Name of the organization (in English):
Women’s Safe House
_ _________________________________________________________________
Name of the organization (in original language):
Sigurna zenska kuca
__________________________________________________________________
Address:
Bul. Ivana Crnojevica 89,20 000 Podgorica
__________________________________________________________________
Phone and fax numbers; e-mail address:
Phone/fax: +382 20 231 153 +382 20 232 352 e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ;
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ljiljana Raicevic (ME) Facebook
___ _______________________________________________________________
Represented by (name, title):
Ljiljana Raicevic, Executive Director
__________________________________________________________________
Background of the representative:
Ljiljana was one of the pioneers of civil society in Montenegro.
With the first arm conflicts in ex Yugoslavia countries, Ljiljana was actively involved in anti-war movement, which strongly advocated against arm conflicts and organized street demonstrations throughout ex Yu region.
In 1996, she became cofounder and coordinator of the first women NGO in Montenegro - SOS Line for women and children victims of family violence.
In August 1999, she founded “Women’s Safe House” – shelter for victims of family violence. That was the first shelter in Montenegro, so it became the forefront of the struggle to end violence against women in Montenegro. In 2001,she established the first shelter for victims of sex trafficking in Montenegro. In 2003, she was proclaimed a “Personality of the Year” by the influential Serbian weekly magazine “Vreme” .In 2004,she became the first women from Montenegro who attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington , traditionally organized by President of the United States.
She is one of the co-founders of ACTA – Antitrafficking and Anticorruption Network which gathered NGO representatives of 10 SEE countries.
In 2006, Ljiljana won the prestigious Amnesty International “Ginetta Sagan” Award for her work for the safety of women and children in Montenegro.
__________________________________________________________________
Background on the organization
MISSION
Respecting and promoting international principles on women's and children's rights and the gender equality, Woman's Safe House is working on improvement of position of women and children in all social processes in Montenegro, through realization of the advocacy initiatives and educational programs; providing shelter, free legal, psychological and medical help, mediation in contact with institutions for victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking.
In Montenegro, NGOs dealing with women's rights were the first who pointed to the phenomenon of domestic violence, as well as the initiators of change in the law and changes in cultural perceptions of violence against women. They were gathering data on the prevalence of violence and providing information and assistance to victims of violence based on gender.
NGO Women's Safe House was a pioneer in this field.
After three years of the SOS Hotline for women and children victims of domestic violence and the collection and processing of statistical data obtained from the 2000 SOS call, which indicated that every other woman in Montenegro forced to leave the house, there was a clear need for the establishment of shelters for victims of domestic violence.
In August 1999. former coordinator of SOS Ljiljana Raicevic, founded the first shelter in Montenegro, entitled "Women's Safe House."
Shortly after its establishment, the shelter received its first tenants - a young woman with a child victim of brutal domestic violence.
Since that day, the shelter has never been empty.
More than 2800 people - victims of domestic violence, 70 young mothers with newborn children and 68 victims of trafficking found help and support in our shelter.
The organization has 6 members and 5 volunteers.
Organization is governed by the Advisory Board and a Board of Directors whose members are active in various areas of social life in Montenegro.
Achievements:
1.Service for women victims of violence
In 1999,we established the first shelter for victims of family violence. More than 2800 persons received phone counseling, shelter accomodation, legal, psychological and social assistance. The SOS number is published in all daily newspapers in Montenegro and most of the weekly magazines.
2.Antitrafficking program
-In 2001,we established the first shelter for victims of trafficking in Montenegro which supported 68 women and girls victims of trafficking.
-Since 2001, our organization is a part the National Montenegrin Anti-trafficking Victim Protection Program and a member of the Project Board which is responsible for program monitoring.
-In 2001,we signed Memorandum of Understanding (2001) with the Ministry of Internal Affair, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Care aimed to assure partner relations and collaboration in anti-trafficking activities between the Ministries and our NGO. MoU was revised and signed again with more institutions included (State Prosecutor’s Office and Police Directorate) in October 2007.
3. Information campaigns, policy changes and drafting of laws and protocols and monitoring of their implementation
-In 2003,we started Initiative for adopting Witness Protection Law. The work on the initiative successfully ended in October 2004 when Montenegrin Parliament adopted the Witness Protection Law accepting 90% of the comments made by the WSH working group. The initiative was carried out with the support of USAID/ORT Montenegro Advocacy Program.
-We actively participated in process of drafting Domestic Violence Law, adopted by Montenegrin Parliament in July 2010. 7 of 25 amendemnts we suggested were included in text of the Law on Protection form Violence in Family.
We were also members of the working group which drafted new Antidiscrimination Law, which is planned to be adopted till the end of the year.
4.Educational programs on domestic violence and trafficking
-Since 2000, we held 24 trainings for the representatives of the state institutions, including the Police, Courts, Prosecutor’s Office and Centres for Social Welfare, which included almost 500 state officials.
-6 trainings for 121 policewomen in Montenegro and Training for trainers for the 21 police women. It started as lectures in the School for Internal Affairs and continued as specialized trainings which resulted in bigger involvement of women in the Police units who directly assist in cases of domestic violence and trafficking in human beings. Feedback we had through our later contacts showed much better understanding of problems that were discussed as well as the improvement in cooperation with specific institutions.
5. Youth program
-During 2008/09 we held lectures and distributed A Handbook on Sexual and Reproductive Health in almost every high school and University throughout Montenegro.
-“ Seminar for young people from vulnerable groups It gathered young people from different regions and social groups which discussed actual discriminatory practices and behaviors toward ethnic minorities, women, poor, and young people from rural communities. The result of the seminar was recommendations for overcoming of such condition, prepared by young participants.
The project was supported by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Media .The conclusions and recommendations which were result of this training will be presented to the Ministry which supported this program and will be included in the National Action Plan for Young Population.
-Educational workshops and seminars- In the second half of 2008 and 2009 we held more that 30 workshops on Sexual and reproductive health for young population, throughout Montenegro.
- „Sexual and Reproductive Health, as Compulsory Elective Subject“-our pilot project for the first time in Montenegro included this subject in 3 high schools. It was implemented in cooperation with Department for Education.
5. Publications
„Handbook on Sexual and Reproductive health“
http://195.66.163.162/download/prirucnik_sex_zdravlje.zip
“Handbook on sexual violence”
„Your passport – your liberty“ –travel guide for prevention of trafficking for Montenegrin citizens. http://www.gov.me/files/1253541430.pdf
In preparation:
-A Legal Guide for Women Who Suffered Violence (It will follow actual legislative changes I mentioned above) in partnership with NGO Human Rights Action
