SOS Phone-Line for Roma Women and Children Victims of Violence

27 February 2006

The first SOS Phone-Line for Roma Women Victims of Violence in Serbia was opened in Nis. The SOS Phone is open to women and children from other ethnic communities, while the volunteers can communicate in Romani and Serbian languages.

�The SOS Phone is dedicated primarily to Roma women, who rarely use the existing SOS lines, although they are often victims of violence in the family�, says Ana Sacirovic, SOS Line Coordinator.

According to Sacirovic, the Roma women rarely seek assistance when subjected to violence, because of their traditional upbringing.

"Having in mind that I have volunteered for quite some time, I am aware that only a fraction of Roma women ever use the SOS lines, in spite of the fact that we all know that there is violence in Roma families, too. This is one way to introduce the Roma women to their rights and the manner in which they could realize and protect their rights�, she said.

The SOS Phone works with the �Osvit� (Dawn) Roma Women Association, and has been established in cooperation with the volunteers of the SOS Line for women and children that has been working in Nis for years.

The SOS Phone Volunteers are available every day from 10:00 to 12:00 hours, and in the afternoon from 17:00 to 19:00 hours. The number is 018/515-318.