Violence survivors’ lawyer: “No woman should suffer in silence. Everyone deserves support and the chance to live a life of dignity and without fear”
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In the Republic of Moldova, domestic and gender-based violence reaches alarming levels. In 2024 alone, almost one thousand persons officially reported being victims of domestic violence, more than 70% of whom were women, according to the National Bureau of Statistics citing data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Moreover, an OSCE study shows that two in five women (40%) have experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15.
Despite significant improvements to the legislative framework in recent years, barriers such as limited access to justice, financial dependence on perpetrators, stigma, and fear of revictimization continue to prevent many victims from seeking help. This is further compounded by the fact that 60% of lawyers providing free legal aid are concentrated in Chișinău, while across the entire country there are only 21 lawyers specialized in supporting victims of crimes.
Since February this year, however, survivors of violence from different regions of the country have been able to access free legal services, thanks to a partnership established by UN Women with three civil society organizations under the project “Enhancing Women's Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies”, funded by Denmark.
One of these is the Women’s and Youth Resource Centre DACIA in Soroca, where survivors of various forms of violence can receive free legal counselling and court representation. Here is where we meet Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan, a lawyer specialized in human rights protection, with extensive experience in domestic violence cases.
From Strasbourg studies to defending women’s and girls’ rights
After graduating from the Law Faculty of the State University of Moldova, Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan pursued a master's degree at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Strasbourg, held under the auspices of the European Court of Human Rights. She later followed her calling in the NGO sector and has been working with DACIA for the past five years.
“I chose to work in human rights protection because I want to contribute to preventing and combating domestic and gender-based violence, which unfortunately remain widespread in our society. Women should not suffer in silence, because there are solutions and people ready to help them,” she says.
As part of the partnership with UN Women, DACIA has also launched a 24/7 emergency hotline for survivors of violence – 062 000 534. “Since the launch of the project, we have received around 100 calls, including at night,” Tatiana notes, personally taking calls and providing legal advice to women and girls in situations of risk.
Barriers that keep victims trapped
Access to justice continues to be a challenge. Many women do not recognize more subtle forms of abuse, such as psychological or economic violence, while others fear community backlash. Survivors in rural areas are even more vulnerable due to lack of information, transportation, and persistent stereotypes that normalize violence.
“I have worked with cases where Roma women withdrew complaints under family pressure. I have also seen women return to perpetrators because they had no economic alternatives,” Tatiana explains.
“This is why women with multiple vulnerabilities, such as those with disabilities, from marginalized communities, or facing economic hardship, need rapid access to free legal counselling, confidential shelters, and psychological support to overcome their trauma,” she stresses.
Digital violence and stronger protection orders – a ray of hope for survivors
“Psychological violence is the most widespread and at the same time the least recognized form of abuse. It deeply damages women’s self-esteem and emotional well-being,” says Tatiana. Increasingly, it goes hand in hand with digital violence, such as intimidation, blackmail, or sharing intimate content without consent.
Although police and prosecutors investigate such cases, the lack of evidence often poses a challenge. “Still, psychological assessment reports and recent legislative changes that criminalize digital violence bring new hope,” she explains.
In the summer of this year, the Moldovan Parliament adopted several legal amendments to sanction various forms of gender-based violence, including those facilitated by technology. Stalking - whether in person or online, repeated unwanted contact, or non-consensual sharing of intimate images and information, are now punishable by fines of up to MDL 37,500, community service of up to 180 hours, or up to two years in prison. If the victim is a family member, penalties may reach MDL 50,000, up to 240 hours of community service, or up to three years of imprisonment.
Tatiana also welcomes the extension of protection orders from three to six months. “For survivors, this period is vital. It gives them more time to heal emotionally, find a job, and start building an independent life away from the perpetrator,” she says.
A protection order is a legal act issued by a judge that provides immediate safety measures for survivors of domestic violence or harassment. It can be requested directly by the survivor, through a lawyer, or in exceptional cases by the police, social services, or prosecutors, and is issued within 24 hours of the request.
Still, the path to justice remains difficult. Criminal and contravention proceedings are often delayed, and some survivors give up due to lack of trust in the system. “I have had cases where women chose only divorce, without filing a criminal complaint, out of fear that the system would not adequately protect them,” Tatiana explains.
For her, continuous training of police officers, prosecutors, and judges is essential to ensure prompt and empathetic responses to cases of violence. “Survivors must feel heard and protected, not judged,” she emphasizes. Expanding the use of videoconferencing in court hearings could also help reduce delays and protect survivors from direct confrontation with perpetrators - a major reason why many withdraw their complaints.
Change begins with early education and self-love
For Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan, education from early childhood is crucial to ending violence. “Children should learn in kindergarten what respect and consent mean.”
She also urges women to find courage and confidence to break the cycle of violence. “Dear women, be strong. You are not alone. There are programmes, organizations, and people ready to help you. Love yourselves and never accept violence in any form. Life is beautiful and deserves to be lived in dignity and safety,” Tatiana says.
This story was produced under the project “Enhancing Women's Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies”, implemented by UN Women Moldova with financial support from the Government of Denmark.