Safety Plans

SAFETY PLAN 1

If you live with a person who is violent towards you:

Try not to isolate yourself from your social circle, maintain close relationships with your friends, relatives, neighbors, etc.;
pay attention to when your spouse exhibits violence in order to anticipate such situations and ensure your safety and that of your children;
identify a place in your home that is far from areas where items can be used as weapons (e.g., the kitchen) and is simultaneously close to the exit of the apartment (house); in a situation where violence is used against you, either hide in such a place or leave the apartment;
memorize the phone numbers of the police, shelters, crisis rooms for women, neighbors, and friends you can turn to when in danger;
think about how you can contact the police; remember that you can call the police at any time free of charge;
Tell friends and neighbors you trust about your situation; agree on signals by which they can understand that you are in danger; agree with them on what needs to be done if you give such a signal;
rehearse behavior in moments of danger with your children; persuade them not to intervene in situations of violence; work out special words that will signal to the children in moments of danger that they should call for help or leave the apartment (house);
convince your children that violence can never be justified, and never think that you or your children are the cause of violence;
practice with your children how to quickly leave the apartment (house);
try to store items that can be used as weapons (knives, etc.) in closed or hard-to-reach places;
try not to use items that can be used for strangulation, such as shawls, scarves, thick necklaces;
leave the apartment (house) under any pretext that will not arouse suspicion; this way you will accustom your spouse to the fact that you are not constantly in the apartment (house);
regularly communicate by phone with your counselor or colleaguewith shelter and crisis room staff to exchange views on your situation;
always carry a mobile phone or a phone card if you do not have one.

SAFETY PLAN 2

If you are preparing to leave someone who is violent towards you:

entrust all documents proving physical abuse (photos, certificates, etc.) to a trusted person (friends, neighbors, lawyer, etc.);
determine where you can get help, inform them about your spouse's actions, and remember that you should not be ashamed of the situation you are in;
if you are injured, seek medical attention immediately and ask the doctor to issue a relevant certificate;
determine a safe place for your children. This could be a crisis room, a shelter, or with friends or neighbors; teach your children that their safety is their top priority;
keep a record of all incidents of abuse against you in a diary, which should be kept in a safe place inaccessible to your spouse;
do not wait for a crisis situation; consult in advance with a specialist from a counseling center, shelter, or crisis room about your rights;
plan how and by what public transport you will get to a place where you feel safe, or always have money for a taxi;
keep important phone numbers and documents in an easily accessible place in case you need to leave home urgently;
Be sure to keep a bag with clothes, medications, a few favorite children's toys, and other essential items in a safe place in case of a crisis;
try to always have some money on hand for unforeseen circumstances or trusted individuals (friends, relatives) who can hold your savings for you;
plan your actions in case your children or someone else tells your spouse that you are planning to leave him.

SAFETY PLAN 3

After contact with the abuser has been broken:

under no circumstances should you be alone with this person, for example, ask the taxi driver to wait until you enter your home;
if this person confronts you on the street and threatens you, do not hesitate to ask passers-by for help. For example: "this person is threatening me, please call the police" or "this person is harassing me, does anyone have a phone?";
make sure your home has a secure door.

SAFETY PLAN 4

If you are protected by law and live in your former home (apartment):

report your situation to the nearest police station, follow their advice;
following the police's advice, strengthen the security of your home; you can get advice on this matter from the police;
arrange with other residents of the building and change the lock in the building (your apartment);
do not be afraid to inform your friends, neighbors, employer, or the school where your children study about your situation (this information will remain confidential, as all agencies are interested in helping you and your children in situations of violence);
if the person who previously used violence does not comply with the rules, immediately report it to the police;
ask your neighbors to call the police in cases of danger;
if possible, try to go to work and accompany children to kindergarten and school at different times. Try to apply the same rule to your return home; it is better to go to work and return home during "peak" hours.