Led by Council of Europe experts, Natacha Henry, writer and women's rights activist, and Doina Cazacu, human rights lawyer, the three-day workshop focused on enhancing participants' expertise in improving professionals’ understanding of violence against women and girls and domestic violence through the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) and Moldova's legal framework. Participants engaged in discussions on the dynamics of violence against women and domestic violence, with a specific focus on avoiding harmful stereotypes that can justify violence against women and what consent looks like in cases of sexual violence. The training emphasised the importance of establishing referral routes for victims and of formulating voluntary codes of conduct and guidelines to deal with these cases in probation/prison settings.
Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, underscored the workshop's significance in addressing violence against women and domestic violence in the Republic of Moldova. Falk Lange stressed the need to adapt national legislation and practices to create a robust framework as required by the Istanbul Convention. The event substantially contributes to ongoing efforts in the country to create a safer and more inclusive society for women.
Liuba Jignea-Suveica, Deputy of the National Administration of Penitentiaries, and Alla Sorocean, deputy head of the National Probation Inspectorate, emphasised the urgency of combating violence against women. Liuba Jignea-Suveica expressed the collective responsibility to end this plague through the development of victim support programs. “It is inadmissible for abuse and violence against women, harassment, blaming and discrimination to exist in a modern and democratic society. It is in our power to end this plague through developing rehabilitation and victim support programmes at structural and national level”. Alla Sorocean also highlighted the importance of enhancing the ability of probation counsellors in dealing with violence against women and domestic violence and implementing programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence.
This event was part of the ongoing Council of Europe project "Supporting the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in the Republic of Moldova".
