A renovated forensic examination unit for victims of physical and sexual violence was opened at the Center of Forensic Medicine in Chisinau. In the inaugural ceremony, the Center’s director Vasile Șarpe said that victims of sexual violence were earlier examined in much worse conditions, in spaces that weren’t adjusted to persons with special needs and major difficulties were this way encountered in accessing forensic examination services. Now the institutional capacities of the Center of Forensic Medicine are much better and both the victims of sexual violence and the medical personnel will enjoy improved conditions. The project was implemented with support from UNFPA Moldova, IPN reports.
The rooms were renovated and equipped in accordance with the international standards, with a zone intended for counseling victims, with waiting spaces for the accompanying persons or representatives of the law. The sanitary facilities include a bath and toilet accommodated for persons with special needs.
As the Center of Forensic Medicine is the clinical basis of “Nicolae Testemiţanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, this unit will be used to train medical workers, including forensic examiners.
Minister of Justice Veronica Mihailov-Moraru said that the forensic examination needs to be conducted promptly and according to medical ethics. “Given that physical and sexual violence are a serious problem in the Republic of Moldova and the state bodies the past few years therefore stepped up the actions to counter and prevent this phenomenon, the state evidently is preoccupied with the assistance needed by victims of violence so that these trust that the state offers them support and are confident that justices will be done to them,” stated the minister.
Alexandru Gasnaș, secretary of state of the Ministry of Health, said the opening of this examination unit is a significant step towards the promotion of human rights and ensuring of justice for victims of sexual violence. This unit will serve as a confidential place where the victims can receive high-quality medical care, emotional support in a sensitive and respectful environment. Moreover, such a unit is essential in the process of collecting medical evidence and will contribute to bringing abusers to justice.
Nigina Abaszada, UNFPA Moldova Resident Representative, said the survivors of sexual violence should benefit from high-quality, comprehensive and immediate assistance within the 72 post-rape hours, psychosocial and legal assistance. The response to cases of sexual violence is provided through the agency of different medical entities. “Forty-three medical institutions were supplied with post-rape sets and, together with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, we will institute units of response to cases of rape at emergency medical assistance services,” stated Nigina Abaszada, noting that the Center of Forensic Medicine plays a crucial role in providing assistance to victims of sexual violence.
In October 2021, Moldova ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, which is known as the Istanbul Convention.
