The women who are victims of domestic violence and human trafficking are now more determined than earlier to tell what happened or happens to them and are more willing to seek help in situations of crisis and in difficulties. The finding was made public in a conference held to sum up the results of the three-year project “Protection and Empowerment of the Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence,” Info-Prim Neo reports. The project was implemented in 31 settlements from five districts of Moldova. More than 1 300 women who were beaten by husbands or trafficked asked for help over three years. Project coordinator Cristian Ciobanu said the project aimed to ensure equitable access to services of a high quality for persons exposed to the risk of domestic violence and human trafficking and to train the involved community players – the mayor, local assistant, police officer, etc. After the project was completed, an assistance center started to be built in Drochia district. It is the first center in Moldova that will provide psychological, legal and other kind of assistance to abusers. The center will be opened next year. Mayor of Calfa village of Anenii Noi district Ludmila Ciaglic said the domestic violence is deeper in villages where there are century-old traditions and stereotypes that the women cannot get rid of, including the fear of husband and the fear of public opinion. “We must tell the women that they have the same rights as the men. As a result of this project, we can say that the women are now more willing to speak about their problems,” said the mayor, adding the women are no longer afraid to defend themselves as they know they are supported. Coordinator of the project in Soldanesti Aliona Tinica said a multidisciplinary group was crated in the town, which was trained to help the persons who have been victims of physical and psychological violence in the family. Forty persons became beneficiaries of the project, including a man. “We had different cases. Beaten women who came to the center needed not only psychological and legal, but also medical assistance. The project helped them to find employment,” said Aliona Tinica. Lilia Gorceag, psychologist of the Center of Assistance and Protection for Victims of Human Trafficking and Potential Victims, said that within the project they also helped children. “We helped them go on. If they do not benefit from rehabilitation now, things can develop very negatively at psychological level. Many of the girls cannot overcome this situation and become prostitutes. It is a serious problem of the children who are not treated,” said the psychologist. The project is implemented by the UNDP, UNFPA, IOM and the OSCE, in partnership with the Government of Moldova, with financial support from the Government of Japan through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security. The total budget of the project was US$3.3 million.