Training of professionals

14. GREVIO strongly encourages the Norwegian authorities to ensure that all professionals dealing with victims or perpetrators of all forms of violence covered by the scope of the Istanbul Convention receive systematic and mandatory initial and in-service training on identifying and responding to all forms of violence against women, while focusing on the victims’ human rights, safety, individual needs and empowerment and the prevention of secondary victimisation. Such training should be based on a gendered understanding of violence against women, including its digital dimension, and should be devised in close co-operation with relevant stakeholders, including independent women’s rights NGOs providing specialist support to women victims of violence. Clear protocols and guidelines should be established to set the standards that staff are expected to follow in their respective fields