The Klaipeda Municipality tem planning the new crisis centre for women:
        ·         Ms. Audronė Liesytė, Head of Social Care Division
        ·         Ms. Elona Jurkevičienė, Head of Project Division
        ·         Ms. Aušra Tautkevičiūtė, Chief Specialist of Construction and
                 Infrastructure Development Division
        ·         Mr. Tomas Barsevičius, Chief Specialist of Project Management
                 Subdivision, Project Division

One of the biggest problems that Lithuania faces today is violence against women. Statistics claims that 63% of all women in Lithuania suffered from physical and/or psychological violence, whereas world average is 33%.

Klaipėda becomes a pioneer in this social blind spot
In an interview with Klaipeda’s Mayor Vytautas Grubliauskas last year, I asked him if he thought Klaipeda could be a good example for other Lithuanian municipalities with regards to this very severe problem.
The mayor answered:
“Thanks to funds from Espersen Foundation, Klaipėda becomes a pioneer in this social blind spot. What we will see with rise of this building, however, is not a problem solution, only a shelter for severe societal problems. Although the shelter is extremely needed, Klaipėda will never be an example if violence will persist. Therefore I see immediate need for social evolution towards extermination of violence against women in general. For that we need awareness campaigns and education from early school age. Only with such package of measures I will be able to call Klaipėda as good example for other municipalities.”

Lithuania's port city has for years had a women's shelter for women, but has now taken a huge step forward and is already well underway with the planning of what is probably going to be Lithuania's most modern and advanced crisis centre for women. The new centre is expected ready summer 2012.

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