Chisinau, April 9, 2024 – Just six months after inauguration, the Family Justice Centre of the Police (FJC) has become a vital support system for victims of domestic and sexual violence. This initiative, a result of collaboration between governmental bodies, civil society and Moldova’s development partners, has established a haven of trust and security for individuals facing risks within their own homes.
During the visit to the FJC, Lilian Carp, Chairman of the parliamentary committee on national security, defense and public order, emphasized the importance of addressing domestic and sexual violence, stating, “Together, we must unite our efforts to combat this scourge, so that women find the courage to speak out and report it and this issue can be eradicated from our society.”
Adrian Efros, Minister of Internal Affairs, noted, “Over 180 individuals have already received integrated assistance at FJC. With a team comprising police officers, social workers, psychologists and forensic doctors, all working around the clock under one roof, we are fully prepared to offer necessary support to victims. The Ministry of the Internal Affairs has recommenced its awareness campaign against this issue, urging all victims to seek help from FJC”.
Laura Hruby, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau, elaborated, “Thanks to this crucial resource, victims of domestic and other forms of violence, along with their children, now have access to a variety of specialized services and stigma-free assistance in one place. A society’s strength is measured by how it supports its most vulnerable members, which is why FJC offers comprehensive support.”
Viorel Cernauteanu, Chief of the General Inspectorate of Police of MIA, stressed, “Over these 6 months, we have seen the core concept of this institution translated into two crucial aspects of what victims of domestic violence require: high quality services and guaranteed confidentiality.”
During the event, Ivan Cretu, Director of the FJC, reported that over the past 6 months, FJC received notifications of 180 requiring intervention, with 149 falling directly under FJC’s remit. These cases involved various forms of domestic violence: physical (11); physical and psychological (97); physical, psychological and economic (7); physical psychological, economic and sexual (previously) (2); psychological (22); sexual (8); and digital (2).
The number of cases varies depending on the age group of the individuals affected: 18-25 years (19 cases), 26-30 years (21 cases), 31-40 years (55 cases), 41-50 years (23 cases), 51-60 years (9 cases), 61-70 years (11 cases), 71-75 years (9 cases), 80-85 years (1 case) and 90 years (1 case).
It is worth noting that out of the total registered cases, 60 victims experienced violence from their spouse, 41 from their live-in partner, 17 from their son /daughter, 1 from their son-in-law/daughter-in-law, 6 from their grandchild, 5 from their father/mother, 11 from their ex-spouse, 5 from their sister/brother-in-law, 5 from a neighbor/unknown individual, 1 from their cohabiting person, 1 from their parent-in-law and 1 from their brother-in-law/ sister-in-law.
The FJC team, covering Chisinau municipality and its suburbs, responded promptly with medical and legal assistance to halt the cycle of violence. In this area, 76 emergency restraining orders were issued at FJC’s request, ensuring the immediate safety of victims and their families, and helping to prevent further instances of domestic violence. A total of 84 applications for protection orders were submitted to the court, resulting in 76 protection orders being granted, 2 being rejected, and 6 still under review. Among these court-issued protection orders, 9 were valid for 30 days, 2 for 45 days, 9 for 60 days and 56 for 90 days.
After analyzing these cases, it was determined that forensic/ expert intervention was necessary in 18 instances, with 12 conducted by experts at FJC and the remaining 6 handled by the Forensic Centre.
Additionally, it is important to note that 9 victims of domestic violence were referred to public medical institutions, 19 to foster care homes, 69 to social assistance offices and 54 to local child protection agencies. NB: For assistance from the Family Justice Centre team, call 112 or the Women and Girls Helpline at 0 8008 8008.
