State agency to establish aid centres

Legislation should mandate that a state agency to establish aid centres and should provide for the funding of the services.

Example: The Law of Georgia on Elimination of Domestic Violence, Protection of and Support to Its Victims states that the Ministry of Labour, Healthcare and Social Protection shall determine minimal standards for temporary shelters for victims and batterer intervention centres.

Example: in Article 6, the Law of Albania describes the responsibilities of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities as follows:

1. The lead responsible authority has the following duties:

a. To develop and implement national strategies and programmes to offer protection and care to the victims of domestic violence;

b. To finance and co-finance projects designed for the protection and consolidation of family and for the care of victims of domestic violence;

c. To assist the set up of support structures and all of the necessary infrastructure to support and fulfill all the needs of the persons subject to domestic violence, including financial assistance as well as social and health services pursuant to the law;

ç. To organise training sessions on domestic violence with social service employees at any local government unit, police structures and employees of NPOs licensed to offer social services;

d. To maintain statistical data on the level of domestic violence;

dh. To support and supervise the set up of rehabilitation centres for domestic violence victims;

e. To support and supervise the set up of rehabilitation centres for the perpetrators of domestic

violence;

ë. To license NPOs that will provide social services to victims and perpetrators.

Legislation should require thta accreditation standards for assistance centres be developed in consultation with NGOs and advocates who work directly with complainants/ survivors.

Example: The Bundesgesetz zum Schutz vor Gewalt in der Familie (1997) of Austria (hereinafter Law of Austria), provies that intervention centres are established and financed by government Ministry but run by women’s non-governmental organizations. These organizations have the depth of knowledge and experience required to provide sensitive and comprehensive support to complainants/survivors and their dependents.

(See: UN Model Framework, Section VII B)