 1 implementation roadmap prepared
- 1 final online project closure meeting organized