Even if there are laws, standards, plans and strategies for combating domestic violence in the Republic of Moldova, these are not implemented. The victims of domestic violence are discriminated even in court, said lawyer Ion Oboroceanu, head of the Causeni Law Center and leader of the Men’s Movement against Violence and Trafficking in Human Beings.
“Regrettably, a lot of victims, including women, children and elderly people, continue to suffer in silence. I call them invisible persons among us as these cannot find courage to seek help from service providers. Those who find courage to go to the competent bodies not always find understanding, support and appropriate protection,” Ion Oboroceanun stated in a news conference at IPN.
According to the lawyer, at the local level in particular the legal framework is not known and is not fully applied. At the central level, restructurings were made to improve the state of affairs, but at the local level the situation is problematic. Ion Oboroceanu spoke about the case of a woman from Comrat, a victim of domestic violence, who has been divorcing for two years. The woman went to court to ask for a restraining order and got this in four days even if the law provides that the court must pronounce during 24 hours.
Antonina Volkova, executive director of the Comrat-based public association “Vesta” and director of the Assistance Center for Victims and Potential Victims of Domestic Violence, said women daily come to the center she heads. But in the evening they have to return to the family, where they remain face to face with the aggressor. “When in court, we see that the laws are not respected and the judge takes sides with the aggressor,” stated Antonina Volkova.
Mobile teams work with victims of domestic violence. These travel to regions to inform the victims about their rights. Most often it is ascertained that these are abused during many years as they don’t know who to seek help from. “Practice showed that these meetings are very useful. The potential victims or the victims of domestic violence learn more about their rights and pass on this information,” said Antonina Volkova.
The specialists called on the victims of domestic violence not to hesitate to seek help and called upon society not to remain indifferent to this phenomenon.
