Thanks to the financial support provided by the European Union under the project “Strengthening Moldova’s National Capacities to Ensure Quality Protection, Education, Health Services, and Socio-economic Opportunities for Ukrainian Refugees,” implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), specialists in the field received advanced IT equipment to enhance their work. The European Union provided 51 laptops worth 963,696 MDL and office supplies, which will be distributed to specialists working in victim protection in the 10 Territorial Social Assistance Agencies, in Chișinău, and in UTA Găgăuzia. As a result, frontline specialists can use digital services, allowing them to manage cases more efficiently.
“I want to thank my colleagues who opted for this quite challenging role, and I encourage them to develop their ability to be proactive and collaborate with other professionals. The specialists in victim protection and crime victim rehabilitation are the ones who will fight for the beneficiaries, being the voice of those who have suffered due to crimes and violence. Our mission is very important, and we have no right to fail,” said Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labor and Social Protection.
Several measures will be implemented within the national network of specialists in victim protection and rehabilitation of crime victims:
– A competency matrix has been established for specialists in the field;
– A series of trainings have been organized and will continue throughout the year;
– High-performance IT equipment and necessary office supplies have been donated during the event to enhance task efficiency;
– A case management-based information system will be introduced;
– Monthly meetings will be organized with colleagues from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, where issues in each district will be addressed.
Specialists in the prevention and combating of domestic violence and the rehabilitation of crime victims from Territorial Social Assistance Agencies and their subordinate structures, as well as specialists from the territorial social assistance structures in Chișinău and UTA Găgăuzia, participated in various trainings dedicated to combating domestic violence and the rehabilitation of crime victims.
Additionally, training sessions were organized for all psychologists to strengthen their capacities in working with crime victims. These trainings were organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, in partnership with the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău, as part of the project funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Organization for Migration “Strengthening Moldova’s National Capacities to Ensure Quality Protection, Education, Health Services, and Socio-economic Opportunities for Ukrainian Refugees.”
“IOM has supported the Government of the Republic of Moldova’s efforts in the fight against human trafficking since the early 2000s. Today’s donation, provided by the European Union and facilitated by IOM, is in line with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection’s RESTART reform. It will practically support workers across the country in assisting victims of violence, including refugees and third-country nationals,” emphasized Damien Fresnel, Head of Programs at the International Organization for Migration in Moldova.
The trainings have contributed to strengthening the capacities of specialists at the territorial level regarding the phenomenon of domestic violence, international and national regulations, intervention tools, effective communication techniques, identifying crime victims and their rights, the role of authorities in preventing and identifying human trafficking crimes or related offenses, special mechanisms for protecting crime victims, and inter-institutional and inter-sectoral cooperation in ensuring victims' rights to assistance and protection.
“I wish you success, courage, and perseverance. I know it is not easy, and sometimes we work with enthusiasm and on a voluntary basis, but believe me, once we believe in what we do, we can help our women. It’s wonderful that we are so many, working together to respond to cases quickly and meet the expectations of victims,” concluded Viorica Țîmbalari, Director of the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (ANPCV).
The establishment of the position of specialist in the field of preventing and combating domestic violence and the rehabilitation of crime victims is an essential reform for women, girls, children, and victims of violence in the Republic of Moldova. Thanks to these legislative adjustments and support measures, interventions in domestic violence cases will be carried out effectively and with a coordinated approach using digital services.
Source: Ministry of Labor and Social Protection
