Solutions and donations offered to help strengthen the EVA project’s Specialist Service for Victims of Sexual Violence

Thanks to the remarkable efforts of the project “Strengthened Gender Action in Cahul and Ungheni Districts,” known as the EVA project, the first Specialist Service for Victims of Sexual Violence in Moldova was created last year, in March 2022. The service offers any adult person who has been a victim of sexual violence the opportunity to benefit from medical, legal, psychological and social assistance in a single location. With the launch of the service, the need for a piloting exercise was identified to analyse how it works in practice.

Thus, a workshop was organized to validate the main recommendations and lessons learned, following a piloting exercise of the working procedures within the Specialist Service that was carried out by the International Center of La Strada Moldova.

The discussions were attended by employees of the Specialist Service, experts in the field as well as representatives of the Delegation of the European Union and UN Women Moldova. The main recommendations offered during the workshop focused on ensuring information and awareness-raising activities for professionals and local women in order to combat existing biases towards cases of sexual violence and encouraging that cases are reported immediately after incidents have occurred. Other recommendations focused on implementing a complex training programme, both for employees of the Specialist Service and professionals in the legal, social and medical system, and last but not least, developing a procedure to monitor the degree of satisfaction among the service’s beneficiaries and the avoidance of their re-victimization.

In her welcome speech, UN Women Moldova’s Country Representative, Dominika Stojanoska, referred to the importance of integrating the recommendations identified in the piloting process, in order to ensure the improvement of the quality of services provided to victims. "This type of service is unique in its own way and through it we will be able to provide support to victims of sexual violence in one place, where they will benefit from integrated services, greater protection and better access to justice,” she said. “It is important to look at the recommendations and reflections of La Strada Moldova’s International Center to incorporate them and see where improvements are needed."

Present at the event, Victoria Neaga, Project Manager within the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, stressed the need to comply with the operational rigors of the Specialist Service for the benefit of victims. "I want to remind you that in June 2022, the European Council granted the Republic of Moldova the status of candidate country to the EU, a status that comes with benefits but also with certain ‘homework,’ most of it in the field of gender equality, and here I would like to mention the role of the EVA project,” she said. “In March, we were able to launch the Specialist Service for Victims of Sexual Violence, and that's when we agreed to carry out the piloting procedure to see how the regulations work in practice. While we want this service to be up and running as soon as possible, we must respect all the operational rigors so that these services are provided for the benefit of victims."'

Another important aspect of the event was the donation of equipment and goods to various local institutions. To support the activities of the Specialist Service for Victims of Sexual Violence, the Delegation of the European Union donated a car, which is intended to transport victims and support informational activities in the villages and localities involved.

Tatiana Lazar, Vice President of Ungheni district, expressed her openness to continue her efforts to support the beneficiaries of the Specialist Service. "The service cannot function without having a transport unit,” she said. “Thank you for this very beneficial donation, and we hope to continue developing the service, to have well-trained specialists who will provide the necessary support to victims of sexual violence.”

To improve and facilitate the activities of the 12 partner mayoralties in the Ungheni district, UN Women Moldova donated electric generators as well as audio and video equipment for organizing conferences.

"We are glad that we are here to donate this equipment that will contribute toward continuing our communication and collaboration,” said Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova’s Country Representative. “We kindly ask you to stay in touch with us and help us promote gender equality and combat the phenomenon of violence against women."

Two kindergartens in Ungheni city also received furniture sets, and three others are expected to benefit from similar goods by the end of May when the EVA project will end. The donation included tables and chairs as well as comfortable and practical lockers and beds that will help create a harmonious environment for the children's development.

In this context, Alexandru Ambros, the mayor of Ungheni municipality, wanted to highlight the usefulness of these donations. "We are making a very big effort to bring the kindergartens into a functional state,” he said. “Thus, these donations are very important and allow us together to create good conditions for the care and development of children."

Until the completion of the EVA project, similar donations such as equipment for the mayoralties and furniture for kindergartens will be offered to Cahul district.

The discussion workshop and donations took place within the EVA project, “Strengthened Gender Action in Cahul and Ungheni Districts,” funded by the European Union and implemented by UN Women Moldova in partnership with UNICEF Moldova.