NCJ Number
163245
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 266-271
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the history and purpose of Moscow's Sexual Assault Recovery Center, its current structure, and its activities and programs.
Abstract
In March 1993 a group of Russian and American women convened in Moscow to discuss the creation of a Russian rape crisis center. This group decided that the mission and goals of the organization would be to provide assistance, crisis intervention, and advocacy for rape survivors; educate the public about violence against women; and develop model programs for prevention and staff/volunteer training. After a 10-month evolutionary process, the Moscow Sexual Assault Recovery Center has developed as an institution with a board of directors, an office, a hotline, computers, office equipment, and a lending library. In October 1993 the center began recruiting professional staff and hotline volunteers at a national conference on sexual violence. The Center currently operates with a board of directors, an executive director, a program coordinator, an accountant, a staff gynecologist, 10 paid hotline workers, and more than 20 volunteers. Women design, develop, and implement the Center's programs. In addition to the hotline, the Center is involved in a number of other projects. Public outreach is an important goal of the Center. In the area of publishing, the center has translated and distributed training literature and also has translated and published a book on child sexual abuse. In the area of educational training, three women have presented a training program for medical personnel to more than 150 medical students in Moscow. Currently, the Center is developing curricula for an education program in the schools. The Center will continue to serve as an advocacy group that lobbies for more effective enforcement of existing legislation as well as the drafting and development of new laws to protect the rights of victims.