SKOPJE, 27 October 2008 - Fostering a multidisciplinary approach to handling domestic violence crimes to address the problem and protect victims more effectively is the aim of a training course launched in Tetovo today.

The five-day workshop is the first in a series of training courses for police officers, social workers and civil society that will be conducted by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje.

"Domestic violence is a community problem that cannot be addressed successfully by the police alone. This course will bring the police and social services together and present modern investigative techniques that will enhance victim safety " said Raymond Hirons, Acting Head of OSCE Mission's Police Development Department.

Slave Vitanov, Senior Advisor for the Bureau of Public Peace and Order of the Interior Ministry, said: "Unfortunately, there is no public encouragement to report domestic violence cases and they often remain within the family. The police also do not respond appropriately to domestic violence calls due to lack of training and the lack of a procedure for handling these cases. The OSCE courses will help to address these gaps."

The project will assist the country in fulfilling its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in particular those related to investigating acts of domestic violence and providing training to law enforcement officials.

Published in: OSCE Mission to Skopje supports training for police officers on domestic violence, OSCE Press release (27 October 2008).