B92 Fund to build safe house in southern town

VRANJE Vranje Deputy Mayor Bojana Velickov says an agreement has been reached with representatives of the U.S. Embassy and B92 Fund to build a safe house in the town. She stated that the safe house would be a shelter for victims of domestic violence from the Pcinjski District. B92 Fund to build safe house in southern town Velickov told Beta news agency that the town of Vranje had launched the initiative to build the safe house and that she expected the agreement with the B92 Fund to be signed soon, adding that the town would secure all necessary construction and other permits as soon as possible. “After we have signed the contract with the B92 Fund, it remains for the Vranje town assembly to regulate all the necessary construction permits. The construction should begin in September or October and I expect the safe house to be ready for use by the end of the year,” she explained. According to her, there is a great need for the safe house in the Pcinjski District judging by the large number of women and children who seek help through the SOS hotline and in local Centers for Social Work. “There is a need to the safe house. Large numbers of women, children and mothers with children are placed in the local social protection centers because of abuse in their families but also because of harassment. I also have cases of women who are abused by their own children and elderly women who have nowhere else to go because no family members want to take care of them,” the Vranje deputy mayor said. The Vranje helpline received about 160 calls in 2012, mostly from women. It was determined in 140 cases that the women had been victims of some form of abuse and domestic violence. The safe house in Vranje will have between 25 and 30 beds and according to the EU standards, it will be enough to meet the needs of the Pcinjski District. (B92, file) Beta

B92 Fund to build safe house in southern town

Veličkov told Beta news agency that the town of Vranje had launched the initiative to build the safe house and that she expected the agreement with the B92 Fund to be signed soon, adding that the town would secure all necessary construction and other permits as soon as possible.

“After we have signed the contract with the B92 Fund, it remains for the Vranje town assembly to regulate all the necessary construction permits. The construction should begin in September or October and I expect the safe house to be ready for use by the end of the year,” she explained.

According to her, there is a great need for the safe house in the Pčinjski District judging by the large number of women and children who seek help through the SOS hotline and in local Centers for Social Work.

“There is a need to the safe house. Large numbers of women, children and mothers with children are placed in the local social protection centers because of abuse in their families but also because of harassment. I also have cases of women who are abused by their own children and elderly women who have nowhere else to go because no family members want to take care of them,” the Vranje deputy mayor said.

The Vranje helpline received about 160 calls in 2012, mostly from women. It was determined in 140 cases that the women had been victims of some form of abuse and domestic violence.

The safe house in Vranje will have between 25 and 30 beds and according to the EU standards, it will be enough to meet the needs of the Pčinjski District.