In early September an action “White Ribbon”, directed on a straight fight with domestic violence, got started in Vologda region. The organizers strongly believe that if we can’t resist the home violence, we can at least reduce it. The most important thing is not to keep silent! For the victims were opened help lines, where both women and men can get a qualified help. (15-SEPT-07)
Sources: http://www.hro.org, http://www.svobodanews.ru
September 2007 – action “White Ribbon” under the slogan “Right to live without violence” started in Vologda region. Nearly 14 000 women die of domestic violence in the Russian Federation every year. The financial help was got from Swedish International Development Cooperation agency “Sida”(right). The experts and psychologists from this organization shared their experience with Russian colleagues.
Women in Vologda region become victims of every third crime. The action “White Ribbon” is being carried out in the Russian Federation for the first time, and the organizers believe that even if we can’t cope with domestic violence, we manage to reduce its level. What’s important – don’t be silence! During a month volunteers and students will go around the city and give everybody white silk ribbons to passer-byes as a symbol of the action. The symbol was invented in Canada in 1991. Those people, who wear it, promise never to use force concerning their family and not to conceal the facts of domestic violence they know.
How we can help the victims of domestic vilence now and in future
For the victims of domestic violence is working a helpline. The women may not only pour out their souls online, but also get a practical help. All the victims are united in one regional base. If the fact of violence is obvious, the family is visited by the policemen. Besides, there exist so-called “mobile groups”, consisting of social workers and specialists, ready to drive out on one telephone call. It’s a good possibility to go and check what’s really going on in the family, to settle occurred dispute or just to have a private talk to all family-members. But the problem is that usually women prefer not to speak about it. Reasons may be few: shame, fear, love to their husbands and children.
The authorities are planning to open few Crisis Centers in Vologda region both for women and men, from who, by the way, the quantity of complaints is increasing every year. There`re only two Crisis Centers for men in the Russian Federation (in Arkhangelsk and Altai republic), so it’s quite possible that soon Vologda will join them.
