On November 30th, in the Officers’ Home in Bitola, the Municipality of Bitola organized a panel discussion under the title “Protect yourself!” Speak loudly! – as part of the global campaign: 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
The executive director of the National Network, Elena Dimushevska was one of the speakers on the panel, who, among other things, spoke about the importance of local specialized services for help and support of women and children victims of violence, and shared the successful example of the Women’s Support Center – Bitola. Namely, this center is supported by the Municipality of Bitola and managed by a civil society organization, and provides free services for the residents of the Pelagonia region who deal with gender-based and domestic violence.
On the panel also spoke The Mayor of the Municipality of Bitola, Mr. Toni Konjanovski, the President of the Council and the President of the Commission for Equal Opportunities at the Council of the Municipality of Bitola, Ms. Gabriela Ilievska, as well as a psychiatrist at the family counseling center “Odraz” Gordana Ristevska Dimitrovska and Irena Dimova victim of domestic violence.
In his presentation, the Mayor of Bitola confirmed the support for the Women’s Support Center – Bitola and indicated that it will continue in the future. This is an important message for the sustainability of this center, as well as the possibility to provide local help and support to women and children who deal with violence. Finally, this message is an example for other mayors and local administrations in N. Macedonia, where there are no specialized services for gender-based and domestic violence – to devote themselves to this issue and provide local services for their citizens.
