First Family Center Services of the City of Skopje regarding the victims and perpetrators of domestic violence

Abstract

Domestic violence is a very serious and complex problem which every country faces, including the Republic of North Macedonia. The complexity of this problem results in enormous consequences for individuals, families, and the general development of societies. The most common causes of domestic violence can be identified in: lack of material resources of the family, unemployment, presence of addictive alcoholism, drugs and other psychotropic substances, gambling, infidelity, and in some situations the poor mental state of family members, etc.

Domestic violence most often occurs within the family community, whether it is a marital or extramarital union, between marital and extramarital partners, children, the elderly in the family, or between family relationships resulting from damaged family relationships, resulting in one of the most widespread forms of violence. In order to prevent and fight domestic violence in North Macedonia, in the past years the country is undertaking specific multilevel activities at national and local level. The main activities are aimed at preventing violence, protecting victims from domestic violence and implementing adequate national and international legal framework.

This paper will analyze the current state of domestic violence in the Republic of North Macedonia and the categories of domestic violence. Special attention will be given to the services provided by the First Family Center of the City of Skopje, which is the only specialized counseling center for victims of domestic violence, perpetrators of domestic violence, minors living in families with domestic violence which are direct or indirect victims of violence, as well as other family members who assist in the counseling process. Finally, the paper will also present a case study in order to show the activities, services and results achieved in the area of ​​professional work with victim of domestic violence.