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The Parliament of Moldova has adopted a law aimed at preventing and combating domestic violence. The legislation provides for legal protection for victims of domestic violence, as well as for the creation of rehabilitation centres and other support services. Twenty seven per cent of women over the age of 15 have experienced violence in the home at least once in the Republic of Moldova, according to the 2005 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) carried out by the Government with support from USAID, UNICEF and UNFPA. Domestic violence is one of the root causes of child abandonment, institutionalisation, substance abuse and juvenile delinquency in the Eastern European country. Valentina Bodrug-Lungu, President of the non-governmental organisation Gender-Centre cautioned implementation would be key. “Adopting the Law on Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence is an important step in the elimination of this social scourge. Enforcing the law is the next step,” she said. “The most important outcome of this will be that finally every man, woman and young person understands that domestic violence is unacceptable, that it affects all family members and threatens the security of our society.” UNICEF’s representative in Moldova, Ray V. Torres stressed the importance of tackling the myths surrounding domestic violence. One pervasive myth is that violence against women is mainly a rural phenomenon. However, the 2005 DHS showed that the difference between the incidence of violence in rural and urban areas is relatively insignificant (29 per cent and 24 per cent respectively). Mr Torres said: “Education makes the difference.”