Most forms of abuse leave no bruises. That is precisely why knowing how to recognise them — and knowing who to call — can make all the difference. Women from three localities of Ungheni district went, in recent days, through information workshops about violence and about how they can ask for help when they face abuse.
The sessions, titled “Every woman has the right to respect and protection”, were organised by the Regional Integrated Service for Victims of Sexual Violence (SRIVVS) in the municipality of Ungheni and brought together 46 participants in total.
What they learned
The workshops started from a simple idea: violence does not mean only blows. The participants discussed its forms — physical, psychological, sexual, economic, social and digital — and how to recognise abusive behaviour, often disguised as jealousy, control or “care”.
Through role-play, practical exercises and the analysis of real-life situations, the women also learned the practical part: what services exist, what protection mechanisms they can use and how the Trust Line for Women and Girls works — 0 8008 8008, a free line on which one can ask for help and information. At the end, each received materials with useful contact details, both for themselves and for other people in situations of risk.
Why it matters for Ungheni
Such services are useful only if people know they exist. Many women in an abusive relationship do not call for help not because they do not want to, but because they do not know there is somewhere to turn — or because they believe “it is not their case”. The fact that Ungheni has a regional service dedicated to victims of violence and a free trust line concretely changes the calculation: help is one call away.
The organisers’ underlying message was one of community: information can make the difference, and a woman who knows where to ask for help can, in turn, point a neighbour, a colleague or a relative in danger toward it.
The number of participants, the topics of the workshops, the organiser and the Trust Line number come from the official announcement of the Regional Integrated Service for Victims of Sexual Violence in Ungheni / the Trust Line for Women and Girls, published on Facebook.