Dialogue groups on violence

Dialogue groups on violence are a preventive measure in asylum reception centres, aiming to reduce the risk of violence both inside and outside the centres.

All ordinary reception centres and centres for unaccompanied minors must conduct at least two groups per calendar year. Participation is voluntary.

The groups are led by the centre’s own staff.

The measure is funded through the national budget and guided by annual directives from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

Target group

The target group is adult men and boys over 15 years of age, living in ordinary asylum reception centres or in centres for unaccompanied minors, who come from countries where laws and norms regarding violence differ from those in Norway. This measure is preventive and integrative – not a treatment program. It is also not an anger management course. Participants learn how to understand violence and reflect on their own attitudes toward the topic.

UDI plans to start a pilot project in 2024 to develop a similar program for women’s groups.

Training and professional support

Group leaders receive training from UDI to build foundational skills for conducting dialogue groups. UDI also organises professional gatherings and experience-sharing sessions.
Group leaders also receive external professional guidance and have access to a written guide.

Economy and reporting

UDI covers:

  • training fees;
  • accommodation and meals related to training and professional gatherings (the reception centres cover travel expenses);
  • interpreter costs;
  • additional staffing costs related to conducting groups.

After each completed group, centres submit reimbursement claims and a report to UDI.

More information: UDI 2019-002 (udiregelverk.no) (external website).

Method

The content of the dialogue groups is not traditional tutoring. The goal is to create dialogue where participants share thoughts and experiences. They learn to listen to others and reflect on their own values and feelings.

Using conversation techniques based on positivity, openness, supportive feedback, and elaboration, group leaders help participants reflect on each topic – without entering the discussion themselves.

There are twelve topics, including violence, powerlessness, reactions to serious events (post-traumatic stress), Norwegian laws and values, violence against children, anger, aggression and violence against women.

Groups meet over six weeks, approximately three hours at a time. Sessions follow the written guide’s structure.

Groups for unaccompanied minors follow an adapted method and topic list.

History and experience

The measure has been implemented in asylum reception centres for over 10 years.
Experience shows that the groups create strong engagement and address important issues that participants often have never discussed before.

Annual reports show positive effects on attitudes, knowledge and behaviour.

From experience, it is of significant value that reception centre staff function as group leaders.

Professional partners

For many years, the partner organisation was Alternativ til Vold (ATV), leading some to call the program "the ATV measure."

UDI has always owned and operated the program, and professional service providers are procured in accordance with public procurement regulations.

Since 2022, the provider consists of three collaborating sole proprietorships:

Marius Peersen – Specialist psychologist with extensive experience in violence-related work; involved in developing the dialogue groups; provides expert consultations in complex child welfare cases.

Solveig Nygård – Child welfare educator with long experience in violence-related work; runs parenting guidance and anger management groups under the Brøset model; provides training for child welfare employees.

Ronny Brudvik – Social worker with extensive experience in violence-related work; runs parenting guidance and Brøset model anger management groups; provides consultations in complex child welfare cases.

Framework and references

For further information: rks@udi.no

Did you find what you were looking for?