Mothers and children from Moldova and also from Ukraine, who are victims of violence or are in difficulty can find shelter at a new center that was opened in Chisinau. The services will also be available to mothers with three or more children younger than 18, IPN reports.

Deputy mayor of Chisinau Angela Kutasevich said that 64 women died in Moldova the past four years due to domestic violence. If these women had had the possibility of finding shelter in a safe place, they would have saved themselves. It is the responsibility of the local authorities to take action to ensure comfort and protection for mothers and children. Having such a desideratum and realizing this need, they developed the social service Maternal placement center for mother-child couples that are victims of violence.

In the case of teenage mothers who are isolated or who are not supported by the family, the risk of separation of the mother from the child is bigger. That’s why this category of beneficiaries will be helped to integrate into the community. The center offers the mother-child couples in difficulty accommodation services, care, education, medical, social and psychological assistance and reintegration services, depending on the needs.

The Ambassador of France to Moldova Graham Paul said that this is a join project of the Chisinau City Hall and UNICEF Moldova, which is financially supported by France. The made investments are part of the €10 million provided last year by France to three UN agencies to support the social system in Moldova. The center will offer protection, counseling, medical assistance and social inclusion services, including to mothers and children from Ukraine.

UNICEF Moldova Country Representative Maha Damaj said the center provides a number of services, such as psychological support, medical and legal services at one place. This service is unique as there are no limitations as to the age of children or the number of children that can be placed together with their mother.

The social service was developed under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Chisinau City Hall and UNICEF Moldova on the provision of technical assistance for realizing the rights of children and teenagers from the municipality of Chisinau.