Between September 16 and 21, a delegation from the Republic of Moldova visited New York, USA, to study best practices for coordinated responses to sexual violence.
Daniella Misail-Nichitin, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, along with representatives from the Police Family Justice Center, national agencies and civil society, explored ways to improve Moldova’s response to sexual violence, drawing on the experiences of American institutions.
During the visit, the delegation met with key New York City entities handling sexual violence cases, including Special Victims Unit of the New York State Police, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Family Justice Centers, and the Forensic DNA Analysis Center. Discussions were also held with the Division of Family Health Bureau of Perinatal, Reproductive, and Sexual Health; the Alliance Against Sexual Assault; Safe Horizon Child Advocacy Center; accredited hospitals for sexual crime victim care and other service providers.
Katarina Fotovat, Principal Deputy Assistant Director for the Secretary of State’s Office of Global Women’s Issues presented an overview of U.S. efforts to promote gender equality, support women, peace and security, counter violent extremism, advance women’s economic empowerment, and combat gender-based violence.
New York State has successfully implemented a well-structured, multidisciplinary victim-centered response system. Law enforcement collaborates closely with NGOs to provide counselling and psychological support to victims. Police officers receive trauma-informed training to prevent secondary victimization.
A distinctive feature of the New York’s system for monitoring convicted sex offenders is the classification into three categories based on the severity of their crimes. The most dangerous offenders are monitored for life, must report to the police every three months and to update any changes in residence, with the community playing a crucial role in preventing re-offending.
Victim’s biological samples, including DNA, are stored under optimal conditions for 20 years, allowing survivors to file complaints when they feel ready. Additionally, an electronic evidence kit tracking system ensures transparency and accessibility for victims.
The insights and lessons learned from this visit will help shape more effective policies and enhance protection and support for victims of sexual violence in Moldova. This study visit was organized under the project “Improving the Response to Sexual Violence in the Republic of Moldova through the Capacity Building of Intervention Teams”, implemented by La Strada International Center, with financial support from the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau.
