Belluno, the Anti-violence Center beats cash, “Local authorities must help us”

The president asks for stable funds. The Province will present the agreement scheme to the Municipalities

BELLUNO. “On the occasion of the International Day against Violence against Women, the Municipalities should decide to donate a few cents per inhabitant to the Anti-Violence Center to allow it to carry out its important task with greater serenity”. Only a few thousand euros a year to support an indispensable reality for the well-being and safety of abused and oppressed women who seek a new opportunity in life for them and, often, for their children. For this reason, the association has asked the Municipalities to sign a three-year agreement with the Anti-violence Center to allow the creation of a secure base on which to count in order not to always operate in trouble and precariousness. “Working without having a minimum of economic security is really tiring”, confirm from the Cav, “today we are, tomorrow we may not be there anymore and perhaps this, for everyone, could become a problem not only economic”.

However, something seems to be moving, given that the Province, after having approved some time ago a loan of 5 thousand euros for 2021 and 5 thousand for 2022 in favor of Belluno Donna, yesterday approved a draft agreement to be proposed to the Municipalities to reach stable funding for the association. The center has been operating in the province since December 2004 and from that date to December 2020 there were 1188 (of which 1099 resident in the province), the women who contacted it due to the violence suffered and 7221 interventions of various kinds carried out.

An average of three new women per week, of which 75% Italian, 25% belonging to various nationalities. Of the 1099 Belluno people helped, divided by area, 23 women from Comelico, 35 from Longarone-Zoldo, 42 from Alpago, 472 from Belluno-Ponte, 136 from Valbelluna, 217 from Feltrino, 48 from Agordino and 92 from Cadore : “The high number of Belluno, Ponte and Feltre only highlights how the presence of the Cav in these territories facilitates women to approach and ask for help”, they explain, “that’s why we have opened two other branches, one in Belluno in 2018 and one in Sedico last year ». The association also managed from 2007 to 2011 a shelter with a secret address to allow 16 women and 11 minors in danger of life to get away immediately from the situation of violence. Currently, however, it manages two type B shelters, one from 2009 in Belluno (20 women and 17 assisted minors) and one, from June 2020 in Feltre (3). Added to this is the work desk (32 women followed and 13 work placements activated) and support for migrant women victims of violence. Despite the entry into force of laws providing for funding to the Cavs, these allocations are insufficient to cover all their needs, they are inconstant and are disbursed annually, preventing long-term planning. In the face of all this, we are then asked to open 5 days a week and the presence of qualified personnel.