During the first month since it has been put in place National SOS hotline received 312 calls

The National SOS line for victims of domestic violence is informing the public that in period between 1-30 of September, 2015. received 312 calls. 254 calls, 81% were made by the victims directly, while 58 calls, 19% was received by the third parties, relatives, security center officials, neighbors, etc.

During the first month, National SOS helpline for domestic violence victims, provided the clients with 400 services in the following areas: 164 services in area of informing, 136 services in area of confidential talks, 31 services in area of psychological counseling, 5 refferals, 3 accommodations in shelter for women victims of violence, and 1 report.

In 97% of cases, the call was made by a woman, while only 3% of calls were made by men.

The vast majority of the calls came from Podgorica, 102, then from Nikšić 68, from Bar 31, from Pljevlja 21, from Budva 16, from Danilovgrad 15, from Cetinje 10, from Herceg Novi 10, from Rožaje 6 and from Bijelo Polje 3.

The National SOS line for domestic violence victims is coordinated by SOS hotline for women and children victims of family violence Nikšić, it is free of charges and available for 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. This service is first and the most important contact for supporting the victims of domestic violence. Staff that is working on the line is professional and competent and their main role is to provide the victims with support and advices, to strengthen the victims, to service their current needs, to support their competences and to help them regain control over their lives.

The service strenghtens and provides the victims with support through following segments: emotional support, informing about the victims rights and possibilities, refferals and psychological counseling.

This campaign is being realized by the Ministry of Work and Social Care and UNDP, with financial support of EU Delegation in Montenegro, and its main goal is informing the citizens about the availability of the free, national SOS line for domestic violence victims as well as motivating the citizens to use the line to ask for help and to raise their confidence in systematic approach of state institutions in terms of giving the protective measures.