Iris Network COVID19 reaction stories – Womens Rights Center

The pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus also forced the Womens Rights Center to focus all its activities on working from home. They continued to fulfill our obligations, such as working with users, which we perform electronically. Psychological counseling takes place online and gives valid results. Users can contact Womens Rights Center by phone, at +382 67 166 800, on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm. The Womens Rights Center participated in the BEZBJEDNA DOMA campaign, which is part of the national OSTANI DOMA campaign, launched to prevent the spread of the new corona virus in Montenegro. They implemented the BEZBJEDNA DOMA campaign together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro, the Police Directorate and non-governmental organizations that are members of the Operational Team for Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence: SOS Nikšić, Safe Women’s House, SOS Podgorica and the Center for Roma Initiatives.
During the implementation of measures against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Womens Rights Center, within the regional project “Promotion of Women’s Labor Rights”, which is carried out by the NGO “Kosovo Women’s Network“, conducted a campaign to protect women’s labor rights measure. The campaign is implemented with the financial support of the European Union and is co-financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). In addition to the Center for Women’s Rights, partners in the Coalition against Discrimination on the territory of our country are the Media Union of Montenegro and the Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro.
Womens Rights Center noticed an increase in violence during the duration of the measures and thus we received a larger number of calls in March and April. We have spoken on these topics in numerous media. Regardless of the extraordinary circumstances, the Womens Rights Center operated at almost full capacity, implementing its programs and plans, as well as regular communication with relevant international and national institutions and beneficiaries of our professional assistance and support to women at risk of various forms of violence. We have also provided our customers with help packages with basic necessities.
It was also shown in the conditions of narrowing, ie. absence of direct communication, that their activity is irreplaceable within the entire system of protection and assistance to women in need.