Training program on honour-based violence for healthcare and dental care personnel

Honour-based violence and oppression are among our major societal issues. Thousands of individuals are subjected to threats, violence, oppression, and limitations on their freedom. The work to combat honour-based violence is complicated by racist prejudices that erect barriers between the protection society should provide and those subjected to the violence. The regions of Jönköping, Värmland, Blekinge, Örebro, Östergötland, and Sörmland wanted to be part of changing this.

They approached Amphi with the task of creating a tailored training program for healthcare and dental care personnel with the aim of increasing understanding of honour-based violence and oppression. The training program was to include several components, including a web-based training, a concept for in-depth live training sessions, and training of trainers within the regions to further disseminate the knowledge.

The question that arose was how to best convey this complex subject matter. The solution was to include dramatised portrayals of the reality of violence. By using stories, we aimed to create a strong connection between theory and practice while encouraging reflection and collaboration.

The production of the training program lasted for two years and involved close collaboration with reference groups and experts to ensure accurate and well-founded content. An important aspect of the process was also to leverage the clients’ own experiences and insights. Their unique perspectives helped identify the most relevant situations to be addressed in the training material. 

• Intersectional perspectives on honour-based violence and oppression
• Practical tools for respectful interaction
• Experience based learning, films and case descriptions
• Conditions for asking about violence
• Healthcare personnel’s responsibilities and opportunities to detect signs and signals
• Framework for a dynamic and long-term learning process

The result was the training program ”Rebecca”, where the content focuses on a dramatised short film of the same name, an audio narrative, and two monologues. All these narratives were integrated with knowledge components, exercises, and reflections in both the online training and live sessions.

”Rebecca” is an essential part of the regions’ knowledge reinforcement for healthcare personnel in terms of addressing honour-based violence and oppression. The educational material is continuously updated to remain relevant in relation to societal developments.