Though the family abusers can be held accountable by placing them under house arrest, the judges prefer to fine them about 1,000 lei that is paid also by the victim, said lawyer Doina Ioana Straisteanu, who cooperates with the victims who contact the International Center for Protection and Promotion of Women’s Rights “La Strada”, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the lawyer, the courts can issue restraining orders to protect the victims of domestic violence, but often do not do it. The police explain that very often the victims to not file complaints as they are afraid that the situation in the family will worsen. Also, the victims do not trust the law enforcement bodies. Doina Ioana Straisteanu said that when a protection order is issued, the abusers must leave the common place of residence for a period of time, but the police do not want to make them leave as they do not have where to go. The legislation does not provide forms of prescriptive orders whereby the abuser is obliged, in case of economic violence combined with psychological one, to pay particular sums of money for maintaining the children and victims, to take other measures so that the victims have a normal life without violence, said the lawyer. The law allows the police and the prosecutor’s office to appeal to court in the name of the victim, but in most of the cases they refuse to do it. Thus, the victims have to appeal to the court themselves or seek help from “La Strada”, including through the trust line 0 8008 8008. But not enough is done to protect the women and children who are in a difficult situation. Doina Ioana Straisteanu gave as example two cases that happened recently in Orhei district. In both of the cases, the judge reproached the clients for making reference to the protection order. “A judge who does not know the law is a scourge for society,” she stated. According to the statistics of “La Strada”, the women represent 93% of the victims of domestic violence.