OSCE continues to increase justice sector capacity to effectively prosecute cases of domestic violence in Moldova

The OSCE Mission to Moldova partnered with the National Institute of Justice on 8 and 9 June to launch a new training cycle that aims to boost the capacity of justice sector actors to prosecute instances of domestic violence. The event, held in Chisinau, brought together 22 prosecutors and judges to study how to identify and assist domestic violence victims in the context of recent amendments to Moldovan legislation.

During the two-day event, participants learnt how to perform risk assessments to identify victims by drawing on psychological and social indicators of domestic violence. They also examined the various types of protection services available to victims of domestic violence, including medical and rehabilitation support and access to social services.  

“This training event was very valuable, especially in light of the prevalence of domestic violence in Moldova,” said Liliana Nani, a prosecutor from the General Prosecutor’s Office. “The focus on both legal provisions and the practical application of the law helped to highlight procedural gaps in the prosecution process.”

In addition, the judges and prosecutors analysed changes to Moldovan law introduced in 2016 that address situations where the danger of domestic violence is imminent, as well as corresponding international legal provisions and OSCE recommendations. They concluded that, in order to effectively combat this widespread problem in Moldova, it is not enough to have a legal mechanism in place to protect victims and sanction the perpetrators of domestic violence. Judges and prosecutors must also be able to facilitate victims’ access to justice by ensuring they are able to reach out to legal professionals and law enforcement.

The training event is a part of the Mission’s project to improve the capacity of the justice sector and law enforcement to respond to domestic violence cases in Moldova. A further five training sessions will be held in partnership with the National Institute of Justice in 2017.