Crisis Centres

Brief Description

At the beginning of 2008, there were 21 crisis centres for women operating under the jurisdiction of the social welfare agencies in the Russian Federation. There were also 119 crisis units for women within social service institutions and 22 hostels for women with minor children.

These institutions specialize in providing psychological, legal, medical, educational and social services to women and children who find themselves in difficult situations or who have been subjected to violence. Every year, some 50,000 women and more than 20,000 minors receive specialist care at the crisis centres. The crisis centres are staffed by psychologists, psychotherapists, child psychologists and social care teachers.

As a rule, regional crisis centres provide assistance to women and children who live in a given region. The crisis centres have both residential and daytime facilities at their disposal. At the residential facilities, socio-psychological rehabilitation is offered to victims of all types of violence, and primarily to women and children who find themselves in a state of severe psychological crisis. The daytime facilities usually provide counselling and legal support for children and women in crisis situations. Instructional support is provided by municipal specialists. Telephone hotlines are also maintained.

Many crisis centres offer women the opportunity to learn new vocations or to upgrade their existing skills (using extrabudgetary resources) to help them gain financial independence. Legal advisers at the centres provide legal support, help prepare documents for the law enforcement and judicial authorities and the bailiff service, and represent the victim in court.

Women’s public organizations have established 50 crisis centres for women. These centres work in close contact with executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and with local government bodies.