Nationwide campaign “Zero Tolerance” of domestic violence

Social advertisements aimed at cultivating an attitude of intolerance (“Zero Tolerance”) of domestic violence will be broadcast on radio and TV stations in the near future. There will be also broadcast the number of a trust hotline intended for women - [0 8008 8008 - which is free and confidential. The drive is part of a nationwide campaign launched on November 2 to sensitize the people to domestic violence, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a news conference, Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga said that many of the women who are abused in the family are afraid and embarrassed to seek help. She also said that there is no efficient mechanism in Moldova for identifying the cases of family violence and punishing the aggressors. “This is one of the causes why the women do not report the cases of abuse to the police,” Valentina Buliga said, adding that the law on the prevention and combating of domestic violence, which came into force in September 2008, should be modified. Daniela Misail-Nikitin, deputy head of the Information Center “La Strada” that is a partner of the project, said the women in Moldova accepted the existing stereotypes and feel guilty for the aggression of their partners. “The activities carried our as part of this campaign are designed to make the women understand that they are not to blame for the use of violence against them, but are responsible for their own security and the security of their children,” Daniela Misail-Nikitin said. “Training seminars on the fight against domestic violence for police officers, doctors and social workers have been held in five districts,” said Oxana Lipcanu, gender program coordinator for UNFPA Moldova. She also said that similar seminars will be organized for all the specialists so as to identify and provide the services needed by the beneficiaries. The campaign has two stages. The first, awareness-raising stage will last by May 2010, while the second will depend on the results of the first stage. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 11 cases of murder in the family have been recorded in Moldova this year, a 10% increase compared with last year. There were also recorded 15 cases of causing of serious bodily injuries.