The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has launched the National Network of Specialists in the Protection and Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and the Rehabilitation of Victims of Crime. Minister Alexei Buzua said that the specialists will have the task of identifying cases of violence and crime that are not reported and will serve as spokespersons for those who have suffered as a result of crimes and violence, IPN reports.
The official noted that last week’s data show that 130 cases of violence were registered. In some districts, there were reported no such cases, but this does not mean that they have not occurred. The role of network specialists is to identify cases that are not reported. “I want to thank my colleagues who opted for this rather complicated position and I urge them to develop their skills to be proactive and cooperate with other professionals. The specialists in the protection of victims of violence and rehabilitation of victims of crime are those who will fight for the beneficiaries. They will be spokespersons for the people who have suffered as a result of crimes and as a result of violence. Our mission is very important and we have no right to fail,” stated Alexei Buzu.
Viorica Timbalari, director of the National Agency for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, noted that violence is a painful phenomenon and the agency she leads, which was created relatively recently, makes daily efforts to combat it. The agency will work together with the network specialists so that no woman or child goes through violence.
The specialists in the prevention and combating of domestic violence and rehabilitation of victims of crime from Local Social Assistance Agencies and subordinate bodies, as well as specialists from the local social assistance bodies of Chisinau municipality and ATU Gagauzia, participated in various training sessions centering on the fight against domestic violence and aspects of rehabilitation of victims of crime. Also, thanks to the financial support provided by the European Union within the project “Strengthening Moldova’s national capacities to ensure quality protection, education, health services and socio-economic opportunities for Ukrainian refugees”, implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), specialists in the field received high-performance IT equipment in order to streamline their work. Thus, the European Union provided 51 laptops and bags with office supplies, which will be distributed to specialists in the field of protection of victims of violence in the 10 Local Social Assistance Agencies, in Chisinau and in ATU Gagauzia.
“The IOM has been supporting the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Moldova in the fight against trafficking in persons since the early 2000s. Today’s donation, provided by the European Union and facilitated by the IOM, is in line with the RESTART reform of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. It will practically support workers across the country to assist victims of violent crimes, including refugees and third-country nationals,” said Damien Fresnel, Head of Programs at the International Organization for Migration in Moldova.
Moldova, being a candidate for EU membership, is to transpose the EU principles into its laws, such as the national referral mechanism for offering assistance to victims of crime. The mechanism has expanded the categories of victims receiving assistance and protection. Damien Fresnel appreciated the hiring of new specialists who will help victims of violence and crime.
