OSCE continues to enhance law enforcement skills to effectively combat domestic violence in Moldova

On 6 October 2017, the OSCE Mission to Moldova started a series of training sessions in eight districts of central Moldova to improve law enforcement’s capabilities to more effectively combat domestic violence. The prevalent phenomenon has risen to the attention of the European Court of Human Rights that is holding Moldova responsible in several egregious cases.

Recent legislative amendments authorize police officers to issue emergency protection orders when they are called to the scene of a domestic violence incident. These measures bypass the courts and enable the police to react immediately in order to protect survivors. However, most officers are not aware of these changes in the law or how to implement protection orders. Therefore, the Mission, together with experts of the NGO Artemida, based in the northern city of Drochia, is conducting training sessions during October and November for up to 280 police officers from the districts of Floresti, Soldanesti, Soroca, Rezina, Telenesti, Calarasi, Ungheni and Singerei.

The first training session, in Floresti, focused on how to quickly assess the risk and impact of violence on victims and how to react in emergency situations. It was useful for law enforcement officers to exchange information with peers from neighbouring communities on how to prioritize the needs of the victim. They also learned how to address the actions of the perpetrator and refer him or her to social services that address violent and aggressive behaviour.   

“The knowledge acquired at this training helps ordinary police officers serving the community to deal with the cases of domestic violence they encounter on a regular basis. Today we discussed how to investigate a case efficiently and how to understand the cycle of violence and its implications for both survivors and perpetrators,” says Simion Sirbu, Director of Artemida.

The training sessions are a continuation of the OSCE capacity-building programme started last year together with Artemida.

Following last year’s efforts in northern Moldova, the number of referrals to service providers to assist survivors of domestic violence has increased as has the number of perpetrators referred for rehabilitation to the Centre for Aggressors in Drochia. Most of the referrals were made by local police officers who register and investigate domestic violence cases.