The National Network during 2020 and 2021 opened 2 counseling centers for women and children victims of gender-based and domestic violence: Women’s Support Center – Skopje and Women’s Support Center – Tetovo. Through local advocacy activities in 2022, agreements were signed with the local self-governments for opening 2 more counseling centers, in Bitola and Kavadarci.
In order to establish quality services in counseling, the team of the National Network against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence conducts ongoing trainings for service providers who are or will be engaged in counseling in 7 cities across the country. So far, 4 out of 5 planned trainings have been conducted, the first of which was a 3-day training, followed by three 2-day trainings.
On June 18 and 19, 2022. The third 2-day training was held with the participation of 14 service providers from Skopje, Tetovo, Bitola, Kavadarci, Veles, Radovish and Kumanovo. The trainings focus on improving the knowledge and skills of service providers, primarily for effective protection of users of the centers, as well as effective communication, teamwork, cooperation and referral to relevant institutions, direct assistance through crisis intervention, long-term support and assistance through counseling and psychotherapy, providing legal aid and support as well as guidelines for the full functioning of counseling centers in terms of management and providing quality services. The trainings are attended by service providers who are social workers, legal advisors, psychologists and psychotherapists.
This activity is part of the project “Counseling Centers for Women and Children Victims of GBV and DV” supported by the Balkan Trust for Democracy, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Royal Embassy of Norway in Belgrade.
