Interpellation Concerning the Quality Assurance of Assistance Provided to Victims of Violence (No. 428)
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, third session, plenary session
Date: 2024-04-15 18:14
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 16
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 22m
AI Summaries: 16/16 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item addressed the inquiry submitted on May 13 by Riigikogu members Evelin Poolamets and Anti Poolamets to Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo regarding ensuring the quality of assistance for victims of violence. Evelin Poolamets, the submitter of the inquiry, expressed concern about a new regulation which, in her assessment, allows individuals with secondary education to directly start providing services to the most vulnerable victims (including victims of sexual violence) without sufficient professional preparation, while stricter requirements were simultaneously established for psychologists and psychotherapists. Poolamets asked whether an impact analysis had been conducted and whether affected target groups had been involved, and she voiced concern about the risk of re-victimization.
Minister Signe Riisalo refuted the claims regarding the removal of requirements. She explained that strict basic education requirements have been established for providers of psychological counseling services, necessitating a Master’s degree in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or school psychology. Riisalo confirmed that the development of the new requirements involved thorough cooperation with professional associations and the University of Tartu, and that a transition period (one year) was granted to previous service providers to meet the new qualification requirements and complete supplementary training provided by the Social Insurance Board. The Minister emphasized that the quality of services is continuously monitored through state supervision and feedback from women’s support centers. Additionally, the Minister answered questions about the availability of victim assistance for men and the funding of women’s shelters, confirming that funding is sufficient and services are available regardless of gender (with the exception of the women’s shelter service itself).
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Most Active Speaker
Evelin Poolamets was an active submitter of interpellations and asked a clarifying question. Her activity was aimed at criticizing the government's actions (other/better).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is discussing the query submitted by Evelin Poolamets and Anti Poolamets on May 13th last year concerning ensuring the quality of assistance for victims of violence, and Evelin Poolamets has been asked to serve as the rapporteur.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets submitted an inquiry concerning the new educational requirements for victim support services, stressing the concern that allowing staff to work without professional preparation for a year could cause harm when dealing with traumatized victims. She requested an impact analysis, the inclusion of target groups, and quality control for victim support services, while also questioning why radically different requirements have been applied to various groups of employees within the same regulation—some being tightened, others abolished—and how the safety and quality for both victims and service providers will be ensured.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair thanks the rapporteur and invites the Minister of Social Protection, Signe Riisalo, to the podium to answer the interpellation.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that during the development of the new educational requirements for victim support, an impact analysis was conducted focusing on the context of trauma recovery. The focus was placed on basic educational requirements and evidence-based interventions. Furthermore, in cooperation with professional associations, service providers, and women's shelters, qualification requirements were defined and implemented. These requirements will enter into force, along with transition periods, on April 1, 2024, and all service providers must comply with them by that date. The standards for services working with victims will not be lowered for anyone; instead, professional assistance will be guaranteed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked his colleagues to continue their discussion more quietly or to step outside the chamber door, so that Madam Minister would not be disturbed and the session could continue.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Signe Riisalo confirmed that the quality of victim support services has been standardized and their supervision intensified through state control, involving women's support centers and other external providers. She also stressed the importance of qualification requirements and continuous training in ensuring safe assistance for victims, particularly children.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair thanks the Minister, announces that there are questions, and invites Evelin Poolamets to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She asks for clarification on whether basic training means that an individual with secondary education completes supplementary training provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs, thus becoming a specialist prepared to work with victims.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that the requirements for offering psychological counseling are significantly higher, necessitating a master’s degree in clinical psychology or the relevant qualification as a counseling psychologist or school psychologist. In addition to this, there is supplementary training provided by the Social Insurance Board, the transition period for which concludes on May 1st.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman called upon Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
When we talk about victims of violence, we tend to think of women first, but increasingly, men are also becoming victims of domestic violence, and people are asking how their assistance and the quality of that assistance are guaranteed.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo pointed out that violence is gender-neutral, and all victim support services are accessible regardless of gender and age, with the exception of women's shelter services, which are not provided to men. Furthermore, local municipalities must offer social housing because women are often forced to leave with their children and rely on shelters to restart their lives.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo noted that during last year's budget discussions, the topic was the funding of women's shelters, which is currently at a bare minimum while the number of victims has increased. She then asked whether the new budget would allocate sufficient funds to help victims, or if the money would instead go to other foundations and NGOs that do not directly assist those in need.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Kert Kingo to the stage.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that approximately 1,388,000 euros was allocated to victim support services and women's shelters in 2023, and approximately 1,410,000 euros this year, to which approximately 100,000 euros was added due to a change in legislation, and although ideal funding is not available for all services, the current budget is sufficient, and everyone who sought the service received it, even though the entire budget has not always been fully spent.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the minister, informed [the body] that there were no questions and that debate would not be opened, and concluded the consideration of today's first agenda item.