The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity revealed that the 1st Regional Plan to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence, which comprises 65 measures implemented in five areas of intervention, registered a global execution rate of 77 percent.

Piedade Lalanda considered that the assessment of this tool was "very positive," stressing that it allowed the services to follow up 1,400 victims and to take action with 230 offenders in the context of the regional network.

Among the 1,400 violence victims, nearly 900 have not suffered further abuse and of the 230 offenders, more than 50 percent have not relapsed," underlined the Regional Secretary. The government official spoke to journalists during the presentation of data on the 1st Regional Plan to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence in Ponta Delgada.

In the case of first time offenders who were covered by the Rehabilitation Programme for Aggressors - “Contigo” (With You), Piedade Lalanda considered it as "huge victory" of this Regional Plan.

However, Piedade Lalanda defended that "the Azores are not necessarily the region with more domestic violence in the country," but perhaps "it is the region that registers an increasing number of complaints."

For the Regional Secretary, this situation is, in fact, "positive" in addition to being a "sign" that "Azorean woman are aware they can seek help" for this once "silent and hidden issue."

"The 1st Regional Plan has provided a very important response for this problem," stressed the government official. In this context, Piedade Lalanda mentioned the "extension of social responses for the protection of women who are victims of domestic violence across the archipelago," the creation of Local Centres to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence as well as the creation of "emergency spaces" that offer protection to victims and provide an immediate response to "any victim on any island."

According to Piedade Lalanda, this plan represented a public investment over 1.5 million Euros and it was force for a period of three years (2010, 2011 and 2012).

A total of 90 regional entities have been heard on the results achieved with the implementation of this first plan.

The Government of the Azores, in partnership with various entities, will now "define the guidelines" of the 2nd Regional Plan to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence, which will enter into force in 2014.

The Regional Secretary emphasised, among different action areas, "awareness raising actions targeted at youngsters, from elementary school children to university students, teachers, families and the community in general. In addition, the government official mentioned the Rehabilitation Programme for Aggressors - “Contigo," an initiative that has shown "extremely positive results."

 The creation of an Intervention Programme targeted at Minors Victims of Marital Violence was another measures emphasised by Piedade Lalanda. This initiative counted on the support of the Government of the Azores and the partnerships of the Centre for Family Therapy and Systemic Intervention, the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia” of Praia da Vitória, the Fundación Meniños - Corunna and the University of Corunna.

Piedade Lalanda stressed that "it is never enough to promote prevention amongst youngsters, invest in the training of all parties involved in this area, foster the prevention and combat to domestic violence and strengthen the relation with the justice system."

In this context, the government official defended the continuation of "planning tools, duly quantified in terms of performance indicators," in order to "consolidate" the action started almost two decades ago.

On the date that marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Regional Secretary reminded the number of fatal victims per year. According to her, "domestic violence is the most serious expression of gender inequality, being synonymous with loss of respect, dignity and emotional breakdown."