Action Against Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Moldova

Action against Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Moldova Good Practices and Human Touch Stories in the Project “Protection and Empowerment of Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Moldova”

Authors: Viorica Ghimpu Viorica Zaharia Natalia Porubin

Coordinators: Oxana Lipcanu, UNFPA Moldova Angela Dumitrasco, UNFPA Moldova

Translation and editing: Tatiana Tibuleac, Journalist Sandina Dicianu, UNFPA Moldova

Design: Oleg Zaharciuc

Printing: Printing House ”Nova Imprim” R. Moldova, Chisinau, 1, Florilor Street tel.: /+373 22/ 31 11 92, /+373 22/ 49 40 00 http://www.novaimprim.md

This publication is an overview of results of the activities carried out within the joint project ”Protection and empowerment of victims of human tra cking and domestic violence”, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Organization for Migration Mission to Moldova (IOM), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Mission to Moldova (OSCE) with the ﬁnancial support the Government of Japan through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTRHS).

Special gratitude is conveyed to the partners and coordinators from UN agencies for their contribution to the implementation of the project and elaboration of this report.

The opinions expressed in the publication do not necessarily reﬂect the views of the Donors.

The information from this publication can be used only for non-commercial, educational or scientiﬁc purposes, by making reference to the source. For any other purposes, the use of this publication is subject to the written consent of UNFPA Moldova. CONTENTS

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ...... 2 SECTION I. INTRODUCTION...... 3 Purpose of the Report ...... 3 Human Traﬃcking and Domestic Violence in Moldova...... 4 Project Background...... 5 SECTION II. GOOD PRACTICES AND HUMAN TOUCH STORIES ...... 7 IMPROVED LEGISLATION AND POLICIES ...... 8 INCREASED ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS-RAISING...... 10 CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ...... 14 MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH ...... 17 CENTRE FOR ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ...... 20 LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ORDERS ...... 24 WORK WITH PERPETRATORS ...... 27 COMMUNITY MOBILISATION: CENTRES FOR YOUTH...... 29 SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME ...... 32 THE ROLE OF MEDIA...... 35 CONCLUSIONS ...... 39 ANNEX. MAP WITH PROJECT TARGET DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITIES...... 40

1 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

CAP Centre for Assistance and Protection of Victims and Potential Victims of Traﬃcking CSO Civil Society Organization IOM International Organization for Migration LPA Local Public Administration MDG Millennium Development Goals MDT Multidisciplinary Team MLSPF Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family MH Ministry of Health MoI Ministry of Interior MoU Memorandum of Understanding NGO Non-Governmental Organization NRS National Referral System for Protection and Assistance of Victims and Potential Victims of Traﬃcking OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Sida Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNTFHS United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security

2 section I INTRODUCTION

Purpose of the Report Domestic violence and human traf- effective and sustainable in increasing ficking are serious threats to human protection and empowering victims of security.1 The Moldovan Government human trafficking and domestic vio- has committed to fight against human lence. trafficking and domestic violence by For the purpose of this Report, a ‘good practice’ is a ratifying relevant international treaties practice that meets at least two of the follow- and by harmonizing national laws and ing criteria: 1) it leads to an actual change, 2) policies with international standards. has an impact on the policy environment, 3) demonstrates an innovative or replicable ap- Although Moldova has made impor- proach, or 4) demonstrates sustainability, as tant progress in this, there are still per the definition adopted by the UN Inter- many problems. Agency Committee on Women and Gender Equality (IACWGE). United Nations Development Pro- Similarly, a ‘human touch story’ is a gramme (UNDP), United Nations Pop- story about different situations and ulation Fund (UNFPA), International sequences of events relating to people Organization for Migration (IOM), and who received qualitative protection Organization for Security and Coopera- and assistance services of good quality tion in Europe (OSCE) to Moldova have and/or were empowered to address hu- been jointly implementing the three- man trafficking and domestic violence year project ‘Protection and Empower- as a result of Project interventions. ment of Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Moldova’ This Report is designed for wider, pub- (the Project) since October 2008. The lic use and contains two sections: Project, designed to support the Gov- Section I discusses human trafficking ernment’s efforts to meet the human and domestic violence in Moldova and security needs of critically vulnerable sets the background of the Project ‘Pro- persons in Moldova, is built upon a tection and Empowerment of Victims wide range of coordinated activities of Human Trafficking and Domestic and initiatives. Violence’. This report is a result of joint efforts Section II presents ten good practices among the Project’s implementing and eight human touch stories that re- agencies to document in a structured flect the impact of Project activities and and easy-to-read way the types of in- demonstrate an innovative approach in terventions, lessons learned and good facilitating sustainable protection and practices that proved to be feasible, empowerment of victims of human 1 Human security is defined as “the security of trafficking and domestic violence un- people – their physical safety, their econom- der the Protection and Empowerment ic and social well-being, respect for their Project Components. dignity and worth as human beings, and the protection of their human rights and funda- There is widespread consensus that mental freedoms” (see 2.21, The Responsibil- ity to Protect, International Commission on domestic violence and human traf- Intervention and State Sovereignty, 2001). ficking not only represent funda-

INTRODUCTION 3 Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Moldova mental violations of human rights, exploitation, forced labour, and beg- but also contribute to individual ging. From 2000 to 2010, 2,741 vic- and global security risks. Domestic tims of trafficking, 1,226 children of violence and human trafficking are victims of trafficking, the IOM Mis- cause and consequence of insecurity sion to Moldova has assisted over suffered most often by women and 2,575 potential victims, 95 stranded children. Domestic violence usually migrants, 371 victims of domestic vi- occurs at home, the place that ideally olence, 103 unaccompanied minors, should be a safe haven, while human and 23 children left behind. Seven trafficking infects the world at large, in ten assisted victims of trafficking feeding crime and corruption, tak- had experienced domestic violence ing advantage of human and territo- prior to being trafficked. rial vulnerabilities, and undermining Most victims are women and girls efforts to achieve peace and democ- trafficked for sexual exploitation, racy. Human trafficking is one of the primarily to Turkey, Russia, Cyprus, fastest-growing criminal industries the United Arab Emirates, and other in the world today. countries in the Middle East and According to the latest studies, one Western Europe. Men are trafficked in four women aged 15 to 49 in Mol- to work in the construction, agricul- dova has been a victim of domestic ture, and service sectors of Russia violence. Respondents say that cul- and other countries. There have been tural, economic and social factors some cases of children trafficked for determine the perpetuation of do- begging to neighbouring countries. mestic violence. One in every three Girls and young women are also victims blames herself for ‘provoking trafficked within the country from the violence’. Most of them do not rural areas to Chisinau. Men victims report abuse and do not seek help of internal trafficking are exploited because they feel ashamed of what mostly in agriculture. There is evi- people might think or say and because they do not trust the police and other authorities.2 Domestic violence, poverty, under- developed social assistance services, unemployment, gender discrimination and inadequate parental support have fuelled human trafficking. Moldova continues to be a source and, to a lesser extent, a transit and destination country for women, girls, men, and boys trafficked for sexual

2 Women At-Risk in the Republic of Mol- dova, Winrock International, 2005 http:// www.atnet.md/public/46/en/Women%20 At%20Risk_eng.pdf

4 HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MOLDOVA dence that men from neighbouring and human trafficking continue to countries are trafficked to Moldova emerge. At the same time, the frag- for forced labour. The breakaway re- ile economic situation in Moldova, gion of Transnistria remains a source coupled with the global economic of trafficking victims. crisis, maintains a deficit in financing the social sector in Moldova, which Studies have shown that only a degrades services for victims and small number of cases of domestic potential victims. Thus, Moldova’s violence and human trafficking are anti-trafficking and anti-domestic vi- officially registered and assisted. The olence activities remain dependent real number of victims is unknown. on international donor funding and In this respect, the Government is in support from international organi- the process of setting up a national zations and NGOs. data-collection system on social assistance and of improving victim Four agencies jointly implement the protection. three-year project ‘Protection and Empowerment of Victims of Human New cases of domestic violence

Project Background Trafficking and Domestic Violence and housing services necessary to in Moldova’ (‘the Project’), which achieve and sustain such a life. was launched in October 2008: the The Project addresses the pressing United Nations Development Pro- security needs in Moldova in two gramme (UNDP), the United Nations ways that are interlinked and build Population Fund (UNFPA), the Inter- upon each other, but that conceptu- national Organization for Migration ally approach domestic violence and (IOM), and the Organization for Se- human trafficking differently: curity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Moldova. The Proj- 1) By enhancing Protection to vic- ect is the result of an intensive col- tims and potential victims of hu- laboration among these participat- man trafficking and domestic ing agencies, key public institutions violence through a strengthened and other relevant partners in the system (a top-down approach in anti-trafficking and gender domains partnership with appropriate gov- in Moldova. ernmental institutions) The overall goal of this Project is to 2) By encouraging Empowerment of improve: 1) the ability of the Gov- local communities and individuals ernment of Moldova, in partnership to prevent and address the prob- with civil society, local communities, lems at their roots through a bot- and other service providers, to pro- tom-up approach in partnership vide its vulnerable citizens with a life with local officials, civil society, free from the threat or experience and the media. of domestic violence and human The implementing agencies have trafficking and 2) the access of vul- specific roles: UNFPA and IOM are nerable citizens to quality, compre- responsible for the protection com- hensive and necessary medical, psy- ponent of the Project, while UNDP chological, social, legal, employment

PROJECT BACKGROUND 5 and OSCE Mission to Moldova are vant central public authorities – the responsible for the empowerment Ministry of Labour, Social Protection component. and Family being the main national coordinating institution – and with IOM has played the leading role in the Local Public Administrations in implementing the protection com- target communities. ponent, as this part of the Project complements anti-trafficking ac- The Project is implemented in 31 tar- tivities (namely development and get communities of five target dis- implementation of the National tricts (Anenii Noi, Soldanesti, Rezina, Referral System) that IOM has been Vulcăneşti and Grigoriopol). The tar- supporting in Moldova. Since 2000, get districts and communities were IOM has been the key player in pro- identified based on the Small Area viding protection, assistance, repa- Deprivation Indicator. The main se- triation, and rehabilitation to victims lection criteria included: 1) poorly of trafficking in Moldova (see www. developed civil society and 2) high iom.md). numbers of known victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. UNFPA has offered its expertise and Based on all partners’ experience experience in all activities related to and knowledge of specific needs in expanding the National Referral Sys- these areas, special attention was tem thematically to meet the needs paid to the regions of Transnistria of victims of domestic violence, with and Gagauzia, as well as neighbour- a focus on community multidisci- ing areas in eastern and southern plinary professionals (see www.un- Moldova, respectively. fpa.org). Through the United Nations Trust UNDP has been the leader in imple- Fund for Human Security, the Gov- menting the empowerment com- ernment of Japan allocated US$3.35 ponent of this Project, as UNDP has million for the implementation of extensive experience in developing the Project. the capacities of community actors and authorities in Moldova to prevent trafficking in human beings as well as to promote gender equality (see www.undp.md). OSCE Mission has offered its support to the Project, especially through working with civil society and local authorities in the unstable areas neighbouring the region of Transn- istria and the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia to promote security and human rights (see www.osce. org/moldova/). In this way, efficiency and multiplier principles are ensured throughout Project duration. All Project activities are carried out in close coordination with the rele-

6 INTRODUCTION section II GOOD PRACTICES AND HUMAN TOUCH STORIES

This section describes 10 good prac- the existing conditions and resourc- tices and eight human touch stories es should be undertaken and appro- documented under the Project’s priate adjustments made. protection and empowerment com- Every human touch story recounts a ponents. real story of an individual or a group The good practices contain a note of beneﬁciaries who received good on the conditions under which they protection and assistance services emerged, the main strengths (ele- and/or were empowered to address ments of the good practice), and human traﬃcking and domestic vio- the weaknesses (constraints). Before lence by providing basic services to initiating the replication of a good at-risk people. practice, however, an assessment of

GOOD PRACTICES AND HUMAN TOUCH STORIES 7 IMPROVED LEGISLATION AND POLICIES Good Practice: Making Policies and Laws Practical in Style and Content Lesson learned Favourable policies and laws ‘at the top’ and an aware and concerned public ‘at the bottom’ are important conditions that render actions against human traf- Extensive consulta- ficking and domestic violence more effective. tive process among project partners at Moldovan legislative framework and lence and violence against women, the national and policies for preventing and combat- developed with the participation of local levels contrib- ing trafficking in human beings and the Moldovan Government delega- utes to technically domestic violence are at European tion. sound and con- standards. Thus, the main focus for textually relevant - Analytical papers: 1) the Report the future is full implementation of legislation, better on discrimination of women in leg- the legislation and of international awareness of the islation and practice in Moldova, 2) human rights standards so that vic- legislation among the Gender Assessment of the Re- tims of trafficking and domestic vio- different profes- productive Health Strategy, and 3) lence can in fact receive the protec- sionals, and greater the Report on the implementation tion and assistance they sorely need public support for its of the internationally agreed goals, to lead safe and dignified lives. enforcement. including the Millennium Develop- Throughout Project implementation, ment Goals (MDGs). the Government has had assistance • Approved National Plan for Pre- in leading the development, re- vention and Combating Traffick- view and consultation of important ing in Human Beings (2010-2011). mechanisms to protect the rights of • Approved National Strategy for actual and potential victims of hu- Protection and Assistance of Vic- man trafficking and domestic vio- tims and Potential Victims of Tra- lence. The most prominent results of fficking (2009-2016) and Action these joint efforts are: Plan (2009-2011). - Amendments to legislation aiming The Project has also contributed to at ensuring proper implementation the on-going creation of a consoli- of Law No. 45 (on domestic violence). dated information system for the The new legislation criminalizes do- social protection sector that will 1) mestic violence (Article 2011 of the cover all types of vulnerability, 2) Criminal Code) and sets out the civil provide good data for implemen- and penal procedures for implementation of efficient evidence-based tation of Law No. 45. policies, and 3) be a useful working instrument for specialists at all levels - Council of Europe Convention to in the social protection field. prevent and combat domestic vio-

8 IMPROVED LEGISLATION AND POLICIES Elements of this Good Practice

The Project partners have engaged skilled legislative, policy and curricula drafters to develop new laws and policies and/or upgrade existing ones for Lesson learned preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and domestic violence. This may be a model for similar projects and further contribute to Establishment of a improvements in policy. single Automated Information System Participating in monitoring of the implementation of international stan- covering the entire dards and/or in their design is an innovative way to promote legal and policy social protection changes. field is an efficient and sustainable Constraints solution to data collection needs. There is still not enough state financing for the implementation of the legislative framework for preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and domestic violence.

Professionals often lack the knowledge, will and capacity to enforce existing legislation.

The justice system faces ineﬃciency and corruption and intimidation of judges, prosecutors, police and witnesses is commonplace.

IMPROVED LEGISLATION AND POLICIES 9 INCREASED ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS-RAISING Good Practice: Using Awareness-Raising Campaigns and Research to Halt Domestic Violence and Human Tra cking Public awareness is critical to changing how society operates and governs itself, particularly when it comes to domestic violence, a long-standing discriminatory Lesson learned practice that has strong traditional and cultural roots. The Project’s differ- One of the main obstacles to com- “The fact that the community mem- ent communication bating human trafficking and do- bers have started to denounce the materials and chan- mestic violence in Moldova is the cases of violence is an indicator that nels made efforts to absence of awareness about these society no longer tolerates such raise awareness of issues. Another is the failure of vic- cases. However, time is still needed human trafficking tims to report crimes because they to have at least half of the popula- and violence more are ashamed, fear more violent re- tion aware of and sensitive to this meaningful and prisals by their abusers, and cannot problem.” increasingly suc- count on effective police response cessful. The second phase of the campaign, and protection. launched in November 2010, helped The Project has successfully bol- 1) to change existing stereotypes of stered the Government’s advocacy all forms of domestic violence and 2) and awareness-raising work against to bring to the attention of the gen- domestic violence by conducting eral public the importance of involv- a national awareness-raising cam- ing men in the fight against domes- paign on domestic violence. tic violence. The campaign was organized from By 1 April 2011, the 08008 8008 Trust October 2009 to December 2010 in Line had received 1,968 calls. two phases. A similar Trust Line, operated by the The first phase of the nationwide NGO ‘Interaction’, is functioning in campaign, launched in October Transnistria. Since 2006, ‘Interaction’ 2009, enabled more identification of has received over 5,000 calls from the victims of domestic violence (in- residents on the left back of the Nis- tru river. cluding through self-identification) by calls to the Trust Line for women, which the International Center ‘La Strada’ has managed since October 2009. The Trust Line operates daily from 8 AM until 8 PM, including Sat- urdays and Sundays. “The number of calls received at the Trust Line and the content of these calls shows that people started to change their views about domestic violence“, says Daniela Misail-Nichi- tin, ‘La Strada’ Deputy Chairperson.

10 INCREASED ADVOCACY AND AWARENESSRAISING Additionally, the Project covers the campaign by holding contests for following important events to raise children, presenting the theatre play awareness and to advocate for its Casa M in Soroca, and engaging in cause: 1) the Family Festival, orga- other activities. nized in 10 districts to promote equal Project partners have been distrib- opportunities for women and men, uting several information materials zero tolerance towards violence, etc.; centrally and locally. 2) the fourth National Prayer Day, organized by the Bessarabia Metropol- To complement these activities and itan Church in Orhei and Chisinau; to respond to the lack of recent data, 3) the second National Youth Video the Project contributed to nation- Contest ‘PLURAL+Moldova’, which wide research on violence against addresses the social consequences women in the family, which the Na- of migration on children and fami- tional Bureau of Statistics, with sup- lies and is organized within the port from UN Women, UNDP and framework of the International Year Sida, carried out in 2010.3 of Youth. The ‘PLURAL+Moldova’ contest was launched with the pre- miere of the Romanian film “Eu cand vreau sa fluier, fluier” (“When I want to whistle, I whistle”). Also, the Project contributed to the organization of the ‘16 Days Against Gender-based Violence’ national 3 As part of the Joint UN Project on Strength- ening the National Statistical System Elements of this Good Practice

The services of the Trust Lines operated by ‘La Strada’ and ‘Interaction’ are free of charge. Involvement of the church (a less traditional partner) in advocacy and raising awareness is an innovative approach to tackling human trafficking and domestic violence. Increased self-identification and identification of victims of domestic violence and human trafficking is an indicator that Project interventions are having a real impact at the individual level and in society as a whole. Constraint

Organization of nationwide awareness-raising campaigns and research on domestic violence and human traﬃcking currently depends on donor funding.

INCREASED ADVOCACY AND AWARENESSRAISING 11 Human Touch Story: A Powerful Message Can Put an End to Domestic Violence

Anyone can be the victim of domestic violence, regardless of age, gender, or status, yet the problem is often overlooked, excused, or denied. This is especially true when the abuse is psychological rather than physical. Emotional abuse is often minimized, yet it can leave deep and lasting scars. Acknowledging the warning signs and symptoms of domestic violence is the first step to ending it. No one should live in fear. The International Center ‘La Strada’ known in the locality’,” continues has great experience in assisting Misail-Nichitin, referring to another cases of domestic violence identified case. This is how the timid confes- through the Trust Line for women, sions of women with a certain status which ‘La Strada’ has operated since in society most frequently begin. 2009 with support from the Danish These usually are teachers, social Ministry of Foreign Affairs. assistants, and wives of local lead- Mrs. Daniela Misail-Nichitin, Deputy ers such as mayors, policemen, and Chairperson of ‘La Strada’, recalls a judges. During the first call, they do recent case in which a woman said, not admit that they are talking about “What shall I do? My husband is ter- themselves. If they call back, they rorizing me with a gun, he points it start to disclose they are the ones at my head or puts it in my mouth [...] who need help”, says Misail-Nichitin. and he keeps me like this for a cou- ‘La Strada’ Trust Line operators offer ple of hours. I would go to the po- primary psychological counseling to lice, but they would laugh at me. My victims of domestic violence, advise husband is the chief of police, and them how to build a non-violent re- the prosecutor is our relative’.” Misail- lationship, refer them to specialized Nichitin continues, “This woman re- services, and inform them about the ally needs counseling so as to make law on preventing and combating up her mind, especially taking into domestic violence. account that she has two divorce applications, but both of them were “Young women between 18 and settled through reconciliation. If the 26 years old may be easier to help victim comes and says that she has take a decision if the couple has no decided to choose reconciliation, children”, says Misail-Nichitin. “Ste- the judge must be very cautious, reotypes like ‘the child should have because her decision might be the a father’ or ‘it is difficult to bring up result of some pressure.” a child alone’ leave their marks. Nev- ertheless, when you ask them what Some women who call the Trust Line they want for their child: a calm, are afraid to disclose that they them- stress-free and peaceful childhood, selves need help. “’Hello. Can you or a situation when the child has suggest how I can help my friend? nightmares, health problems and She is beaten and humiliated by her school failures? At that moment, husband continuously. She cannot women start to perceive their situa- ask for help because she is a public tion differently. Women between 26 person and her husband is well- and 35 years old represent the most

12 INCREASED ADVOCACY AND AWARENESSRAISING confident category. Usually, they A good example of this is the video do not perceive the importance of spot produced within the Project psychological counseling, and they on the basis of the principle ‘Dif- request legal assistance from the ferent people in different places’. It outset. Women over thirty-five years contains 22 messages presented by old especially need psychological women and men of different ages counseling, and in many cases there and social groups who come from is a need for services for perpetra- urban and rural areas. These mes- tors, such as centres for psychologi- sages provide different tips on how cal counseling, or centres for alcohol to recognize early signs of violence, and drug rehabilitation.” promote zero tolerance towards violence and advise women affected ‘La Strada’ periodically analyses the by domestic violence to ask for help calls to formulate simple and clear from ‘La Strada’ Trust Line. messages focused on specific problems and needs of different catego- Project experience shows that a ries of women calling the Trust Line. powerful message that is tailored to the intended target group and The best message about violence is presented by services providers, ac- the one that responds to what the tors and ordinary people, can help audience wants to hear about vio- victims put an end to domestic violence and does not know. lence.

INCREASED ADVOCACY AND AWARENESSRAISING 13 CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT Good Practice: Capacity-Building for Professionals to Tackle Tra cking and Domestic Violence Short- and long-term services (medical, psychological, social, legal, employment and housing) have been provided to victims and potential victims of human traf- ﬁcking since 2006 through the National Referral System (NRS), which was initially launched in ﬁve areas of Moldova.

Through the Project, the NRS has district level, the Project supported been expanded 1) thematically, to initial and follow-up training for identify and assist victims of do- hundreds of multidisciplinary com- mestic violence in a targeted man- munity specialists involved in the ner; and 2) geographically, with the NRS. NRS now operational in 31 territorial In addition, Memoranda of Under- units, including 28 districts, two mu- standing (MoUs) were signed with nicipalities and one town. the Local Public Administration in Furthermore, the Project strength- all communities that the Project tar- ened the capacity of state institu- geted. These MoUs had three main Lesson learned tions and professionals responsible goals: 1) to build the capacity of for the identification, short-term as- Multidisciplinary Teams; 2) to raise The monitoring sistance (shelter and repatriation), awareness within the general public; and evaluation of and long-term assistance (rehabilita- and 3) to support the provision of the first pilot steps tion) of victims. For this, the Project primary counseling services for the in implementing gave advice on the development of victims and perpetrators of human the NRS Strategy important rules and policies target- trafficking and domestic violence. were essential to ing different professional groups. strengthening and The National Committee for Combat- These include: 1) Standard Regula- expanding the ing Trafficking in Human Beings and tions for Rehabilitation Centres for National Referral the Ministry of Labour, Social Protec- Victims of Domestic Violence (Gov- System. tion and Family Board approved the ernment Decision No. 129 of 22 NRS Strategy report on the first year February 2010); 2) Quality Standards of implementation.4 in Delivering Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence (Government Decision No. 1200 of 23 December 2010); 3) draft guidelines on implementation of domestic violence legislation for social assistants, medical staff and police officers; 4) Identification Regulations for Vic- tims and Potential Victims of trafficking, including Standard forms; and 5) the first draft of the Regulations of the Multidisciplinary Teams within the NRS. To improve collaboration and refer- 4 http://mmpsf.gov.md/file/rapoarte/ ral from the community level to the Raport%20Strategia%20SNR.pdf

14 CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT Elements of this Good Practice

Project partners used Memoranda of Understanding to ensure that every- one was working within the same framework and had the same understanding of deliverables and timelines. This is an eﬀective coordination tool in strengthening and scaling-up the NRS. The development of rules and policies and the training of relevant professionals are a prerequisite for enforcing victims’ rights to protection and high-quality services. The experience and lessons learned by the Multidisciplinary Teams within the NRS operations help improve institutional capacities and legislative frameworks. Constraint

Insuﬃcient funding in local budgets to strengthen the capacity of adminis- trative structures and professionals working to protect and assist victims.

Human Touch Story: Addressing Cases of Domestic Violence Jointly Brings Better Results It was the first time that Nicolae M., cally abused women considers that a police inspector from Soldanesti it was her to provoke the conflict, so district, northern Moldova, knew the community does not pay much how to respond when a woman who attention to this phenomenon, and had just been the victim of domes- the professionals are unmotivated tic violence came to him. During his to tackle the issue in a comprehen- previous eight years of work as a po- sive manner.” liceman, he had received many simi- In March 2009, Nicolae M. partici- lar claims, which he usually treated pated in a training organized within superficially, looking only at the pro- the Project. This training helped cedural aspects and neglecting the him realize that his approach was human sides of the situation. When wrong. Only by working together women did not want to file claims with a Multidisciplinary Team (fam- against the perpetrators or did not ily physicians, social assistants and want to take the perpetrators to psychologists) are police officers court, he usually acquiesced and did able to understand the complexity not bother trying to convince them of the phenomenon and the most otherwise. appropriate intervention for such “Such situations are widespread in situations. Moldova,” explains Valentina Bod- Nicolae M. subsequently dealt with rug-Lungu, a national expert in gen- the case of Maria, a 32-year-old der problems. “One in three physi- woman with two small children and

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT 15 a violent husband. Maria was afraid find out about it,” says the psycholo- of being left on the street with no gist. source of income, but the day came Since early 2009, about 200 profes- when she finally decided to take her sionals (family physicians, social as- children and go to the Soldanesti sistants, and police officers) from Police Office. This time, Nicolae M. the Soldanesti, Vulcanesti, Rezina, registered the domestic violence Anenii-Noi and Grigoriopol districts case and called the social assistant, have been trained in preventing and the physician, and the psychologist combating domestic violence, set- from the locality to a meeting to ting up Multidisciplinary Teams, and solve the case together. reacting in every individual case to “Maria will benefit from psychologi- protect victims from violence and to cal counseling so as to overcome the prevent new cases and recidivism. physical and psychological abuse By the end of 2011, another 200 pro- she has been through. The woman fessionals will have benefited from and the children will undergo medi- the same training. cal tests and benefit from social as- Coming back to Maria’s case: She sistance,” said the police inspector, and her children were temporarily describing all measures in detail placed in the local maternal centre and pointing out that he was “very while they waited to move to her pleased to work with other members parents’ house. Maria cannot believe of the local Multidisciplinary Team that she finally got away from her vi- and to see the resulting benefits for olent husband and that she can now the victims.” live in peace with her children. Larisa T., a psychologist from Sol- “I really do not know what I would danesti, says that the biggest ad- have done by myself. Maybe I would vantage in her work with victims of have had to leave my children for a violence is in the complex approach while in a boarding school and go used to treat victims: from psycho- abroad to earn money. Now, with the logical and moral rehabilitation to help of the Multidisciplinary Team, I finding a place to live and getting hope to find a job in Moldova,” the a job. “This way we break the cliché woman told us with hope in her eyes that violence has to be a taboo sub- and heart. ject, that is to be absorbed within the family, and that no one should

16 CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH Good Practice: Multidisciplinary Approach in Achieving and Sustaining a Life Free of Violence

In the social protection of vulnerable persons, multiple stakeholders who have incomplete capacities and coordination mechanisms across various sectors and between government and civil society are one of the main risks to the success of any initiative.

The creation of community Multidis- best practices used by different ciplinary Teams (MDTs) made up of teams and to promote them within social assistants, police officers, fam- the system. ily physicians, mayors/deputy may- On the other hand, monitoring vis- ors, and psychologists/ pedagogues its point out the gaps in the opera- in all Project target areas and joint tion of MDTs and help to assess their efforts of the implementing agen- training needs. In the latter case, cies made it possible, for the first follow-up training considerably time in Moldova, to combine protec- improves the activity of the MDTs tive measures at the individual level and compensates for the negative systematically and sustainably with effects of staff turnover within the Lesson learned community empowerment. Local Public Administration at the The participation The Project is instrumental in build- district and community levels. of representatives ing the capacity of public services Approval of the Regulations for the of the Ministry and staff of non-governmental orga- Multidisciplinary Teams within the of Labour, Social nizations to provide assistance based National Referral System, developed Protection and Fam- on a multidisciplinary approach. under the Project, will 1) facilitate ily and Ministry of Activities to build the capacities of creation of MDTs in all communities Interior as well as of institutions, multidisciplinary pro- of Moldova, 2) provide a common district-level MDTs fessionals and civil society in order operational concept for all MDTs, in the monitoring of to prevent trafficking and domestic and 3) strengthen collaboration community teams violence and to identify and support among professionals from diverse reflects positively on victims and perpetrators have been disciplines and institutions who, as the quality of feed- implemented at all stages of the part of the National Referral System, back and correc- Project. comprehensively assist and protect tive measures and victims and potential victims of traf- promotes further Along with training for the members ficking and domestic violence. bottom-up and of MDTs, the Project supported su- top-down commu- pervisory missions, which focused Twenty-two community Multidis- nication and case specifically on solving concrete cas- ciplinary Teams were established referral. es, thus increasing local capacities through decisions of Community and responsiveness. Councils and over one-hundred members of Multidisciplinary Teams Systematic monitoring of the MDTs’ have been trained. activity also helps to identify the

MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH 17 Elements of this Good Practice

The multidisciplinary approach has been eﬀective in cases with numer- ous problems that exceed the capacity and responsibility of a single institution at the Central and Local Public Administration.

The periodic monitoring missions helped to assess the quality of MDTs’ services and to identify solutions to emerging problems. They also provided for continuous professional development through on-the-job training and/or mentoring.

The Project facilitated the sharing of experiences and good practices in providing assistance among diﬀerent MDTs at the district and community levels. Constraints

High staﬀ turnover within the Local Public Administration at the district and community levels.

Insuﬃcient funding in local budgets for follow-up training of MDTs working to protect and assist victims.

Human Touch Story: Working Together to Protect Victims of Violence” The implementing agencies, in partnership with central government officials, pay regular visits to the Project sites to evaluate progress toward improving local capacities for addressing cases of domestic violence and human trafficking. The first monitoring visits have shown that local multidisciplinary specialists (social assistants, medical workers/physicians, and police officers) are essential to protect and assist victims. There is at least one feature com- lack of jobs, people start abusing al- mon to all villages in Moldova: They cohol. This results in many conflicts all have many migrant parents who and cases of domestic violence.” have left their children behind and Discussions are harsh when they migrant youth who do not intend to turn to a recent case of violence in return. “Since the beginning of the the community. The case concerns a year nine persons have died, and no family of hard-working people. No- babies have been born. I am scared body talked poorly about them. Ana when I think of the way the village is a teacher and Ion is a construction ages,” says a woman from a target worker in Russia. Together, they are community. She recalls, that 20 years raising a 14-year-old son. In January ago, her village had 3,500 inhabit- 2011, excessive alcohol consump- ants. Today, it has only 2,500. An- tion led to a fight in which Ion got other woman sadly states that, “new angry and stabbed Ana with a knife. houses are not being built. Given the

18 MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH This was not a new occurrence. Ana The policeman has registered about had been facing such situations for three perpetrators of domestic vio- years. lence in this community, but their real number is much higher. “I have “It is a shame in the village to be a worked as a policeman for 20 years teacher and be beaten by the hus- in this community. In all these years band,” says the social assistant from there have been only a few cases of the community, explaining the domestic violence, denounced by woman’s silence. women victims. They do not go to But it is a story common among the police because of fear and shame. families in Moldova, where “each Women prefer to talk with the social fourth woman is subject to physical assistant. But we communicate reg- and psychological violence and only ularly and work together in all cases. a small part request help because of It is easier and more eﬃcient to work the fear and shame.”5 within the Multidisciplinary Team. If one specialist doesn’t succeed, the Rather than be just another case second gets involved. This is the role in which a woman simply accepts of a team work,” concludes the po- violent attacks from her husband, liceman. Ana decided to ﬁle for divorce, con- vinced that she could no longer live The joint work and referral of cases in such a situation. As a result of the of violence to relevant specialists is intervention of specialists, Ion was the main task of the Multidisciplinary hospitalized for 40 days in the dis- Teams created in 31 communities trict hospital for treatment of alcohol and trained as part of the Project for addiction. Meanwhile, Ana received the prevention of domestic violence counseling and information that and assistance for victims of domes- helped her make the right decision. tic violence. Currently, as the documents for divorce are being examined, Ana and her son live separately from Ion. The policeman and the social assistant are closely observing the family.

5 Women At-Risk in the Republic of Mol- dova, Winrock International, 2005 http:// www.atnet.md/public/46/en/Women%20 At%20Risk_eng.pdf

MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH 19 CENTRE FOR ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION Good Practice: The Centre for Assistance and Protection Provides Successful Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services to Victims and At-risk Cases The Centre for Assistance and Protection of Victims and Potential Victims of Trafficking (the Centre) has been operating with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the last 10 years. In 2008, the Centre became a public institution subordinate to the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family. Since then, it has been funded and administered by the Government jointly with IOM. Lesson learned To date, IOM and the staff of the obtaining identification documents Centre have assisted 2,109 victims (as many returned victims have no To avoid delays in and 786 potential victims of human such documents). Documenting the reintegration trafficking. repatriated minors is more difficult of the child into the and time-consuming. family, cooperation Since the beginning of the Project, with child protec- the Centre has provided crisis inter- Beneficiaries also receive medical tion authorities is vention assistance to 816 beneficia- assistance and legal counseling, in- essential. ries through different project funds: cluding court representation in civil 247 victims of trafficking (VoTs), 202 children of VoTs, 30 stranded migrants, 227 at-risk cases, 78 victims of domestic violence, 25 repatriated children, and seven unaccompanied minors (UAMs). Through these project funds and since the beginning of the Project, 209 beneficiaries have received assistance at the Centre. Every year, about 300 people benefit from the services provided in the Centre, of whom 200 receive temporary safe accommodation. “Lately, we have been observing an increase in referrals of victims of domestic violence for assistance to the Centre. After the Law No. 45 on preventing and combating domestic violence entered into force in 2008, more cases have been identified and reported,” says Viorel Gorceag, the director of the Centre. At the Centre, women, men, girls and boys benefit from temporary shelter and psychological counseling to overcome post-traumatic stress. Ad- ditionally, each person is assisted in

20 CENTRE FOR ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION and penal cases. Together with the of trafficking. As the nature of traf- beneficiary, the Centre’s social assis- ficking changes, though, the Centre’s tant/case manager develops an in- services have been adapted and ex- dividual assistance plan, respecting panded over the years to include fe- confidentiality and including an esti- male (70 percent) and male (30 per- mated budget. The plan is drawn up cent) victims of trafficking and their in close consultation with the Multi- family members, as well as victims of disciplinary Team (MDT) coordinator domestic violence, unaccompanied from the victim’s place of origin. The minors, and stranded migrants, in- beneficiary voluntarily participates cluding people with special needs. in the programme and signs a con- Drawing upon their professional- sent form for assistance. ism and long-term experience of The individual assistance plan rang- work with highly traumatized cases, es from procurement of food and the Centre’s staff proved able to ef- clothes for children, school/educa- ficiently cope with the diverse ben- tion support, renovation and refur- eficiaries’ profiles. bishment of the house to which the With the thematic expansion and beneficiary returns upon leaving the further development of the National Centre, professional orientation and Referral System through this Project, vocational training courses, job me- the Centre continues to be one of diation and employment, etc. The the key elements and is recognized Project pays part of the assistance as a highly specialized service within costs through IOM ensuring gradual integrated social services. increase of contribution from the Central/Local Public Authorities Cases identified by MDT members alongside with the civil society orga- are referred to the Centre through nizations active in the field. the NRS National Coordination Unit within the Ministry of Labour, Social Initially, the Centre opened its doors Protection and Family. primarily to women and girl victims

Elements of This Good Practice:

The Centre’s staff interventions are complex and based on the individual needs of the beneficiaries. This approach produces immediate change in victims’ lives. Cost-sharing of Centre services between the Project and public funds makes it possible to sustain the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims. The Project helps the Centre’s staff to identify and monitor cases with MDT members, including emergency response upon request by any NRS partner. This approach strengthens the NRS and thereby improves the policy environment. Constraint:

Because the Centre is located in Chisinau, victims from outside the city do not have easy access to its services.

CENTRE FOR ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION 21 Human Touch Story: Lilia Begins Life Anew Lilia, a 21 year-old woman, never got For a while, Lilia was an agricultural to know her parents. She grew up worker in Moldova. Later, her em- in an orphanage. The staff and the ployer offered her a similar, better- children from that institution were paid job in Ukraine. The positive her only friends and acquaintances. experience of returned migrants She did not know life outside the pushed her to go abroad. When orphanage. She wanted to go to uni- she arrived in Ukraine, she was versity, have a nice house and get a forced to provide sexual services to good job. clients. Graduates of orphanages have little “I was destroyed gradually. They were chance of pursuing higher educa- taking me apart piece by piece. I and tion. Most of them enter vocational other girls were treated like goods. schools; some go to colleges; but They took our documents away and only a few of them succeed in en- locked us up, so we had no chances rolling in universities. Lilia attended of escaping. I asked some clients to tailoring training courses and found help me run away, but no one did,” employment, but her salary was tells Lilia. hardly covering the cost of meals After five months of slavery in and other needs. She had no house. Ukraine, Lilia was brought to Mol- Continuous failure to find a well-paid dova and forced to be a domestic job in Moldova pushed Lilia into the worker in her trafficker’s house. traffickers’ trap.

22 CENTRE FOR ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION When she became pregnant, the trafficking in human beings with trafficker insisted that she get an IOM support, where she benefited abortion. This was the last straw. Lilia from social, medical, psychological got over her fear and decided to run and legal assistance. Later, she was away. referred to a maternity centre where she and her child stayed after the When she arrived in another city, far baby was born. IOM, together with from the trafficker, Lilia met a young the Centre, helped Lilia buy a house woman with a similar story who outside Chisinau. The Project cov- encouraged her to seek help from ered part of the costs of the house the International Organization for and other primary needs for Lilia Migration (IOM). “She told me that and her baby. the specialists from this organization helped her rebuild her life. She Specialists continue to monitor the has the same story – graduated from case. Although she is safe now, she a boarding school, got trafficked for again and again relives the night- sexual exploitation in Russia, and mare that she has been through. now she is raising a child all by her- All victims of human trafficking need self,” Lilia tells us. much time, sometimes a lifetime, to So Lilia came to the Centre for As- heal from the unseen wounds of the sistance and Protection (the Centre) trafficking experience. of victims and potential victims of

CENTRE FOR ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION 23 LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ORDERS Good Practice: Ensuring Victims Access to Legal Assistance and Protection Services The few available studies carried out in Moldova indicate that most victims of domestic violence do not report abuse and do not seek help because they feel ashamed of what people might think or say and because they do not trust the authorities. According to statistics, legal services are the most needed service, after psychological counseling.

Law No. 45 on preventing and com- on implementation of Law No. 45 Lesson learned bating domestic violence entered for judges, and 4) development of into force in September 2008 and amendments for an implementation More attention represents a shift in perception of mechanism of the Law. should be paid to domestic violence: whereas it had the role of Multi- The approved amendments refer to been viewed as a private issue, it disciplinary Teams the Criminal and Criminal Procedure is now seen as a public problem. in monitoring the Codes and other legislative and nor- The Law stipulates the roles and re- enforcement of mative acts and make possible the sponsibilities of individuals involved Protection Orders proper enforcement of Law No. 45. and envisages the right of victims and in ensuring the They also criminalize sexual harass- to protection through issuance of provision of neces- ment (Article 173 Criminal Code) Protection Orders. The Court issues sary services. and domestic violence (Article 2011 a Protection Order within 24 hours of the Criminal Code). of a victim’s request. The provisions of the Order may be in eﬀect for The Project also supported the cre- up to three months and obligate ation of a network of legal assistants the defendant to vacate the com- in 4 target districts (Anenii Noi, Rezi- mon premises, not to approach and na, Soldanesti and Vulcanesti). contact the victim and the children Following training in enforcement of (if there are any), to pay damages Law No. 45 for 200 judges, prosecu- caused by the violence, to follow a tors and lawyers, hundreds of vic- relevant counseling and/or treat- tims of violence beneﬁted from legal ment course, etc. At the same time, services and more than 40 Protec- the Protection Order allows for the tion Orders have been issued since initiation of a divorce process. Police September 2009. and social assistance representatives are responsible for monitoring the There has not yet been more gener- enforcement of Protection Orders. alized application of Protection Or- ders for a number of reasons, which To facilitate implementation of Law include, but are not limited to, lack- No. 45, including the enforcement ing knowledge among specialists of Protection Orders, the Project about the provisions of the domes- supported 1) advocacy and aware- tic violence law and tolerance of the ness-raising activities, 2) training of phenomenon among specialists and legal assistants, lawyers, prosecu- the general public. tors, judges and Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs), 3) design of a Guide

24 LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ORDERS Elements of this Good Practice

The Project has successfully combined diﬀerent interventions (awarenessraising, legislative change, capacity-building), thereby giving victims access to legal services and helping to enforce Protection Orders. Institutionalization and training of MDTs in implementing the domestic violence law are prerequisites for sustainability. Constraint

Eﬀective protection and assistance in cases of domestic violence, including implementation of Protection Orders, also requires development of local services for perpetrators along with services for victims. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that domestic violence will not recur.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ORDERS 25 Human Touch Story: Rescuing Victims of Domestic Violence and Helping them Build a Better Future Raisa, a 48-year-old educated wom- Vasile was abusing Raisa not only an from a community helped many physically, but psychologically as women fight domestic violence, but well. did not have the courage to stop Raisa turned to the police several violence in her own home. Raisa’s times, but they did not want to get first husband was jealous of her suc- involved since Vasile was telling cesses and left her with two children, them a different story. They kept tell- without any support. ing Raisa, “Today you beat each oth- Two years later, she divorced her er. Tomorrow you love each other.” husband and decided to rebuild Fortunately, after one year, Raisa her life. She met Vasile, “a handsome met Ion Oboroceanu, a Project legal prince with a rotten soul”, as she was consultant. “I found the courage to to find out later. A nice and gallant tell my story and ask for help, and man, he soon won Raisa’s trust. Af- this changed my life.” ter a while, she started to discover his real nature. “He was very jeal- Raisa received legal, psychological, Lesson learned ous, used to come to my home late and informational assistance from Violence can be at night, knock on my windows, and members of the Multidisciplinary stopped if there intrude upon my children. He never Team and filed a complaint against are willingness moved in to live with me. Although the perpetrator. “Vasile tried to to change things he proposed to me, I could not make threaten me, but I resisted, as I was for the better, the up my mind to marry him.” assisted by professionals who were necessary skills, and previously trained and knew how to When Raisa tried to end the rela- access to protec- intervene in such cases.” tionship, Vasile repeatedly became tion and assistance violent. “I met the professionals who helped services. me when I really needed it. Such an “Once, after hitting me very cruelly intervention means a rescue and a and leaving, my godmother, who path to the future for women who came in by chance, took me to the suffer from spousal and partner hospital,” Raisa says with tears in her abuse,” explains Raisa with confi- eyes. Later, she found out that Vasile dence. had lied to her: he was married and did not even intend to get divorced. His wife was crying desperately at home with two children.

26 LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ORDERS WORK WITH PERPETRATORS Good Practice: Services for Perpetrators for a Non-violent Lifestyle Most often, neither the victims nor the perpetrators are aware of the legal provisions concerning domestic violence. Furthermore, specialists, who are legally re- quired to deal with cases of domestic violence, also suﬀer from a lack of pertinent information. The lack of services for perpetrators is yet another major problem that renders assistance to victims ineﬃcient and perpetuates domestic violence.

The Project, in partnership with the policy and institutional frameworks, Local Public Administration in Dro- an analysis of international services, chia, supported the creation of the good practices and their compatibil- first service in Drochia for perpetra- ity with the Moldovan context, and tors of domestic violence. The local recommendations to strengthen the NGO ‘Artemida’ will operate the Cen- national response system through tre. Draft regulations for the services the creation and development of for perpetrators are currently being services for perpetrators. developed. Additionally, the Project contributed Lesson learned According to specialists in the field, to the organization of a study visit to Study visits to coun- the main problems faced by perpe- Vienna in October 2010. Austria has tries with experience trators are: 1) aggressiveness and 30 years of experience and widely in working with the lack of skills to manage it and 2) recognized good practices in work- victims and perpe- alcohol addiction. Services for the ing with victims and perpetrators. trators ultimately treatment of alcohol addiction are The visit increased understanding of contribute to identi- lagging, though, because of a lack of ways to develop services to respond fying good practices specialists at the local level. to domestic violence as a part of vic- and their replication tim assistance strategy, in particular, The crux of services for perpetra- in Moldova. services for perpetrators, a working tors consists in protecting women methodology, and multidisciplinary from domestic violence by chang- collaboration mechanisms. ing partners’ violent behaviour, with the focus on giving perpetrators a In December 2010, the Drochia new social understanding based on Council approved the cost-free allo- equality and mutual respect. cation of premises for the Centre for perpetrators. The launch of the Cen- To support the development of the tre, however, will be possible after first comprehensive set of services in reconstruction and refurbishment of Drochia for male perpetrators of do- the premises. mestic violence, the Project helped design a system of services for perpetrators of domestic violence. The system includes a desk review of the relevant national legislative,

WORK WITH PERPETRATORS 27 Elements of This Good Practice

The Project has successfully combined institutional development and capacity-building to strengthen impact on individuals and the policy environment. Project interventions stimulated allocation of premises for a Centre for perpetrators in Drochia, thereby facilitating sustainability at the local level. By conveying to perpetrators a new social understanding based on equality and mutual respect, Project interventions help stop partners’ violent behaviour. Constraints

Most often, neither victims nor the perpetrators are aware of the legal provisions concerning domestic violence. Many professionals still lack the knowledge, will and capacity to enforce provisions that exist on paper. There is also a scarcity of funding in local budgets for the creation and maintenance of services for perpetrators.

28 WORK WITH PERPETRATORS COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION: CENTERS FOR YOUTH Good Practice: A Centre for Children and Youth – An Investment in the Future To fill in the gap of community services in remote areas of the country, the Proj- ect provided financial support for the creation community centers for youth in 26 villages and five towns in the Anenii Noi, Rezina, Soldanesti, Vulcanesti and Grigoriopol districts. The inhabitants of the village of Co- “We were so bored and we really balea in Soldanesti district believe envied the young people from cit- that children sometimes succeed ies. We wanted to graduate from in situations with which adults can- school as soon as possible and leave not cope easily. “It is very difficult to the village. I used to go to Soldanesti change the mentality and the life- to play football with the team from Lesson learned style of an adult. It is more efficient the town. But I was not always able Coupled with many to invest in children and youth, in to cover the transportation costs,” awareness-raising activities that help them network, tells Andrei, a 14-year-old boy from events concerning cope with risky situations, develop Cobalea. violence, sports life skills and share their experience The Centre’s newspaper, published activities help to pre- with peers, and with adults as well,” twice a month, provides the villagers vent violence. Safe says Ana Cuceinic, Mayor of Cobalea. with local news, job vacancies and recreation activities Today, villagers in Cobalea prevent consultation from different special- burn energy and domestic violence and human traf- ists to prevent illegal migration and negative emotions ficking by investing in youth. trafficking. while developing a culture of non- The Centre for Children and Youth in The ‘Stejarel’ Association of Parents violent behaviour. Cobalea was opened in 2009. About and Teachers is very active in mobi- Furthermore, now 20 villagers were involved in refur- lizing the community to create bet- the local youth have bishing the premises of the Centre. ter conditions for the Centre’s activi- something enjoyable ties and to ensure the transparent There are various activities in the to occupy their time use of resources. Centre, such as dance, sports, pho- with - this will make tography, journalism, hairdressing Creation of this Centre is just one them less likely to and make-up sessions. The commu- of the initiatives promoted by the want to leave the vil- nity social assistant counsels chil- Cobalea Organizational Committee lage and potentially dren in the Centre according to an to implement the Village Strategic fall prey to human established schedule. All activities Development Plan. For this purpose, trafficking. are free. About 220 children, youth UNDP and UNFPA offered 132,960 and adults, including members of MDL (US$12,000), of which 39,960 vulnerable families, are benefiting MDL were invested in creating and from the Centre’s activities. equipping an office for the social assistant within the local mayoralty. Until now, children and youth from the village had no alternatives to The local public administration of spending all of their spare time the village of Cobalea contributed watching TV, hanging around on 122,720 MDL (48 percent of the total the street, or going to the bar or the costs) to support the creation and disco club. operation of the Centre.

COMMUNITY MOBILISATION: CENTRES FOR YOUTH 29 Elements of this Good Practice

The Centre’s interventions empowered school communities, parents, professional groups and local authorities and mobilized their commitment to sustain the Centre’s work after the completion of the Project. Close monitoring of at-risk families by the community social assistant im- mediately aﬀects beneﬁciaries. Constraint

Scarcity of funding in local budgets for the creation of similar services in all remote areas of Moldova.

Human Touch Story: Villagers of Poiana Learned to Live without Violence and to Protect Themselves against Tra cking The village of Poiana in Soldanesti ciplinary Team who already solved district was one of many rural areas many cases of domestic violence,” in Moldova with many problems and says Liliana Stefarta, director of the few solutions. Creation of a Commu- gymnasium and Community Infor- nity Information Centre within the mation Centre. local gymnasium prompted positive The Centre’s activities are very popu- changes in the community in gener- lar among the residents of Poiana. al and helped the villagers perceive At the Centre, men, boys, women domestic violence and human traf- and girls learn how to protect them- ficking differently. selves against human trafficking and Although initially skeptical about how to tackle domestic violence. the Project’s idea and rather tolerant Local community leaders support of domestic violence, the residents the Centre’s activities and provide of Poiana participated in many train- all possible support. The priest Alin ing and information activities. It took Rotaru, whose opinion enjoys the re- them some time to understand that spect of Poiana’s residents, supports physical and emotional abuse is very the Centre’s initiatives as well. “A bad practice in normal family life and message against domestic violence that perpetrators must be punished and human trafficking coming from according to the law. a priest is ten times more powerful,” say the residents of Poiana. “Now our villagers do not show in- difference when they see a case of Another important achievement of violence or abuse. They know also the Centre is the mobilization of dif- that in such cases they should ask ferent community members in ac- for help from the policeman, the tions against human trafficking and mayor, the social assistant or the domestic violence. The Centre’s staff health worker. All these specialists solved many cases of violence and are members of the local Multidis- abuse against women and children

30 COMMUNITY MOBILISATION: CENTRES FOR YOUTH and made sure that perpetrators behind by migrant parents. In Poi- were punished. Recently, the mem- ana, there are 25 children who have bers of the Multidisciplinary Team one or both parents living abroad. identified several children who were During seminars and other activities at risk of dropping out as a result of that the grandparents attend, the domestic violence and facilitated participants learn how to overcome their reintegration into school. A different communication problems minor was prevented from being with their grandchildren, how to trafficked to Turkey following the gain the trust of their grandchildren, prompt interventions of the multi- and how to bring up children with- disciplinary specialists. out old and often violent methods of ‘education’. Teachers are also helping to reinte- grate child victims of trafficking and/ The Centre benefits the children or domestic violence and to monitor of Poiana. They all fully enjoy the previous cases. Teachers successfully variety of activities available at the apply the knowledge and skills they Centre through the support of the gained during the training facilitat- Project. There is a wide variety of ex- ed by professional trainers. tracurricular activities organized at the Center that the community chil- Another new and positive initia- dren can choose from. The children tive is the creation of the Council of are proud of their school newsletter, Poiana Grandparents, which is com- which gives important information prised of grandparents who have about school and community life. different problems in raising their grandchildren who have been left

COMMUNITY MOBILISATION: CENTRES FOR YOUTH 31 SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME Good Practice: First Aid for Victims of Tra cking and Domestic Violence In 2009, Vulcanesti became one of In the past, most children of mi- the five target districts of the Proj- grant workers said that they would ect. The staff of the Psycho-Social follow their parents’ example when Centre (a psychologist, a social they grew up. Now, though, more assistant and a legal advisor) and and more children encourage their other members of the local Mul- parents to come back and work at tidisciplinary Team were trained home. within the Project and, as a result, The Psycho-Social Centre in Vulca- are better equipped with knowl- nesti was created as part of the Small edge and skills to identify and as- Grants Programme for NGOs and sist people in need. As a follow-up, mass media, launched by the Project the Centre has organized dozens in July 2009. of seminars for parents and professional groups to inform local peo- The Small Grants Programme select- ple about the Centre’s activity and ed and supported twenty-eight civil to distribute anti-violence informa- society initiatives (originally, only 25 tion in Vulcanesti. grants were to be offered) aiming to address human security issues Lesson learned The Centre’s beneficiaries are female of human trafficking and domestic victims of domestic violence, chil- Children of migrant violence: 22 projects were imple- dren neglected and abused by par- workers changed mented by NGOs and 6 by mass me- ents and grandparents, and people their attitude dia organizations in 2010. In 2010, who have returned from trafficking towards migration the Project’s Board approved a sec- with severe psychological, medical after attending the ond stage of the Small Grants Pro- and financial problems and who are seminars organized gramme and selected four projects often hopeless and frightened. All by the Centre. Now that community-based NGOs are beneficiaries are treated with respect they know that currently implementing. and good care. To date, the Centre in illegal migration Vulcanesti has provided psychologi- The Small Grants Programme con- is not a solution to cal and legal assistance to over 600 tributed to the development of financial problems. victims of domestic violence and three new services: 1) the Centre their families. for Psychological Assistance on the premises of the District Polyclinic in Children left behind by migrant par- Grigoriopol (Transnistrian region); ents are a special category of benefi- 2) psychological-social services for ciaries. victims and potential victims of do- Recently, the staff of the Centre, in mestic violence and human traffick- partnership with the local Multidis- ing (in Vulcanesti district); and 3) the ciplinary Team, prevented suicide establishment of the first Centre for attempts by two children of migrant family perpetrators in Moldova (in workers. These children have been Drochia district). fully integrated into the school com- As part of the Project, all organiza- munity through rehabilitative psy- tions participating in implementa- chological services. tion of the Small Grants Programme

32 SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME beneﬁted from training in fund- Grants Programme, they designed raising, grant writing, manage- other projects and raised funds from ment, monitoring and evaluation. other donors (e.g., USAID/IREX, pri- For some of these NGOs, it was the vate funds and private individuals ﬁrst project experience and, follow- from other countries). ing their participation in the Small

Elements of this Good Practice

Local authorities committed to facilitate replication of the Centre’s experience, thus providing access to services for victims from other areas. Civil society organizations previously trained as part of the Project, receive funds from other donors to sustain and replicate the experience gained from the Project. The cumulative eﬀect of community commitment and support from the Project has made the Centre’s work a striking success. Constraint

Requires allocation of considerable funding and initial training for potential grantees.

SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME 33 Human Touch Story: A Child Saved from Tra cking Poor families are often easily misled into believing that traffickers are taking their children to a place of employment when, in fact, these children are pushed into prostitution and forced labour. The local Multidisciplinary Teams same family, a girl who got married (MDTs) within the NRS are the key when she turned 14 and dropped actors that afford people access to out of school. Following the Centre’s high-quality protection and rehabili- interventions, the girl successfully tation services. The National Coordi- graduated from the ninth grade. nation Unit, established within the In both cases, the Centre’s inter- Ministry of Labour, Social Protection ventions were tailored to the very and Family as part of the NRS, guides special needs of the children and the work of the MDTs. support was provided on-site. The Maria was the mother of seven chil- Centre’s specialists told Maria and dren from Vulcanesti. Her first hus- her children how they could protect band passed away, leaving her with themselves against trafficking and four children. Her second husband, domestic violence. Now, Maria and with whom she had three more chil- her children benefit from needed dren, turned out to be an alcoholic assistance from the local authorities and a violent husband and father. and the Psycho-Social Centre. Pressed by financial constraints, she To date, the Psycho-Social Centre in was one step away from sending her Vulcanesti has granted psychologi- 14-year-old son Pavel to work in Rus- cal assistance to over 500 victims of sia at construction sites. domestic violence and their families The Psycho-Social Centre in Vulca- and legal assistance to about 100 nesti had known about this dysfunc- victims. tional family for a long time. All of this is the result of the commit- Through prompt interventions, the ment of the Centre’s staff and local staff of the Centre (a psychologist, authorities and of support from the asocial assistant and a legal advisor) Project. prevented Pavel from being traf- Such successes have been encour- ficked. Now, Pavel goes to a voca- aging, so the Project’s partners in tional school and, in the afternoons, Vulcanesti are planning to open a re- works at jobs appropriate for his age gional shelter for victims of domes- and under proper work conditions tic violence to cover three districts in to help support his large family. the south of the country. The Centre’s staff also intervened in the case of another child from the

34 SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME THE ROLE OF MEDIA Good Practice: Media Stop Modern-Day Slavery by Telling the Truth about It Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. Victims are young children, teenagers, men and women. People, including specialists, do not always know how to prevent trafficking, how to identify victims of trafficking, or how to help them. All of these factors contribute to this growing problem. Domestic violence occurs in families with different economic and social backgrounds. It is perpetu- ated from one generation to another. Sometimes, children, especially boys, imi- tate the violent behaviour of their fathers and later on can themselves become abusive husbands and parents.

The media are important partners projects, media organizations de- in educating and raising awareness veloped different media products about human trafficking and domes- on human trafficking and domestic violence in order to help victims tic violence: about 50 radio and 50 and people at risk to become aware TV programmes (including 15 live- of their rights and the services avail- broadcast public debates), several able to them. video and audio spots, 50 newspaper articles (many of which were re- To make their work with mass media, published by other publications), 12 professional groups and the general journalistic investigations, 40 blog public more effective, the Project’s materials, and other products. These implementing partners developed materials about human trafficking a joint communication strategy. Dif- and domestic violence have reached ferent materials (Project information an estimated 700,000 people. sheets, Q&As on human trafficking and domestic violence, a DVD for Journalists have benefited from con- journalists with guidelines on ethi- sultations with and technical sup- cal principles of reporting on human port from the Project’s staff. Various trafficking and domestic violence, press clubs were organized at which the TV series ‘Destinies and Destina- journalists were able to talk to ex- tions’, video and radio spots, posters, perts. flyers, billboards, etc.) have been de- In 2011, the Project organized train- veloped and distributed. ing for local mass media institutions Various media events (press confer- to help media groups to produce ac- ences, press clubs) were organized. curate and ethical media materials They heightened the Moldovan on human trafficking and domestic mass media’s and general public’s violence. The media training needs interest in human trafficking and do- were identified through a participa- mestic violence. tory process and carefully analyzed. Of 28 projects supported by the Small Grants Programme in 2009- 2010, six were media projects implemented by local and national radio stations, TV channels, newspapers, and media NGOs. Within these small

THE ROLE OF MEDIA 35 Elements of this Good Practice

The Project’s implementing agencies developed a joint communication strategy and annual communication plans to ensure synergy and maxi- mum impact through an optimization of resources. Production of many communication materials and use of diﬀerent communication channels helped the Project achieve a much broader impact than would have otherwise been possible. Media training needs were analyzed and considered. Organizations working with civil society organizations, including media, can replicate this experience. Constraints

Due to geographical and financial restraints, the Project covered a rela- tively small number of media outlets. Consequently, inaccurate materials and messages (in particular, media products) on human trafficking and domestic violence may still appear and adversely affect public opinion. Inhabitants of rural areas still have inadequate access to information and hold traditional beliefs that often disregard human rights. Local NGOs and media groups have poor access to resources for awareness-raising campaigns against human trafficking and domestic violence.

36 THE ROLE OF MEDIA Human Touch Story: Mass Media – An Important Partner in Protection and Empowerment of Victims of Tra cking and Domestic Violence During the last few years, Maria call us to find out how to protect Parfionova, director of the GRT their children from trafficking. The public radio station in Gagauzia, number of such calls is increasing has been inviting different deci- since many people found solutions sion makers, relevant experts and to their problems with our support,” representatives of civil society or- says Parfionova. ganizations every week to inform Take, for example, the case of Elena, listeners of the radio programme a student at the Comrat University. ‘Round Table’ about how to prevent While she was looking for a job, one and combat human trafficking and of her colleagues offered her work domestic violence and how to help abroad for several months. She put victims obtain the services and pro- Elena in contact with a person who tection they need. could facilitate her departure for a “At the beginning it was hard to talk reasonable fee. Close to the depar- about cases of violence and traffick- ture date, Elena told her parents ing only by disseminating relevant about her decision to work during information to prevent other trage- the summer in Turkey. Her parents dies, without being able to help the did not hear from Elena for a week victims. After a short period of time after she had left. So they contacted more and more specialized services the company that facilitated their were created throughout the re- daughter’s departure and found gion as part of different projects in- out that “the contact person” did terested in collaborating with mass not work there. media. This gave us the possibility Elena’s mother reported the case to to participate in prevention cam- the police and called the radio pro- paigns and help women in difficult gramme after hearing a discussion situations,” says Parfionova. about a case of human trafficking. Almost every other week, Parfiono- The police from Ankara found El- va presents a new case of traffick- ena in the basement of a restau- ing or violence, which guest speak- rant. She was badly bruised and ers later discuss in order to assure drugged. Upon her return home, El- women in similar situations that ena was afraid of possible revenge they are not alone and that they by the traffickers and felt ashamed can and should ask for help. “The of what she had gone through and discussed cases are reported by po- what people might think. Follow- lice or friends and relatives. Usually ing the recommendations of the people try to avoid discussing their GRT journalists, Elena’s mother problems because they are afraid called the Centre for Assistance and or feel ashamed. There are also peo- Protection of Victims of Trafficking ple who contact the journalists for in Chisinau (the Centre). At the Cen- information or help. Many people, tre, Elena received rehabilitation especially women who intend to support and found a job in Comrat. leave the country for work abroad,

THE ROLE OF MEDIA 37 “I had lost any hope of recovering support to recover and overcome and getting back to a normal life. critical situations. Without the sup- It is very fortunate that there are port of the Centre I could hardly organizations that help build con- have come back to a normal life,” ﬁdence, give hope, and provide says Elena.

38 THE ROLE OF MEDIA CONCLUSIONS The partnership and interagency collaboration established under this Proj- ect between the implementing agencies, government institutions and civil society organizations provide for the smooth implementation of activities. All activities at the national, regional and local levels are coordinated and, if and when possible, organized jointly. This makes activities more effective, significant and cost-efficient. It also helps avoid overlapping. Direct participation of the line ministries in project management (as Board members) increases the government involvement. Consequently, the government is not a passive recipient of support and assistance from international organizations and donors, but is closely involved in addressing human trafficking and domestic violence. Cooperation with local authorities at the district and community levels, as well as with civil society, different community actors and media, ensures that the support that this Project provides to communities within this Project responds to their real needs.

CONCLUSIONS 39 ANNEX Map with project target districts and communities

Project target districts and communities: • District Anenii Noi • District Şoldăneşti • District Rezina • District Vulcanesti • Community Grigoriopol

40 ANNEX