The Bar shelter for women and victims of violence, run by the "Lea" association, has expanded its capacity by eight beneficiaries, to a total of fourteen, in less than a year of operation.
Beneficiaries and their children now have access to a playroom, psychological, legal and economic assistance, and other necessary services.
The "Lea" association, which brings together five girls from Bar, was founded a little over a year ago, and shortly thereafter the first shelter for women and children victims of violence was opened in Bar, or rather on the coast.
The original house in a secret location could accommodate eight beneficiaries, and now they have moved the shelter to another settlement and are able to provide temporary shelter for fourteen women and children. The shelter can accommodate women and children from all over Montenegro. The shelter service is intended for women and their children in situations of domestic violence, and the reception of beneficiaries is possible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The accommodation service is provided to beneficiaries whose safety, life and health are threatened.
That's what she told "Vijesta". Emilija Jukić, executive director of the NGO “Lea Bar.” It has been almost a year since the shelter was founded, and in that time they have learned a lot, individually and as a team, she said.
"Perhaps the most important lesson is how crucial psychological support is. Physical safety is the first step, but without emotional recovery, women can hardly make a lasting leap towards independence and a new life. We also realized how important economic independence is," Jukić pointed out.
In addition, she said, many beneficiaries face economic pressures that often drive them back into toxic environments. That's why, over the past year, they have begun developing empowerment programs through workshops, collaborations with local businesses, and training that will help them find jobs in the future.
"Another important realization is that there is no universal solution. Every woman who comes to us brings her own story, her own struggle, and her own pace of recovery. We have learned to listen without prejudice, to adapt, and to be supportive, not just as a service, but as human beings."
When asked what left the biggest impression and was also the greatest incentive for the past year of work, Jukić replied that it was the amount of courage and strength that exists in the women who came to her, and the fact how difficult that first step is when a woman decides to leave a violent relationship.
Needs are growing, money is decreasing
The need to find a larger house that would be able to accommodate a larger number of women and children became apparent in the first months. However, they say they will not stop there, but will continue to improve services. That is why they have started the process of adapting the space and increasing the capacity of the elephant sanctuary. This has enabled not only more space, said Jukić, but also better conditions for everyday life and recovery.
"For us, it wasn't just a logistical change, it was a step towards greater accessibility, towards ensuring that no woman is left waiting, especially at the times when she needs help the most."
Jukić points out that the biggest challenge has been the lack of financial resources. Working in such a system requires continuous support, she argues, not only for basic costs, but also for quality services intended for beneficiaries.
"However, despite this, we can say that we had a successful year. We managed to maintain all key services, expand capacities and provide concrete benefits to the women who passed through our shelter, whether through psychological support, empowerment or assistance with reintegration."
They still face obstacles related to the same things, financial and staffing capacities. Work in the shelter is extremely demanding, says Jukić, and often involves night and overtime shifts, and the number of employees is still not enough to cover all needs in the way they would like.
"It is particularly important to strengthen the team in the area of direct support for beneficiaries, psychologists, social workers, but also on-call staff."
The system shifts responsibility
Since she acts as a confidential person for shelter users, Jukić comments on cooperation with authorities as variable, with much room for improvement. While there are positive examples of good practices when institutions work in synergy, there are also many cases where the visibility and efficiency of the system are significantly reduced, she said.
"Violence against women is a complex problem that requires a joint, systemic approach, which is not always the case. One of the biggest systemic problems is insufficient coordination among key institutions."
There is often a shifting of responsibility, she argues, which slows down proceedings and creates uncertainty for victims. There are also significant problems with the protection of victims during court proceedings. Many women do not have adequate protection and are often exposed to further victimization, which is further complicated by the excessive length of court proceedings.
"To overcome these problems, continuous training of all actors in the system is needed, the development of clearer and more efficient protocols for inter-institutional cooperation, as well as faster access to justice and adequate protection. Changing cultural and social attitudes towards violence against women is also crucial, as it is the first step towards changing the system and laws in a more efficient way," says Jukić.
When asked what the further plans of the "Lea" association are, she replied that they are focusing on broader social awareness, because they believe that changing social attitudes towards violence against women is key.
"We continue to work on raising awareness and educating all segments of society. From young people, to experts in institutions, to the general public. Our mission is to make violence against women a taboo subject and for women, regardless of their circumstances, to know that they are not alone."
The projects they implement aim to improve the position of women, but also to expand the services they provide. In addition to accommodation, their focus is on psychological, legal and economic support, as well as on empowering women for independent living.
"We want all women who are in a situation of violence to know that help is available and that they do not have to wait until they reach a hopeless situation. In this regard, one of the key goals is to increase the visibility of our work, so that as many women as possible know that they can turn to us. Our ultimate goal is that no woman is left to her own devices, and that society is better informed about all the options available for help."
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