IMPROVE Project Concludes with Lasting Impact on Domestic Violence Prevention!
Project newsletter #7
October 2025
Dear Readers,
After three years of research, new findings, and a wealth of accomplishments, our researchers and collaborators from sixteen partners in seven nations are closing the project and saying goodbye. Fortunately, our project, AinoAid™, and training website will be alive for a few more years. IMPROVE created momentum, some smaller, some larger, and all with the goal of building the bridge between survivors and frontline responders to mitigate the impact of domestic violence. We presented our key findings at our final conference, the International Symposium on New Approaches to Combat Domestic Violence, on June 3, 2025. We have also been busy thereafter, publishing our findings at conferences, in professional journals, on YouTube, and in the form of a film makers’ manual, which we will share with you in the next pages of our latest newsletter.
Enjoy reading and best wishes!
The IMPROVE Coordinators
Joachim Kersten and Catharina Vogt
AinoAid™ Chatbot Wins Security Research Award 2025
AinoAid was awarded in Warsaw with the "best innovation with direct support to citizens" award
The chatbot provides practical guidance and resources to victims of domestic violence, demonstrating the IMPROVE project’s commitment to real-world impact. This award celebrates the dedication of the IMPROVE team, especially We Encourage, in developing AinoAid™ as a user-centred, AI-powered tool for safety and support.
On 3 June 2025, Valencia’s Local Police hosted the International Symposium on New Approaches to Combat Domestic Violence, bringing together European experts, policymakers, and first responders.
Highlights included:
Presentation of AinoAid™, our AI chatbot guiding victims on rights and available services.
Showcase of the European Training Platform, helping police and NGOs strengthen victim support across Europe.
The IMPROVE project recently launched a new campaign introducing a Checklist for Intervention in domestic violence cases developed by the GAMA team of Valencia Local Police. This practical tool guides law enforcement through every step of an intervention, from arrival at the scene to follow-up, ensuring a systematic, victim-centred approach. It also promotes effective collaboration among first responders and complements the AinoAid™ chatbot by helping victims access support quickly and safely.
We did it! AinoAid™ has hit 30.000 users 🎉
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the AinoAid tool has reached 30,000 testers! This incredible milestone is a true testament to the dedication and courage of everyone who has engaged with our service.
We thank all partners, testers, and supporters who contributed to this achievement. Your engagement has been essential in developing and validating AinoAid™ as a tool to strengthen frontline responses.
Filmmakers Manual: Ethical filmmaking on domestic violence.
The EU-funded IMPROVE project has released a crucial new manual, "Filming with Responsibility: Ethical Filmmaking on Domestic Violence," to guide the audiovisual industry in creating more responsible, nuanced, and empowering depictions of domestic and gender-based violence (DV).
The manual, developed by scientists and practitioners, highlights that while film is a powerful tool for raising awareness (with nearly one in three women globally having experienced violence), current depictions often fall short by:
Perpetuating the "Male Gaze": Focusing on a male hero rescuing a helpless, traumatized female victim.
Failing to Convey Reality: Showing the act of violence without conveying the true pain, complexity, or long-term consequences.
Read the recent publications from the IMPROVE partners!
Challenges in Domestic Violence Assessment in Police Work (2025) (Original title in Finnish: Lähisuhdeväkivallan riskinarvioinnin haasteet poliisiorganisaatiossa) Authors: Marianne Mela, Suvi Nipuli, Jarmo Houtsonen, Martta October. Read now!
Empowering Change: Unveiling the Synergy of Feminist Perspectives and AI Tools in Addressing Domestic Violence (2024) Authors: Sanz Urquijo, B., Izaguirre Choperena, A., & LĂłpez Belloso, M. Read now!
Artificial intelligence at the service of victims (2025) (Original title in French: L’intelligence artificielle au service des victimes de violences conjugales) Authors: Margarita Vassileva. Read now!
Case conferences as part of high-risk management in cases of domestic violence (2025) (Original title in German: Fallkonferenzen im Rahmen des Hochrisikomanagements bei häuslicher Gewalt) Authors: Catharina Vogt, Stefanie Giljohann. Read now!
Empathy, bias, and data responsibility: evaluating AI chatbots for gender-based violence support (2025) Authors: Borja Sanz Urquijo, MarĂa LĂłpez Belloso, Ainhoa Izaguirre Choperena. Read now!
New IMPROVE blog articles
In the fight against domestic violence, the IMPROVE project continues to develop tools empowering victims and enhancing reporting. Stay informed about our progress in combating domestic violence in our blog section on the IMPROVE website.
In her article “The Path to a Safer Europe: The IMPROVE Symposium in Valencia,” Susana Sola of the Valencia Local Police highlights tools like AinoAid™ and training platforms to support domestic violence victims.
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View our Updated Privacy Policy and our Record of Processing Activities.
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