OSCE Mission to Moldova supports lawyers from both banks of Dniester/Nistru River to discuss legal aspects of providing assistance to domestic violence survivors

Thirty-five legal professionals and civil society activists from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River participated in an OSCE-supported training workshop in Ribnita on 28 September 2018 on the legal aspects of providing assistance to survivors of domestic violence.

During the workshop, the trainers presented existing international standards and best practices of providing assistance to victims of domestic violence, as well as effective courses of actions available to victims. The participants were sensitised to the psycho-social aspects of working with victims of domestic violence. The format of the workshop included small group work on case studies, during which time the participants shared views about domestic violence on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. 

“The discussions during the training allowed us to exchange information about legal instruments available to the victims of domestic violence on both banks of the river. The participants also commended the recent opening of a shelter for victims in Transdniestria,” said Iuliana Abramova from the left-bank Resonance Centre for support and development of civic initiatives.

This is the second workshop on domestic violence organized by the Mission this year. These workshops build upon Human Rights Club meetings, which were organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova from 2013 to 2018 to serve as a communication platform and a confidence-building measure between legal and civil society professionals on both banks of the Dniestr/Nistru River. In 2018, these meetings evolved into professional workshops with a greater focus on international law and case studies. At least one more workshop is planned for 2018 in Chisinau. 

Combating domestic violence is one of the priorities of the joint Moldovan and Transdniestrian Human Rights Sub-Working Group within the settlement process. This Sub-Working Group reconvened this year after a five-year break.