22.08.2017: Public Request to candidates for mayors for inclusion of specialized services for women victims of different forms of violence in the pre-election programs

National Network to End Violence against Women and Domestic Violence sent a Public Request and Draft Policy to the candidates for mayors at the local elections 2017 to include specialized services for women and girls victims of different forms of violence in the pre-election programs. This would mean establishing and providing sustainability to a minimum package of specialized services within one planning region, which will improve the accessibility of services for women from urban and rural communities, as well as women with different types of disabilities. The package of services includes: Shelter center, Crisis center, SOS Helpline, Counseling center for psycho-social support and Free legal aid. Additionally, the candidates for mayors are expected to envisage a package of social measures for women victims of domestic violence that will facilitate the process of economic empowerment and independence of women who decide to leave the violent environment.

Republic of Macedonia has already started the process of ratification of the Istanbul Convention, which envisages the involvement of the local self-government in providing protection from all forms of gender-based violence, as already defined in the existing Law on Prevention and Protection from Domestic Violence (Article 5, the local self-government units are part of the competent authorities and institutions that “take measures to protect the victim and prevent violence, establish mutual cooperation and coordination”).

The public commitment of the candidates for mayors will be a significant step in addressing the problem of available services for victims of gender-based violence at local level and will be a clear indication of the awareness of the existence of this problem affecting half of the population.

The Public Request and the Draft Policy are available in Macedonian.

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