A new beginning in life of children - victims of crimes
Elena over-passed the trauma of an abuse and now she helps others
Elena is 19 and she comes from a village located in the center of the country. She is a nurse at the Emergency Hospital from Chisinau and recently she created her own family. She chose to practice medicine wishing to help people, as some years ago, a group of people helped her.
”She is a very beautiful and strong girl, who could overcome with stoicism the drama she passed through” says Nadejda Radu, social assistant from the Centre for Assistance and Protection for Victims and Potential Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings (CAP).
A several years ago, when she was in the 11th grade, Elena was victim of an abuse. The aggressor, a 14 i-year-old boy, from the neighborhood, sequestrated, beat and abused her and in the end tried to strangle her.
Some hours later, Elena came to the hospital having a serious physical and emotional condition. She had several traumas and she didn’t speak to anyone. From the district hospital, she was transferred at the Department of Neurology of Mother and Child Institute from Chisinau. There she received medical assistance, and the psychologist of the institution directed her to CAP for support.
”The case of Elena is a relevant case for CAP. Being a specialized center for dealing with the victims of violence, Elena came to us for psychological counseling. Together with the psychologist, it was involved the lawyer of the Center who represented Elena at the trial. It was a difficult road and Elena succeeded to pass it with the help of specialists. The aggressor was sentenced to 12 years of prison and Elena started a new life” says Nadejda Radu, the social assistant who dealt with Elena’s case.
(CAP) is an institution offering support for people at risk. The big number of children victims to violence and children separated by their parents, determined the necessity of extending CAP capacity. Together with the development partners, including UNICEF Moldova it was created a new service designed exclusively for children.
”The children come to CAP especially by National Referral System and the multidisciplinary teams deployed in the country's districts. Once they come at the Center, the children receive a working plan with the psychologist, lawyer and social assistant. During those 45 days they stay there, besides legal and psychological counseling, children have programs in group where they learn about their rights and obligations. A considerable support for them comes from UNICEF Moldova, and due to the United Nations Children's Organization on departure, each beneficiary receives clothes, toys and supplies. Also, UNICEF contributed to the construction of the Center’s wing for children. With its support, there were bought games, computers and didactic materials in the recreation room of the beneficiaries” added Nadejda Radu.
UNICEF shall continue to support children who were victims of crimes, conducting a center where they will be interviewed within the process of criminal prosecution and in the same time they shall receive medical and psychological support and other relevant help in order to overpass the trauma.
