Building Better Responses to Domestic Violence: A Practical Guide for European Policymakers and Frontline Service Managers

This handbook presents practical guidance for European policymakers and frontline service managers on how to build better responses to domestic violence developed in the frame of the EU project IMPROVE. It translates the European legal framework on domestic violence, including Directive (EU) 2024/1385, into practical tools for policy and service design. It provides methods to operationalise core European principles - victim-centredness, inclusivity, participation, coordination, and accountability - across all stages of policymaking. Grounded in extensive research, it proposes six directions: participative and iterative policy development; continuous and mixed-method evaluation; structured multi-agency partnerships; accessible and inclusive support pathways; proactive and adaptive victim protection; and strong governance linking leadership, professionalisation, and resilience.