Interview
Home violence victims need real help

A few years ago, the country did not have any initiative for solving the problem of home violence. Today it is different, but I would like to appeal for the activities not to be reduced only to campaigns or tribunes, but offering some concrete help. The economic factor is the biggest which keeps the woman helpless and in a situation to be subject to home violence.
The Shelter Center in Skopje exists and functions thanks to the employees and their teamwork above all and the fact that they maximally put their expert knowledge in solving the problem of home violence which is present in many homes in the country.
Taking into consideration the fact that most often, victims of this kind of violence are women and children, the Shelter Center works, above all, with women as a target group. But very often some help is also given to children who are molested by one of the parents or both of them, as well men who are victims of violence by the members of their family.
We have talked to Mrs. Dabeska (a manager of the Center and the team (consisting of a psychologist, sociologist, a lawyer, a pedagogue and a doctor) about this problem, which unfortunately is still hidden, about the help which the Shelter Center offers to the women-victims, about the further plans which go into direction of sustainability of this refuge.

C.W. – How was the Shelter Center founded?
D.D. – The Shelter Center is actually a response to the problems of home violence, a phenomenon that has existed since long time ago in our country, thanks to, above all, the patriarchal thinking in our society. For a long time this problem has been a big taboo, accompanied by myths, placed behind the scenes. Thus, the Shelter Center has come to light thanks to the mutual attitude of a group of women who belong to the same group (human), who believed that through this center they will be able to implement their knowledge, expertness and ambition in direction towards positive solving the problem of home violence in our country.

C.W. – You must have faced many various problems, and some of them still exist. How is today this refuge for women and children, victims of home violence functioning?
D.D. – Long preparation preceded the opening of the Shelter Center, that is, conditions for its opening and team education were provided. The program was created on the basis of the models of the shelters in the region, however, with the passage of time, faced with a direct contact with the target group, we have modified the program to our conditions. The problems still exist and they result from the lack of interest by the relevant factors, lack of appropriate program by the country itself, bad social policy, lack of a legal regulation and many other factors. This is all certainly a factor, which can be a disadvantage to both the whole target group, and all the people who want to deal with solving this problem. The process to make all these changes is long-term, but the most important is to support all the initiatives taken in this area and which are in a positive context.
Now one of the bitterest problems is the insufficient capacity which is a total of 20 people (women and children) and the number, which we have, is much bigger.
Unfortunately, sometimes we have to refuse the help in terms of providing for in the shelter, but we always give help with some advice, mediation, legal and psychological help...

C.W. – Do you cooperate with the institutions in the country, the non-governmental organizations and the other subjects in the society?
D.D. – Since the very beginning we have been cooperating with the social centers and the non-governmental organizations, as well as the governmental organizations. We have been supported by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy since the beginning. The largest number of women who are taken care of have been directed towards the social work centers – so their problem has been treated by these institutions, however, the final destination is the Shelter Center. We are actually the only center in Macedonia that completely treats the problem of a woman who has left her home, running away from the violence in it. In contrast to the other such centers in the region, where victims can stay for 3-6 months, in our center they can stay for 12 months. In our opinion that is the time necessary for a woman to settle above all psychically, to stabilize herself and with help from our expert team to take some appropriate steps for solving her problem. Apart from the other services, we also offer some legal help. We have good cooperation with the Primary Court Skopje 2, so the cases of the women who are sheltered in our center are solved relatively fast. Unfortunately, in our country the home violence is not yet considered to be a criminal act.
The Shelter Center is a mediator between women and institutions in the country, and solving the problems represented by the Shelter Center is faster and more efficient. I would also have to say that we have excellent cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the police station that is located near the refuge. Apart from the fact that the location of the Shelter Center is kept in secret, there have been cases a husband to find it. However, the police station in our neighborhood has a special department for our requirements and it reacts immediately.

C.W. – What is the profile like of the expert team, which works in the Shelter Center?
D.D. – We have a pedagogue, a psychologist, a doctor, a lawyer and an economist. Sometimes, depending on the activities, we involve volunteers, too, mainly students. The Shelter Center is open to everyone who thinks that he/she can contribute towards solving this problem.

C.W. – When we talk about home or family violence, we think of violence, which a member of the family is subject to at home. Although more rarely, men can also be victims of this kind of violence. Do you help them, too?
D.D. – The refuge has been intended for one target group – women and their children. However, we have been faced with phone calls by men who have been victims of home violence. We do not have the possibility to provide for men, too, but we always help them with some advice, psychological or legal help. An of course, children call, either to report that their mother has been molested or they have been molested themselves, in different ways. Home violence is not only physical, but also psychological, emotional, economic and sexual violence. Most often only the physical violence is reported. But we have also had some cases of incest, where children are victims. In such cases, we contact the state institutions,

C.W. – Where does the home violence happen mostly? Is it related to a certain circle?
D.D. – Home violence, unfortunately, is everywhere – in all layers of the society, regardless of the nationality, religion, educational level or the family standard. However, most of the cases are related to the families with lower educational structure and poor economic conditions. This is also a confirmation that education and poverty are one of the most important factors for the appearance of this kind of violence.

C.W. – Are there any positive results in relation to the problem of home violence?
D.D. – Of course there are. In comparison with the period ten years ago, women are more aware of their rights. Big contribution has been made by the women non-governmental organizations and the media. Very often, a woman is aware and educated, but she has no mechanisms to solve her problem. A few years ago, the country did not have any initiative for solving the problem of home violence. Today it is different, but I would like to appeal for the activities not to be reduced only to campaigns or tribunes, but offering some concrete help. The economic factor is the biggest which keeps a woman helpless and in a situation to be subject to home violence.

C.W. – How is the Shelter Center financed?
D.D. – For these two years of our working we have been receiving some foreign help – mainly by the embassies (of the USA, Norway, Canada, Germany and others). We get assets from the state budget, but it can cover only an eighth of our needs, thus we have to orient towards foreign donators. However, this kind of donators help cannot last forever. The Shelter Center is not a classical project, which lasts for several months. On the contrary, the strategy of the Center is in a direction of long-term existence, because home violence is not a phenomenon, which appeared overnight, and now we can eradicate it suddenly. Therefore, we intensively think of the Center’s self-sustainability. Last year we prepared a project, as a model of technical self-assistance, with the main objective to provide independent existence of the Shelter Center. We have received some equipment from the government of Japan for production of female stockings. In the production, which is due to start in March-April this year, women who are provided for in our refuge will be involved and we are also planning to involve women in the sales and the products placement. We are thinking of some other opportunities, too, for example, creating a program for female economic development.

C.W. – Do you get any help from the business sector?
D.D. _ Only once – from the Skopski Pazar we have received a food donation. Maybe we should have animated the business sector in a more organized way and this is what we are planning to do in the future.