/ Vranje, B92, 20/03/2015. / Solemn ceremony in Vranje on March 19th opened a new Safe house intended for taking care of victims of violence against women.
US Ambassador in Serbia Michael Kirby handed over the building to use to the city administration of Vranje. The ceremony attended by Mayor of Vranje Zoran Antic, Chairman of the Board of B92 Fund Veran Matic, Head of the Office of Defense at the US Embassy in Serbia Cory Shea as well as other guests.
Safe House in Vranje will cover the whole Pcinja county, including the municipalities of Trgoviste, Surdulica, Bujanovac, Presevo, Vladicin Han and Bosilegrad. The house has 300 m2 and can accommodate 25 people, the construction cost 213,000 dollars. The building consists of eight bedrooms, living room, kitchen and dining room, office, laundry room and four bathrooms. A video-surveillance covers the area around the house.
US Army European Command through the Office of Defense Cooperation has invested 213,000 dollars in the construction of the building. Work began in August 2014 and were under the supervision of the US Army Corps engineers. The project was implemented in partnership with the B92 Fund as a part of a national campaign undertaken to improve public awareness of the problem of domestic violence and to provide a safe house for the victims.
At the ceremony were presented the first local donations for the Safe House – Suzana Antic-Ristic from SOS phone Vranje donated computers and a printer. Action of NGO Human Rights Committee and SOS Hotline Vranje to collect books for the Safe House is in progress. A large number of citizens of Vranje responded with donations.
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