Olista is the centre for victims of domestic abuse supported by the Brussels region
Our ambition is to become the reference location for:
· Managing responses to domestic abuse;
· Information and support for professionals working in this field.
Project history
In May 2018, a working group was set up to address the challenges of dealing with domestic abuse. This initiative by the Brussels-Capital-Ixelles police zone, the Dutch-speaking Brussels public prosecutor's office and equal.brussels' regional domestic abuse coordinator marked the start of a regional consultation.
The aim was clear: to optimise information sharing and strengthen coordination between the various stakeholders involved in dealing with domestic abuse cases.
The cross-sectoral pilot project
In September 2021, in partnership with equal.brussels, safe.brussels launched a cross-sectoral pilot project on domestic abuse. The aim was to structure the relationships between actors on the ground, particularly in situations involving children. A steering group was set up, bringing together 13 key partners: the police, French- and Dutch-speaking public prosecutors' offices, the law courts and social, legal, medical and associative stakeholders. This diversity reflects the desire of both communities to provide a joint, coordinated response to the challenges of domestic abuse.
Towards a structured legal framework: Protocol 458ter
The steering group drew up the first version of a case consultation protocol in accordance with Article 458ter of the Criminal Code, which allows information sharing between professionals bound by a duty of confidentiality. Protocol 458ter is designed as a practical tool for improving coordination when dealing with domestic abuse situations.
Creation of the centre for victims of domestic abuse and the psychological, medical, social and legal (PMS+L) protocol
At the same time, at the end of 2022, safe.brussels started work on the first regional centre for victims of domestic abuse. This project has two objectives:
- to develop a structured, collaborative process for the cross-sectoral handling of domestic abuse cases;
- to establish a physical space in the form of an inter- and multi-disciplinary reception centre for victims.
The drafting of protocol 458ter prompted a discussion about the inclusion of the Brussels associative sector. Study visits to Antwerp and Liège were an opportunity to explore other schemes for sharing professional confidentiality with psychological, medical and social actors (PMS). On the recommendation of the non-profit organisation Casa Legal, safe.brussels developed the PMS+L (Psycho-Medico-Social + Legal) protocol.
2024: Olista was born
In 2024, the centre for victims of domestic abuse was officially opened under the name Olista. Its team consists of seven professionals: a coordinator, three case managers and three administrative assistants. Olista is now a space for collaboration, listening and innovation, designed to improve the response to domestic abuse situations.
New perspectives
Between 2024 and 2025, Olista finalised the 458ter and PMS+L protocols, took on its first cases, launched partnerships and refined its working methods. Based on the feedback received, the team is identifying new courses of action, such as cross-sectoral advice and referral to appropriate services, and is working on updating the PMS+L protocol.
Olista: four options to support professionals
Olista is a support service for professionals dealing with complex situations. When a case is referred to Olista, the team carries out a risk assessment and identifies the victim's needs. The team then follows-up and implements the chosen option, and coordinates the exchanges between all those involved until the file is closed.
-
Psycho-medico-social and legal hub
The case is taken on by the centre and referred to the hub, which brings together partners from the associative, medical, psycho-social and legal sectors.
-
Case consultation
The case is taken on by the centre and referred to the unit, which brings together the public prosecutor's office, the police, the law courts and other partners from youth and child welfare agencies and the voluntary sector.
-
Reassignment
The case is not handled by the centre but is returned to the source with recommendations (actions to be taken, institutions to be contacted).
-
Opinion request
Olista supports professionals on domestic abuse-related issues, analysing situations and assessing their criticality.
Project objectives
This collaborative project is designed to establish a process and tools for consultation.
In the long term, the project aims to prevent domestic abuse and reduce its individual and societal impact through intensive cross-sectoral cooperation.
In this respect, the project aims to: develop a structured, collaborative process for the cross-sectoral handling of domestic abuse cases.
Potential future partners?
"Violence is a means of securing power over others. It's a power struggle in which one is the subject and the other the object."
The approach and management of domestic violence situations will be based on the cycle of violence
The approach and management of domestic violence situations will be based on the cycle of violence
Read moreThe cycle of domestic violence attempts to identify the repetitive processes involved in violence between partners. This model goes some way to explaining how the victim is led to stay with/return to the perpetrator despite what they are experiencing in the relationship.
This cycle is made up of four distinct phases that follow one another, forming a repetitive loop the intensity of which increases over time, with ever greater violence and at an accelerating pace.
In the diagram (to come), you'll find the perspective of the victim and the perpetrator for each of the four phases of the cycle. The victim is represented by green, the perpetrator by red.
Phase 1: the climate of tension
The perpetrator: tensions initiated by the violent person through various signals (heavy silence, threatening gaze, irritation, increased conflict, growing impatience, emphasis on mistakes, etc.).
The victim: attempts to ease the tension and relieve the pressure. They doubt themselves and their abilities and fear upsetting their partner.
Phase 2: the explosion
The perpetrator: acting out using violent behaviour (verbal, physical, psychological, economic, sexual, etc.) with or without the aid of objects to release the tension they feel.
The victim: feelings of fear, shame, humiliation, injustice, sadness, despair... They are distraught.
Phase 3: justification
The perpetrator: discourse designed to make them feel less responsible for their actions. They justify themselves in various ways (minimisation, referral to the outside world - "You didn't have to...", "You pushed me over the edge", "I'm too sensitive"...).
The victim: they doubt their own perceptions and accept the perpetrator's justifications. They question themselves, feeling responsible for the violence they have suffered. They believe that if they change their behaviour, the violence will stop. They may also want to help the perpetrator to change.
Phase 4: the honeymoon
The perpetrator: they calm down and express their regret. They make promises and give gifts aimed at reconciling with the victim. Or the perpetrator tries to make the victim feel guilty by threatening to harm themselves ("I'm going to see a shrink", "This is the last time" "I'll kill myself if you leave"...). They'll often refer to the context in which the couple met to support the special bond existing between the two partners.
The victim: the new-found calm soothes them, they hope for a change or that things will go back to the way they were, so they give the partner another chance. The victim may also support the perpetrator, or change their own habits to meet the perpetrator's expectations.
-
Victim, relative or witness of domestic abuse?
In an emergency, please contact:
The police on 101 or emergency services on 112
The Centre for Victims of Sexual Violence on 02 535 45 42
The Police Victim Assistance Service -
Victim, relative or witness of domestic abuse?
For advice and support, you can also contact:
The domestic violence helpline on 0800 300 30
The Suicide Prevention Centre helpline on 0800 32 123
SOS viol on 0800 98 100 -
Perpetrators of domestic abuse?
In an emergency, you can contact:
The police on 101 or emergency services on 112For advice and support, you can contact:
Praxis on 02 217 98 70
The domestic violence helpline on 0800 300 30
The Suicide Prevention Centre helpline on 0800 32 123
LEGAL TEXTS and strategic documents
Definitions of domestic and family violence:
The Public Prosecutors' circular COL 3/2006 defines domestic violence Read ›
The Public Prosecutors' Circular COL 4/2006 provides a more precise definition of partner or domestic violence Read ›
The Istanbul Convention, ratified by Belgium in 2016, provides a broader definition of violence against women, including domestic violence Read ›
Strategic documents referring to the importance of improved multidisciplinary collaboration:
The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, signed in Istanbul on 11 May 2011, ratified by Belgium on 14 March 2016 and approved by the Law of 1 March 2016 (the "Istanbul Convention") Read ›
The Comprehensive Security Framework Note 2022-2024 (the "CSFN") Read ›
The joint general policy declaration of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region and the United College of the Common Community Commission, 2019-2024 legislature (the "DPR") Read ›
The Brussels Plan to Combat Violence Against Women 2020-2024 (Action 46) Read ›
The Global Security and Prevention Plan 2021-2024 (the "GSPP") (Theme 1, measure 1.4) Read ›
Overview of domestic violence in the Brussels Region during the Covid-19 pandemic. March-November 2020, Focus no. 2 of the Observatory, February 2021 Read ›
The National Action Plan to combat all forms of gender-based violence 2021-2025 (the "NAP") (Priority II) Read ›
Contact
E-mail : olista@safe.brussels
Téléphone : 0490/68.63.81
Emergency calls
Follow us!