Moldovan PM tackles problem on combating domestic violence

Chisinau, 15 April /MOLDPRES/- Combating domestic violence and ensuring a viable mechanism for protecting victims of the abuses have been discussed at a joint meeting between the government and civil society, chaired by Prime Minister Pavel Filip, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

The civil society’s representatives welcomed the premier’s openness for talks, noting that it was important that both government and entire society should perceive that domestic violence was a phenomenon that might affect anyone, regardless of the financial situation or social status.

The talks were focused on the difficulties faced by the actors involved in providing support to the victims of family abuse and ways to overcome them. In this context, a special importance was paid to the legislative amendments meant to adjust the legal framework to the international standards and to be presented to the government for approval. The draft law was elaborated by the representatives of the Labor, Social Protection and Family Ministry, civil society and other authorities responsible for preventing and protecting the victims of domestic violence.

At the same time, the debates were related to the mechanism for financing centres and services on providing support for rehabilitation of victims. In this context, the representatives of the Finance Ministry pointed out that there were more proposals and ways for earmarking financial means for the services. In the nearest future, a way of funding is to be defined so that starting from 2017, the centres should be financed from the state budget and not from local incomes, as now.

In the same context, the civil society’s representatives proposed organizing meetings and joint talks on the matter with donors and foreign partners, who could contribute to financing modernization of services and opening foster institutions in the regions.

Filip reiterated the government’s openness for approving legislative and regulatory amendments meant to protect the victims of family abuse.

“I want we to manage jointly find solutions to the problems in society and I am sure that we will identify the best mechanism for preventing violence and rehabilitating victims. At the same time, we rely on the civil society’s support in our activity or, I am absolutely convinced that with the citizens’ support, our efforts will be successful”, he said.

According to statistics data, in 2015, 34 women and 3 children died of domestic violence and thousands of people had physical, moral and psychological trauma.

(Editor L. Alcază)