Minister Zenka in Nikšić: The National SOS Line for Victims of Domestic Violence has received calls from 853 people from its founding

The fight against discrimination is part of the priority policies in the internal and international plan of the Montenegrin Government, said Minister for Human and Minority Rights Mehmed Zenka during his visit to SOS Telephone for Women and Children Victims of Violence Nikšić.

Minister Zenka talked with the executive coordinator Natasa Međedović about the results of the work of the National SOS line for victims of domestic violence.

Zenka expressed his appreciation for the strength and persistence of women who are engaged on a daily basis in supporting the potential victims, pointing out that it is not easy, and that special sacrifice, expertise and understanding of the problem is needed to solve it successfully.

Violence is the hardest form of violation of human rights, whether it is physical, emotional, psychological, or any other, Minister said. According to him, our society mostly perceives physical violence as violence and the need has been recognized to talk more about it publicly and to explain to the wider public what kinds of violence exist, with the aim of suppressing it.

Zenka praised the work and commitment of Mrs. Međedović and her associates, and especially the new bilingual service that expanded the capacities of the National SOS line.

Međedovic explained that since July this year, the free National SOS line for domestic violence victims was also available in Albanian, and the funds were provided through the project "Improving access to non-violence for women with experience of violence in central and northern Montenegro ".

According to Ivana Pejović, coordinator of the project, the consultancy services provided by the National SOS line provide the necessary information about the legal possibilities of victims of violence through telephone calls, urgent intervention, mediation towards the competent institutions, and counseling psychiatry.

10 to 25 calls are sent to the National SOS line per day, they come from all municipalities, Bulatović says. Out of a total of 853 people who have been interviewed so far, most of them were from Nikšić and Podgorica, in the north from Bijelo Polje and Berane, while the statistics in the south mostly mention Bar, Herceg Novi and Kotor. Pejović clarified that the least calls came from the municipalities of Žabljak, šavnik and Plužine. These three municipalities, together with the municipality of Nikšić, are covered by the mentioned project, says Bulatović, with the aim of better informing the population in this area.

We remind the National SOS Family Violence Line was introduced in March 2015, in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, the Office of UNDP and SOS Nikšić. According to the data presented by Mrs. Međedović, from the establishment of the line, there were 6,536 calls and 8,347 services providered.

During his visit, Minister Zenka visited the Shelter for Women and Children Victims of Violence where he talked to the residents who are currently there.

Ministry for Human and Minority Rights