Find out how temporary shelters work for women victims of violence

Patricia Sarmiento, Representative of the Adjunct of Women’s Rights Ombudsmanexplained that Temporary shelters These are places designed in such a way that women victims of domestic violence can visit them, especially those who are at serious risk of becoming the victim of new attacks on their integrity and even femicide.

in sequence Family and Justicethe specialist indicated that these temporary houses are registered Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Groups to protect women, men and all members of the family group.

Representative Ombudsmanindicated that Women’s Emergency Centers Upon learning of a case where a woman is at serious risk of becoming a possible victim of femicide, she coordinates her transfer, along with her dependents, such as minor children, to temporary housing within her jurisdiction.

sarmiento, noted that the transfer is being made to protect her, but the main idea is to keep the privacy of where she is hiding. She added that in this space, she will be provided with legal and psychological counseling, as well as social support, which will allow her, after the situation becomes less risky for her, to leave the temporary shelter in order to be financially self-sufficient.

He said that in order to file a complaint, a victim of domestic violence must first feel prepared and then apply to any of the public services, such as police stations, urgent care centers for women, public protection or the family prosecutor’s office. that from the moment of the complaint to receive support and advice from professionals to determine the next step.

in sequence Family and Justiceclarified that at present there are 22 temporary shelters in 17 regions of the country, created mainly by regional and local authorities responsible for their maintenance.

He also pointed out that Women’s Emergency Center It has Risk Assessment Sheet where, after interviewing battered women, their situation is determined, as well as factors if they are single or have a family network, before they are referred.

“The protocol that is being processed is confidential, since when a woman enters these centers, rules are set according to which they are asked not to send information about where they currently live,” the specialist said.

Similarly, he emphasized that mental health care is important for these victims to stay safe and not return to the aggressor.

Commenting on the case of ill-treatment of minors, he said that they could go to police stations or emergency centers for women, but they would be directed to reception centers run by the Ministry of Health. Inabif if necessary, other types of care.

Another issue that Patricia Sarmiento raised concerns economic violence, which, she says, means that women’s access to resources to support themselves is limited, their own expenses and income are controlled so that they are always dependent on the aggressor.