In times of a pandemic, the women and children are exposed to a greater risk of violence on the part of aggressive partners, say organizations that provide expert support to victims of violence. Now that the authorities recommend the population not to go out, the women cannot use support services.
Contacted by IPN for a comment, Violeta Andriuță, lawyer of the Women’s Law Center, said that the number of calls from the victims of violence didn’t rise during the quarantine period. The victims of domestic violence probably suffer in silence and are afraid to ask for help, especially now as they don’t know if they can seek help from someone.
Violeta Andriuță noted that the Center in the period provides legal, psychological and social consultancy services online and from a distance and over 40 women benefitted from support during the last two weeks. Four of these women managed to obtain restraining orders.
The Women’s Law Center provides placement services for victims of violence during the quarantine period as the placement centers stopped work now. The Center offers the women one-, two- and three-room apartments where they feel safe with their children. The victims are also supplied with the minimum they need for existence and with medical services, if necessary.
The hotline intended for victims of domestic violence is 0 800 8008 and this works round-the-clock seven days a week free and confidentially. Also, the Common National Service for Emergency Calls 112 will accept and redirect the calls depending on the necessity of intervention in cases of domestic violence.
The National Coalition “Life without Domestic Violence” published the list of centers and services that provide support to victims of violence, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.