news agency Infotag

ABA/ROLI TO MOLDOVA TO CONTINUE RENDERING ASSISTANCE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE VICTIMS IN 2009

Chisinau. The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative  (ABA/ROLI) to Moldova will continue rendering juridical assistance to family violence victims in 2009 by means of the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), ABA/ROLI Director for Moldova Stephen Larraby said at a news conference in Infotag on Monday.

He recalled that from 2007 the ABA/ROLI launched the project “Free Juridical Assistance for Family Violence Victims” in partnership with the Casa Mărioarei, public Association, which renders psychological, social and medical service  and gives refuge to family violence victims.

According to the ABA/ROLI Director, the project is aimed at rendering assistance to family violence victims. He remarked that this phenomenon was typical for the USA during  50 years, as well, but owing to amending the legislation and informing the population, it was possible to eradicate it. He expressed hope that this phenomenon, which is rather common in Moldova, will decrease within the near 5-10 years.

Lawyer Nadejda Macari said that only from the beginning of 2008 free juridical assistance was rendered to 346 family violence victims.

She said that the objective of the American organization is to inform victims of their rights, of legislative provisions and it also defends victims’ interests in the court. She remarked that the organization does not recommend victims to demand a divorce, as they must take themselves a decision in this connection. According to her, the organization offers methods to solve problems, in order not to become  again victims of their spouses in the future.

In her words, for the time being family violence is perceived in Moldova as a normal situation, which is stimulated by stereotypes, shame before neighbors and relatives, unwillingness to wash their dirty linen in public.

“Even if family violence victims recur to the police, most of all they recall their complaints or fines are imposed on violators and in any case these fines are paid from the family budget”, Macari said.  

The booklet “The Practical and Legal Decisions for Family Violence Victims” was prepared and published in the frame of this project.