Psychological counseling offices to assist victims of domestic violence were opened at the 41 local subdivisions of the General Police Inspectorate. The announcement was made in a news conference where the Inspectorate’s administration presented the concept of primary psychological assistance provided to victims of domestic violence, IPN reports.

Psychologist Maria Melnic said the psychologists of the counseling centers will advise victims of domestic violence, will encourage them to denounce acts of violence to the police and will assist them in fighting till the end so that the aggressor is penalized.

Head of the General Police Inspectorate’s General Public Security Division Marin Maxian said the police daily record about 50 new cases of domestic violence. The psychologists will work to stabilize the emotional state of victims, while the officers of the local subdivisions who will deal with such cases will be helped by the psychologists to assist the victims.

General Police Inspectorate chief Alexandru Pinzari said that even if the phenomenon of domestic violence diminished, this remains the major problem in Moldovan communities. Statistics show 40 women die annually as a result of domestic violence. Four of these commit suicide.

According to the statistics quoted by the Center “La Strada”, 63% of the women and girls older than 15 in Moldova were subject to at least one form of physical, psychological or sexual violence during their lifetime. At the same time, 27% of the men and 17% of the women consider a woman should tolerate violence in order to keep the family, while over 40% of the men think there are moments when a woman should be beaten.