Home violence victims do not perceive Home violence victims as a crime but as a personal challenge. These are the research results on access to justice of home violence victims and exercise of their rights to receive legal assistance in Moldova, conducted by the by the international La Strada Center for Woman’s Rights Protection and Promotion on April 15 through June 17, 2014.

 

The Center Deputy Director, Viorelia Rusu said at Wednesday’s conference that the victims do not know about legal aid guaranteed by the state, do not know the legislation and their rights.

 

“They learn about this only when their life is in real danger”, she said.

 

The research has found that the home violence victims do not use services of legal advice, because they do not trust the law enforcement agencies, lawyers; they depend on their abuser and are afraid of him.

 

“Also, the victims do not know the law and do not regard Home violence victims as a legal issue”, she said. According to her, the victims are outraged by the fact that in case of a criminal investigation the state provides the aggressor mandatory and free of charge attorney services, while victims have to worry about their own protection.

 

“In general, the home violence victims are not satisfied with the Moldovan legal system. As a rule, the desire to feel safe is marred by several procedural deficiencies, including obtaining permission for the protection and incorrect attitude on the part of justice. Many police officers and judges have stereotypes about the women’s role and very often demean their dignity”, said Rusu.

 

La Strada Director, Daniela Nikitin-Misail wondered why some judges, contrary to the law, sometimes give a specific deadline for the decision about the divorce process because of violence.

 

According to her, more than half of home violence victims who call the “hot line” do not go to court. “And the court makes decisions only for a quarter of cases addressed to the court. Number of unregistered cases of violence is very large”, said the Director.

 

Authors of the research recommend the authorities to conduct a campaign on explaining the rights to home violence victims, to expand them legal assistance, to amend legislation that would make free the medical examination of victims, as well as, to create an effective mechanism for execution of court decisions.