OSCE Centre supports training for domestic violence hotline consultants

ASHGABAT, 8 July 2010 - An OSCE-supported training course on providing hotline support for issues related to domestic violence concluded in Ashgabat today. 

The course was organized by a public organization 'Keik Okara' with the support from the OSCE Centre. Eleven representatives of the organization, including hotline consultants, lawyers, volunteers and a psychologist took part in the two-day course.

The participants learned about main principles of hotline consultations, active listening, and received tips on dealing with difficult cases, including silent calls. The course which consisted of theoretical sessions and several case studies also addressed burnout prevention strategies, ethical code of consultants and basic principles of the creation of calls registrar.

"The OSCE 2004 Action Plan to Promote Gender Equality encourages the participating States to develop activities aimed at preventing all forms of gender-based violence. With this training, the Centre is pleased to contribute to this important goal in Turkmenistan", said Anne Suotula, Political Officer of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

"Domestic violence is a very sensitive issue which requires special approaches and attitude. It is very important to not only be aware of the problem, but also be able to find an effective solution to it," said Elvira Mruchkovska, the head of the public association 'Suchasnyk' from Chernivtsi, Ukraine, who delivered the course.

"A hotline is a very important way to assist those who find themselves in a crisis situation, and who cannot receive this assistance from the people close to them."

The OSCE Centre has supported the hotline on domestic violence since it was set up last September.

Within the framework of the same OSCE-supported project, potential victims of domestic violence receive legal and psychological assistance, and public seminars on the topic are organized.