Ivana Zelic, the representative of the organization …IZ KRUGA – VOJVODINA attended the occasion of delivering the contract of the project Specialized Support for Women with or without Disability Exposed to Domestic or Violence in Partnership. It was held on 21st June at 11 A.M. in the premises of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
The organization’s project is supported within the competition for assigning grants to civil society organizations as part of the project Integrated Reply to Violence Against Women and Girls in Serbia III that is jointly carried out by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, headed by The Coordinating Body for Gender Equality and UN agency in Serbia (UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA).
The project Specialized Support for Women with or without Disability Exposed to Domestic or Violence in Partnership means continuous providing of the existing specialized services to women with or without disabilities exposed to domestic or violence in partnership using SOS service …IZ KRUGA – VOJVODINA. This service includes support of the consultant via SOS phone, individual psychological counseling, and free written correspondence with a lawyer.
The coordinator, Ivana Zelic, emphasized the importance of the SOS service for women with disabilities in situations of violence: –Women with disabilities are at higher risk of domestic and partnership violence compared to those without them. The violence they are exposed to often remains unnoticed and unrecognized due to a plethora of stereotypes and prejudice. Thanks to this project, we will hire an additional consultant for the SOS line. This support is of the utmost importance because of the increase of calls since the beginning of the year compared to the same period last year – says Ivana Zelic.
Head of Development Cooperation of the Swedish Embassy, Ola Anderson, emphasized the backing and commitment of the Swedish Government towards gaining gender equality and the importance of the civil organizations providing services to women victims of violence.
Resident Representative at UNDP, Francine Pickup, highlighted the significance of supporting the civil society organizations, improving the relationship with the prosecutor’s office and police, and raising awareness about the omnipresence of violence and the protection mechanisms.
President of the Coordination Body of the Government of the RS for Gender Equality, Zorana Mihajlovic, spoke about the importance of combined acting of the civil society organizations and different government desks in combating violence against women and girls.
Ana Sacipovic, president of the Roma women association Osvit from Nis, said that Osvit is the only SOS line service that provides help both in Serbian and Roma language, 24 hours a day. This feature makes the service available to women from marginalized groups.
The contract for financing projects of giving support to the victims of violence via SOS phone is given to the following civil organizations: …IZ KRUGA – VOJVODINA, …IZ KRUGA – Beograd, Education Center Zrenjanin, Association Fenomena, Association Osvit, Association Oaza sigurnosti and Association of Roma people Novi Becej.
