http://repository.usmf.md:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12710/30221 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:28:24 GMT 2026-04-10T04:28:24Z http://repository.usmf.md:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12710/30667 Medico-legal identification of adult victims of physical domestic violence Glavan, Petru; Pădure, Andrei; Bondarev, Anatolii; Spinei, Larisa; Cazacu, Doina Introduction: Domestic violence is a public health problem and doctors must have specific knowledge and skills to ensure an adequate response and prevention of this social phenomenon. Health and medicolegal systems are key authorities in providing evidence of domestic violence. One of their important tasks is to identify domestic violence victims, but for this purpose, physicians and forensic doctors must have appropriate knowledge and be provided with instruments, including scientific-based ones. Purpose of the research: The research project aimed to assess the level of knowledge in the field of domestic violence among current and future physicians from the Republic of Moldova and to improve their ability to identify adult victims of domestic violence based on the victim’s social profile and injury pattern. Material and methods: To achieve this goal, 832 medical students and doctors were surveyed and 801 forensic medical reports regarding domestic violence adult victims were studied. Results: The study revealed a lack of knowledge among physicians regarding domestic violence and the distinct elements of the health system’s response to these cases. Medical respondents are affected by some stereotypes as other society members but to a lesser extent. It was found that an ordinary victim of domestic violence is a woman aged 39.4 years, affected regardless of her residence place, employed, and mostly assaulted by her life partner at home in January, June, and July, on Weekend, between 5-10 p.m., medico-legally examined 2.6 days after the assault. Injuries were especially inflicted by blunt objects, mostly by the perpetrator’s body parts, averaging 4.6 in number, multipolar located predominantly on the face, arm, forearm, hand, and thigh, represented by soft tissues insignificant injuries; their severity is influenced by the alcohol consumption, the victim’s age and gender. Discussion: The research showed that doctors strongly need to be trained to strengthen their capacity to adequately respond to cases of domestic violence. Understanding the victims’ social profiles and the injury pattern could enhance the ability of doctors, including forensic ones, to identify adult victims of domestic violence and ensure the provision of medical and forensic evidence for justice. The results of this study may be used as evidence-based proposals for enriching existing training programs or designing new ones in order to support healthcare practitioners in the correct management of domestic violence cases. Conclusions: Training of medical professionals in the field of domestic violence is one of the key strategies for improving the healthcare response to victims. The research results can be used by medical and forensic doctors as evidence-based tools to identify adult victims of domestic violence, but may also be useful to other professionals interested in the social and injury portrait of adult victims of domestic violence. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.usmf.md:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12710/30667 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.usmf.md:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12710/30666 Domestic violence in the Republic of Moldova from medico-legal perspective Damaschin, Felicia; Toporeț, Natalia; Pădure, Andrei; Glavan, Petru; Bondarev, Anatolii; Șarpe, Vasile Introduction: Domestic violence is one of the most widespread violations of human rights, having significant consequences on physical, mental, and reproductive health. In recent years, the Republic of Moldova has undertaken several initiatives aimed at reducing the incidence of domestic violence and violence against women, such as ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (2011), known as the Istanbul Convention. State institutions are expected to adjust their tools to meet the requirements of Article 11 of the Convention. Additionally, in the sixth report, CEDAW noticed that in terms of gender-based violence, the Republic of Moldova statistical data only cover certain forms of gender-based violence and are not disaggregated by sex, age, ethnicity, geographical location, disability, and the relationship between perpetrator and victim. In its first Baseline Evaluation Report for the Republic of Moldova GREVIO noted the Centre of Forensic Medicine annually collects and reports general statistical data on cases of domestic and sexual violence which are not disaggregated by the relationship between victim and perpetrator. Methods: The statistical analysis of domestic violence cases registered in the Republic of Moldova was conducted. Annual report 2023 of the Centre of Forensic Medicine was studied, and data were systemized and mathematically processed for each criterion and every district of the Republic of Moldova. Results: To comply with the requirements, in 2023, the Centre of Forensic Medicine adjusted its statistical form to the Convention’s requirements, CEDAW, and GREVIO’s Evaluation Report recommendations. During 2023, 3.857 victims of domestic violence were medico-legally examined in the Republic of Moldova, 76.02% of them were women and girls. The correlation between victims’ age and gender shows that children of both genders are equally victimized, while among adult victims women constitute 78.41%. Mostly, intimate partners (77.37%) acted as perpetrators, followed by other family members (14.22%) and parents (8.41%). As a residency, 54.88% of victims came from urban areas and 45.12% - from rural areas. Only 2.2% of victims were people with special needs, mainly (75.29%) adults. Conclusion: The Centre of Forensic Medicine in the Republic of Moldova is the only institution within the healthcare field that collects statistical data on domestic violence disaggregated according to the Istanbul Convention requirements. The adjustment of statistical form allowed the collection of statistical data on domestic violence disaggregated on victims’ gender, age, geographical location, disability, and relationship with the perpetrator for the first time. This information will contribute to the creation of a systemic sectoral and interdepartmental response aimed at ensuring the safety, prevention, and comprehensive examination of domestic violence cases based on a gender-based approach. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.usmf.md:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12710/30666 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.usmf.md:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12710/30665 Rate and structure of sexual violence in the Republic of Moldova Nicorici, Alina; Pădure, Andrei; Toporeț, Natalia; Bondarev, Anatolii; Glavan, Petru; Șarpe, Vasile Introduction: Nowadays, sexual violence is a severe violation of human rights and a major social problem faced by all countries all over the world. The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and combating violence against Women and domestic violence (2011), known as the Istanbul Convention, requires state parties to criminalize sexual violence, rape, and sexual harassment and to set up sexual violence referral centers for victims to provide them integrated services. The Republic of Moldova ratified the Istanbul Convention on 14.11.2021 and, by doing so, committed itself to protecting women against all forms of violence, including by adjusting its legal framework to the Convention provisions and adequately assisting victims and survivors. The health system and medico-legal investigation play a crucial role in the response provided by the state institutions. Purpose of the research: To present the rate and structure of sexual violence in the Republic of Moldova during 2023. Materials and Methods: The Centre of Forensic Medicine’s annual report for 2023 was analysed and 4 criteria (victims’ gender, age, residence, their relationship with perpetrator) related to sexual violence cases were studied. Results: In 2023, 526 people were subjected to forensic medical examinations concerning cases of sexual violence within the Centre of Forensic Medicine regional units. This number included 426 victims and 100 perpetrators. Mostly, sexual violence occurred in Chișinău city (29.5%), followed by the northern region of the country (Edineț (9.7%) and Soroca (6.1%)). Both adults (53.8%) and minors (46.2%) were victims of sexual violence. Mainly, victims of sexual violence were women, especially minors (95.8%). In most cases (69.4%), the perpetrators were unknown to the victims. Discussion: After ratifying the Istanbul Convention, the Republic of Moldova undertook real steps to meet its provisions. Thus, several centres for victims of sexual and domestic violence, such as Barnahus Centre (for children), Regional service for sexual violence victims in Ungheni district and Police Family Justice Centre were open in the last years (2022-2023). National legislation asks forensic medical experts to conduct medico-legal examinations of sexual violence victims together with gynaecologists and other relevant medical professionals. Nowadays, the Moldovan Criminal Code criminalises rape (art. 171), non-consensual sexual actions (art. 172), sexual harassment (art. 173), sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16 (art. 174), sexual actions with a person under the age of 16 (art. 175) and luring a minor for sexual purposes (art. 1751 ). Nevertheless, it has recently (09.01.2023) been adjusted to the requirements of the Istanbul Convention by including a new article (1322 ) that explains the meaning of non-consensual sexual acts or actions. Moreover, the definition of sexual acts was enlarged to include not only vaginal penetration but anal and oral ones with any body part or object. Conclusions: Sexual violence continues to be a global challenge, and forensic medical institutions play a key role in the state’s response. National legislation requires professionals from different fields to act in a coordinated way and provide the comprehensive services needed by victims of violence. According to the Centre of Forensic Medicine data, during 2023, mostly adult female victims were subjected to forensic medical examinations. The Republic of Moldova adjusted its national legislation to the Istanbul Convention in recent years and this is still an ongoing process. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.usmf.md:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12710/30665 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.usmf.md:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12710/30664 Raising the medical staff’s knowledge in responding to gender-based violence in the Republic of Moldova Pădure, Andrei; Bondarev, Anatolii; Glavan, Petru Introduction: Domestic and gender-based violence ranks among the most frequent crimes committed in any society and country in the world, reaching epidemic proportions. Furthermore, this social phenomenon is a public health challenge and medical doctors need specific knowledge and skills to ensure an appropriate response. But, to achieve this goal, they should understand what domestic and gender-based violence means, know the causes and consequences of this phenomenon for victims, their descendants and society, their important role in identifying victims and potential victims, recognition and documenting injuries, reporting and referring the victim to other professionals, specialized services for the subjects of domestic violence and authorities. The extent of domestic and gender-based violence in the Republic of Moldova is regrettably high, certain stereotypes regarding the role of men and women persist within the society, but physicians do not have the appropriate knowledge and practical skills in identifying and managing cases of domestic and gender-based violence. As a result, victims do not seek medical help, or even if they do, cannot receive information and appropriate treatment, being unable to fulfil their constitutional rights to health, bodily integrity, life and fair justice. Purpose of the research: To show actions aimed at enhancing the awareness and knowledge of medical staff regarding domestic and gender-based violence in the Republic of Moldova. Discussion: In recent years, the Republic of Moldova has carried out several actions focused on reducing the incidence of domestic violence and violence against women. One of the most important is the adoption of Law No 45/2007 on preventing and combating domestic violence and ratification (14 October 2021) of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (2011), known as the Istanbul Convention. It is the first instrument in Europe to set legally binding standards specifically to prevent gender-based violence, protect victims of violence and punish perpetrators. Article 15 urges parties to provide or strengthen appropriate training for the relevant professionals dealing with victims or perpetrators of all acts of violence covered by the scope of the Convention, on the prevention and detection of such violence, equality between women and men, the needs and rights of victims, as well as on how to prevent secondary victimisation. In 2018, the Moldovan Government approved the 2018-2023 National Strategy followed by the 2023-2027 National Programme on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. According to the National Programme’s specific objective 1.3, institutions responsible for the training of professionals ensure systemically the development of knowledge and skills to appropriately prevent and respond to violence against women and domestic violence. Based on these regulatory acts, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection and the Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy have been entrusted to mainstream the topics of violence against women and domestic violence in the curriculum of the initial and continuous training for physicians and medical practitioners. In order to achieve this goal, the training curriculum entitled Domestic and Gender-based Violence was approved in 2018 and updated in 2023. The course designed for students is an optional one and comprises 30 academic hours, 10 hours for each – lectures, seminars and self-training. The following topics are discussed during the course: Gender-based and domestic violence; National and international laws regarding gender-based and domestic violence; Gender norms, masculinity and violence; Sexual violence and consensual intercourse, Prevention and combating gender-based and domestic violence; Healthcare system response to gender-based and domestic violence. Interactive methods such as discussions with audio-visual support, didactic films, role-playing games, small and large group exercises are used with the audience to increase the training impact. For the first time, both the national training manual and methodical guidelines for the course were developed and published in three languages (Romanian, English and Russian). By 2024, 759 national and international medical students were trained in addressing domestic and gender-based violence. Moreover, within the project Strengthening the physicians’ ability to a better response to domestic violence implemented by the Nicolae Testemițanu SUMPh with the support of the Embassy of Finland in Bucharest, in spring 2024 more than 300 medical students and physicians were additionally trained in responding to this phenomenon. Conclusions: The Republic of Moldova has committed to ensuring the development of knowledge and skills in preventing and appropriately responding to violence against women and domestic violence in all professionals involved in addressing this social phenomenon, including medical staff. Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy developed a course for medical students and doctors aiming at increasing their awareness, professional knowledge and skills in identifying victims of domestic and genderbased violence and addressing such cases. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.usmf.md:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12710/30664 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z