Krisesenteret for kvinner

What can we do for you?

What is the Women’s Shelter?

The Women’s Shelter in Bergen is a temporary refuge for women and children who need to get away from a violent and threatening situation. The shelter functions like a multi-occupant household, where the women themselves organize their daily tasks. The Women’s Shelter in Bergen also helps women who are not resident in Bergen.

Women who have suffered physical and psychological abuse usually have difficulty in talking about their situation, even to family and friends. Many feel like they are disclosing their private life and are often afraid that no one will believe or understand them.

All use of physical force, psychological abuse and sexualized violence is prohibited by law in Norway. Sexualized violence is a collective term for abuse, rape, incest and sexual assault on children, and also includes prostitution and pornography. Violence is a crime whether it takes place in the home or on the street, between people who are in the same family or between strangers.

Who are we?

We are an independent organization both from a political and denominational point of view. The organization receives funding from the Norwegian Government, Bergen council and other local councils in Hordaland. The people who work in the Women’s Shelter are of different ages and professions, but we are all women who want to help other women in a difficult situation. Everyone who has anything to do with the Women’s Shelter has a duty of confidentiality. We work according to a self-help principle.

How can we help?

The Women’s Shelter is always open. If you prefer, you can call anonymously. We are here to listen, guide and give advice and support. We can help put you in touch with public bodies, such as the social security office, casualty clinic and legal assistance and can accompany you to the police if you want to report someone, etc.

Advice to women who are the victims of violence:

Tell what you have experienced
Write a diary
Take photos of the injuries
Contact the nearest Women’s Shelter

The Women’s Shelter in Bergen has a duty of confidentiality and a secret address. However, we are obliged to report to the Norwegian child welfare authorities in cases where the residents / day users inform that on leaving the shelter, she or her children may risk physical, psychological or sexual abuse or whether there may be other kinds of serious neglect.

We are here for you.

Suheila is from Iran, but came to Norway to be reunited with her husband, who had then lived here for four years. Suheila and her three children had a strenuous journey, but were optimistic at the prospect of a better life for the family in Norway. Sulheila and the children moved into her husband’s city apartment, but it did not take long for Suheila to realize that her new life in Norway would not be as good as she had hoped it would be. For the whole of the first year here, she was not allowed to attend Norwegian language classes and was completely isolated in the apartment. Eventually, her husband finally allowed her to go to Norwegian language classes, but he or other men in the Iranian colony, brought her to and from the school. She was denied the possibility to build up a network of friends and was still very isolated. Her husband controlled her and the children and after a while this also developed into physical abuse. Suheila had no one to confide in, as the only people she knew in Norway were friends of her husband from Iran. Suheila dreaded the school holidays, because then she was not allowed to leave the apartment at all and was completely in her husband’s power. A teacher at Suheila’s school eventually suspected that something was wrong and arranged a meeting with Suheila during class time, with an interpreter and a representative from the Women’s Shelter present. Sulheila was informed that she and her children could be given refuge in the Women’s Shelter. After several meetings with the school’s adviser during class time, Suheila finally found the courage to leave her violent and controlling husband. We agreed that she should come here to the Women’s Shelter and that she should collect her children from school and kindergarten and bring them here with her. Initially, she was very frightened, but after a week at the Women’s Shelter she began to relax and make friends with the other women who lived here. Her children became more secure and open and we could give them and their mother support so that they could believe that they could make a good life for themselves here in Norway, without a husband and father. We found Sulheila a lawyer who helped her apply for a residence permit on an independent basis, which she was granted. Suheila and her children are now in the process of building a new life for themselves. The children are happy at school and in kindergarten, while Suheila has started training to be an auxiliary nurse.

Choose language:

Navigation