site.btaSocial Policy Ministry Proposes Enhanced Support for Victims of Violence

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is proposing a national programme against violence building on and enhancing the exiting measures for victim protection, Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivanka Shalapatova told journalists here on Thursday.

The programme will focus efforts on two areas: violence against children and more active protection measures for violence survivors. "Not enough services are offered now," Shalapatova explained. She specified that victims quite often rely on social support but no medical care is available or help for their housing accommodation or job placement. "These women, traumatized as they are, must have active social and working life, must feel persons of full value," the Minister pointed out. She stressed that what matters is not just to have a shelter for the victims but also to provide them with complete support in the form of integrated services.

The Labour and Social Policy Ministry proposes the setting up of four mobile teams of highly trained experts to provide technical assistance at regional and local lebvel to the health, educational and social professionals who have to deal with cases of violence but are at a loss how to handle them, Shapalatova said further on.

Part of the measures against violence that her Ministry is planning will be implemented even before the end of 2023, she specified.