Forty-two women with disabilities and women whose families include persons with disabilities from the districts of Strășeni and Fălești were informed about the types of violence, the consequences of an abuse, how they can defend themselves from an abuser and at what institutions they can go to benefit from support. The training sessions were staged as part of the program “Together Against Gender Stereotypes and Gender-Based Violence” that is financed by the European Union and is implemented by UN Women and UNFPA.
“As a result of these training courses, the women became more informed and more powerful and understood that not only they experience difficulties day by day, have the same needs and live in similar conditions. This way they became more open,” project coordinator Natalia Codrean stated in a news conference at IPN.
As part of the same project, 44 women with disabilities and women whose families include persons with disabilities from the districts of Strășeni and Fălești benefitted from psychological support remotely. Emotional support was offered through the telephone and other commination channels (Viber, Skype, Messenger).
“Psychological support was offered not only in case of use of violence. The women could discuss with psychologists any subject they needed, any problem. We addressed this assistance in a slightly different way as the psychologist was the one who took the first step,” said Natalia Codrean.
The inhabitants of six villages of Strășeni and Fălești districts were taught to behave nonviolently towards persons with special needs.
The initiative included a study that was carried out to see the real needs of the community in general and of the persons with disabilities in particular. It was a pilot survey that covered two regions – the districts of Fălești and Strășeni – but shows the situation in the Republic of Moldova in general, the community’s perception of the persons with disabilities. As part of the study, there were interviewed persons from rural areas and from urban areas, of different ages and of both of the sexes.
Approximately 23% of the women and 18% of the men interviewed as part of the project said they witnessed a case of violence against their mother in childhood. About 56% of the men and 46% of the women believe the conflict situations in the family should remain a private issue even if they imply the use of violence.
