On March 12, 2009, the Accreditation of Social Service Providers in Bucharest granted official accreditation to ADRA Romania for a new social work service. The new program will assist victims of domestic violence by providing a safe house where victims can stay while seeking help. The center is located in Cernica (Ilfov County) in a building belonging to the Seventh-day Adventist church.
The building that houses the center has obtained all the necessary authorizations. The facility is comprised of ten rooms, which can house 24 people, a reception room and a counseling room. Victims of domestic violence may stay in the shelter up to 60 days during which time they receive healthcare and social, legal and psychological counseling.
ADRA aims to address an urgent social need. Each year Romania registers about 9,500 cases of domestic violence. On average, one Romanian woman a week is killed by her husband, father or brother. Statistics show that in the last year, 150 people in Romania died after being abused by family members. The ADRA safe house seeks to help victims escape their abusers and find healing.
