Rethinking work with intimate partner perpetrators. New prospects for the successful implementation of batterer intervention programmes in Lithuania

ENAlthough, batterer intervention programmes (BIPs) play an important role in today’s social and legal responses to intimate partner violence, increasing both victim protection and perpetrator accountability, their effectiveness is still being debated. The focus has shifted only recently from attempts to measure overall programme effectiveness to evaluating the specific characteristics of interventions across programme models. Moreover, the discussion on the practical implementation of BIPs was recently enriched by a number of significant concepts and evidence-based practices that emerged from new empirical findings. Using qualitative research data from semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions with BIP facilitators and various stakeholders, the chapter considers ways to contribute to more effective BIP outcomes and work with perpetrators of intimate partner violence in Lithuania. The authors argue that, by incorporating existing practices and instruments, the process of implementing BIPs in Lithuania should be crystallised and systematised. According to the study, the most significant challenges and various factors such as participant motivation, risk assessment, facilitator roles, and inter-institutional cooperation could significantly contribute to successfully implementing BIPs. [From the publication]