The police in 2017 and 2018 used over 6,000 emergency protective orders following complaints from victims of domestic violence. According to the General Police Inspectorate, 95% of the cases involved women. The police said that during two years since the emergency protective orders started to be put into effect, with the aggressor being immediately removed from the family’s home, the victims of domestic violence have been more protected, IPN reports.

General Police Inspectorate deputy chief Gheorghe Cavcaliuc told a news conference that the emergency protective order is a temporary protection measure. It bans the aggressor from approaching the family for a period of ten days so as to prevent the repeat of the use of violence. The victims of domestic violence, especially women, must report abuses so as to escape from aggressors.

According to Gheorghe Covalciuc, over 2,000 emergency protective orders were applied in 2017 and another almost 4,000 in 2018. Most of the complaints were submitted in the districts of Ialoveni, Orhei, Cahul, Soroca and in Balti municipality. The data do not necessarily show that acts of domestic violence happen most often in these district. They show the victims realize the gravity of the phenomenon and repot abuses to the police.

President of the Căușeni Law Center Ion Oboroceanu said statistics do not fully show the gravity of the phenomenon. Many victims of domestic violence suffer in silence, not knowing that they can seek help and will be protected by the police. Up to 800 protective orders are put into effect through courts each year, the aggressors being removed from the family for a period of 90 days.

Manager of the public association “Casa Mărioarei” Veronica Cernat said domestic violence is a painful phenomenon and, in order to change the rhetoric of prevention, emphasis should be placed on information. 

Domestic violence is caused by the low level of education and culture, lack of a job, poverty, alcohol abuse and presence of stereotypes. At least one person dies weekly as a result of domestic violence and four-five persons annually have suicidal behavior owing to domestic violence. The police daily receives over 60 reports about cases of domestic violence.