A sculpture-symbol in memory of women who died as a result of domestic violence was unveiled in the Chisinau Park “Valea Morilor” as part of the nationwide campaign “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” with the support of the Women’s Law Center and the U.S. Embassy in Moldova, IPN reports.

Attending the event, Ambassador Dereck Hogan said domestic violence is not only an individual problem, but a preoccupation at community level. He encouraged the decision makers to continue the efforts to implement the national strategy and the action plan for combating domestic violence. “The Embassy of the United States, through the agency of the Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Section, will ensure a continuous partnership so as to help you achieve these objectives,” stated the ambassador.

As many as 144 women died in Moldova in 2014-2018 as a result of the use of violence by the life partner or another family member. In this connection, Minister of Health, Labor and Protection Viorica Dumbrăveanu said that Moldova is to assume the commitment of ratifying the Istanbul Convention. “It is important to monitor each case of death so as to see how each of the authorities reacted and what can be  done to prevent such cases,” stated the minister.

Minister of the Interior Pavel Voicu called on the victims of domestic violence not to tolerate abuses, to call the 112 common emergency service or to go to the closest police section. He noted the police in the course of this year issued over 3,000 emergency protective orders against abusers.

Minister of Justice Fadei Nagachevski called on the men not to use violence as a formula by which they think they can become better. He also recommended the competent bodies not to identify formulas for coming to terms with the abuser when a victim of domestic violence seeks help, but to implement the law.

Natalia Vîlcu, executive director of the Women’s Law Center, stated that the victims of domestic violence are afraid and ashamed to speak about the abuses committed against them. When they decide to talk and seek help, they are not always heard as those who must intervene consider the problem of domestic violence is a private one and does not deserve attention.

A similar sculpture was unveiled in Tiraspol.