In Moldova, 27% of women were victims of violence at least once, after reaching 15 years old. These data are revealed by the demographic and health Study, conducted by the Government with the support of the USAID, UNICEF and UNFPA. This index in Moldova is twofold higher than that registered in the European states, where the figure is set at 12-15%, according to an earlier report of the Council of Europe. According to the cited source, in 2006, eight women were killed in Moldova as a result of domestic violence, six of whom – by their husbands. From the beginning of this year there was registered only a case of murder of a 22-year-old by her own husband. But only a low percent of the cases of violence are reported and investigated and very few offenders are punished by the law, the report’s authors say. The study also shows that women in Moldova were subjected to violence by present or former husbands in more than 73% of cases. Violence is one of the causes of divorce, while 60% of the divorced women recognised that they were victims of violence. The study also reveals that the difference between the occurrence of violence in rural and urban areas is insignificant and that it is not a problem of the underprivileged families. “Violence can never be justified, it must be put down”, UNICEF Representative in Moldova Ray V.Torres told a news conference on Wednesday, March 7. The official mentioned that UNICEF welcomes the adoption by the Parliament of the Law on Prevention and Combating of Domestic Violence. According to it, UNICEF supported the Government in working out the National Plan for preventing and combating violence, which is examined by the ministries at present. “We wish to encourage the acceleration of this process, in order to initiate quicker actions for counteracting violence efficiently”, Torres said.