Experts assessed the National Strategy for Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence for 2018–2023. We are still intolerant, stereotyped, and care for the victims of violence is mostly provided by NGOs

The report assessing the National Strategy for Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence for 2018–2023, prepared by the International Center La Strada, was presented for validation purposes at a round table with the participation of representatives of the administrative authorities responsible for preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, of intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations working in this dimension.

The aim of the Strategy was to ensure a systemic approach to violence against women and domestic violence in order to reduce these phenomena and to ensure an effective response of relevant bodies in cases of violence. The Strategy entered into force on 13 April 2018.

The overall structure and objectives of the Strategy derive from the structure based on the four pillars of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

In order to eradicate the phenomenon of violence against women and domestic violence, the Strategy aims to achieve four general objectives (prevention; protection; investigation and prosecution; integrated policies and data collection), each with specific objectives.

The average degree of accomplishment of the strategy implementation action plan is 29.2%. The highest degree of accomplishment of the plan is 41% for general objective 4 – Development of integrated policies in the field of prevention and combating violence against women and domestic violence, based on multisectoral cooperation and data collection, and the lowest is 20% for general objective 2 – Ensuring support, assistance and re(integration) of victims of violence.

From the strategy evaluation report: “I was beaten, too, but I put up with it.”

There remains a major influence of patriarchal thinking and stereotyped mentality, focused on the inferior role of women in society. Referring to stereotypes and perceptions about domestic violence, a victim of domestic violence, addressing the mother of the aggressor, trying to tell her about what happened, received a trenchant response: “I was beaten, too, but I put up with it. You put up with it, too!” Another victim talked about society’s reaction to violence: “Like a child goes to school daily, so the woman must be beaten daily.”

Insufficient information of victims and potential victims constitutes a hindrance in reporting cases of violence.

For Objective 1, “Preventing violence against women and domestic violence by promoting zero tolerance towards this phenomenon in order to reduce it in Moldova”, experts found that only a fourth part of the planned actions were fully carried out, and the stereotypes, perceptions and attitudes of the general public towards the phenomenon of violence are still far from being in line with respect for fundamental human rights.

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Even greater arrears are in the second priority area, focused on providing support, assistance and protection to victims by providing services through national mechanisms of multi-sectoral cooperation between all relevant institutions in order to identify, refer, assist and (re)integrate victims of violence against women and domestic violence, which included 15 actions, and only three of them could be performed.

Most of the obstacles are related to the need of adapting the regulatory framework, especially regarding the mandatory treatment of alcohol and/or drug addiction in order to rehabilitate the subjects of domestic violence.

Experts noted an about 50% decrease in the number of cases of domestic violence qualified as crimes following the introduction of Article 78/1 into the Contraventions Code, an increase in the number of applications, but also a decrease in criminal cases, the prevalence of non-custodial sentences, which leaves room for interpretation.

The number of emergency protective orders in 2018-2022 increased. Violation of the emergency protective order was mostly sanctioned with a fine, and the examination of contravention cases is delayed. The limitation period is invoked.

At the same time, the number of protective orders issued by courts is decreasing, and the number of family aggressors who participate in probation programs or who are referred to abuser assistance and counseling centers is decreasing.

Although the intersectoral mechanism for intervention in cases of domestic violence is approved and implemented, insufficient human and financial resources and institutional capacities do not allow a good realization and coordination of actions to prevent and combat violence at central and local level.

One of the most noticeable things is the lack of an automated intersectoral information system.

Respectively, experts recommend including the objectives of preventing and combating violence into local public policies, as well as planning the budget and allocating financial resources to achieve them; conducting the initial and continuous training of specialists with competences in this field; developing a clear, uniform mechanism that would ensure the prompt and efficient multidisciplinary response to cases of domestic violence and sexual violence; developing the regulatory framework and operational procedures for ensuring the full access of women to criminal justice; continuing the adjustment of legislation in the field of protection; developing and ensuring the functionality of an interconnected automated information system for registration and monitoring of cases of violence against women and domestic violence; etc.