The WWP EN Annual Conference 2024 “Exploring next frontiers of ending domestic violence” focused on how perpetrator work has changed since the network's founding and lay the groundwork for an even more impactful future. Attendees took a closer look at intimate partner violence in LGBTQ+ relationships and women’s use of force against their male partners. We also explored similarities and differences to male violence in heterosexual relationships and gain a greater sensitivity to the specific needs of female clients in heterosexual relationships and LGBTQ+ clients.

WWP EN was honoured to have Lisa Paus, German Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth provide institutional greetings.

The conference took place from 21 – 23 October in Berlin and featured a mix of sessions:

• Keynote Speech: “Addressing Women’s Use of Force in a Nonviolence Program and a Coordinated Community Response” by Melissa Scaia (Domestic violence expert, USA)
• Keynote Speech: “Domestic Abuse in the Relationships of LGBT+ People: a focus on perpetrators” Prof Catherine Donovan (Durham University, UK)
• Presentation on “Integrating perpetrator programmes in prevention work: findings from the monitoring of the Istanbul Convention” by Johanna Nelles (Secretariat to the Istanbul Convention, Council of Europe)
• Plenary session on Ending Violence Against Women – How European Standards for Perpetrator Programmes Help Us Do a Better Job by Sandra Jovanović Belotić (WWP EN)
• Plenary Workshop: Examining Power, Families and Violence When Working with Women Who Use Force by Melissa Scaia (Domestic violence expert, USA)
• A variety of workshops by WWP EN members
• The annual conference was preceded by an expert consultation meeting on the European Standards for Perpetrator Work, including representatives from women’s support services, EIGE, GREVIO, EuroPris, the Confederation of European Probation, a representative of the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, as well as researchers.