During six months of work, the Police Family Justice Center was notified by more than 180 people who needed help. As a result, about 150 victims of physical, psychological, economic, sexual and, more recently, digital violence were confirmed, being offered multidisciplinary intervention services by specialists of the Center. It goes to medical, legal, psychological and other types of assistance. A report on the results achieved during six months of work was presented on Tuesday, April 9, IPN reports.
The head of the Police, Family Justice Center Ivan Crețu said that out of the 180 complaints, about 30 cases weren’t within the Center’s remit and the people were referred to other organizations. Of the total number of victims, 142 were women, girls, while seven were men. “By age category, we see that most of the cases include the 31 to 50 years age category, which is followed by the age 18-30 years age bracket,” stated Ivan Crețu.
Minister of Internal Affairs Adrian Efros said that half a year ago, the institutions combined forces to implement new tools for the victims of domestic violence to find refuge and trust that they will receive the necessary assistance and protection. “The Police Family Justice Centre carries out these tasks in an integrated, interinstitutional manner and more than 180 people have already received assistance within the Centre. The assistance is integrated here, in one building – police, social assistants, psychologists, forensic experts. They are all on duty 24/24 and are ready to provide the necessary support to victims,” stated the official.
The head of the General Police Inspectorate Viorel Cernauteanu said the victims of domestic violence need first of all high-quality services and confidentiality – key aspects in the Center’s work. “We must see no one suffering next to us, whether they are relatives, neighbors, friends – they must not be victims of any form of abuse, especially when we talk about domestic violence. For this purpose, I urge you all to be a united team and work together,” stated the National Police chief.
Laura Hruby, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau, said she believes that the Center has made progress in the first six months of its opening and thanks to this vital resource, the victims of domestic and other forms of violence, as well as their children, have access to a range of specialized services and stigma-free support in one place. “A society is strong only to the extent to which its most vulnerable members are strong. In this regard, the Center provides comprehensive and non-judgmental support to some of the most vulnerable people,” noted the official.
Attending the event, Lilian Carp, chairman of the parliamentary commission for national security, defense and public order, said that Moldova in recent years has made progress in combating domestic violence, and this Center is an innovative service, not only in the country, but also in the region. “We cannot say that this phenomenon does not exist in society. We must encourage women to say “no” to their abusers. The greatest fear of women is to say “no” or to denounce the abuser because this is the father of the child, the husband and they somehow try to cover this. But the more hidden is an aggressor, the more dangerous he becomes for the family,” said the MP.
The Center was inaugurated in early October after months of reconstruction works carried out by IOM Moldova within a project funded by the U.S. Government. It operates according to the American model according to which all authorities and specialists form a joint team and work promptly, starting from the needs of the victim, in the supreme interests of this. The novelty of this service for the Republic of Moldova lies in the fact that police officers, doctors, forensic experts, lawyers, psychologists, social workers and specialists from several specialized NGOs work 24/7 for women and children who need emergency assistance.
To reach the team of the Police Family Justice Centre, people will call the emergency service 112 or the Trust Line for Women and Girls: 0 8008 8008.
