Ljubljana, 5 December (STA) - An NGO providing assistance to victims of violence will mark its 10th anniversary on Thursday with a ceremony at the Ljubljana Faculty of Law. Beli obroč (White Ring) has so far received 20,000 letters and e-mails and more than 10,000 telephone calls of people in distress and assisted around 25,000 of victims of violence.

Beli obroč provides free legal and material aid, trains personnel who work with victims of violence and is participating in the drafting of legislative changes to improve the protection of such victims.

Established by prominent prosecutor Vlasta Nussdorfer, the NGO has also distributed around EUR 500,000 in financial aid, mostly to women and children who are victims of physical, psychological and sexual violence in the family.

Nussdorfer, who was the president of the NGO until February when she took over as the new human rights ombudsman, said that the legislation contributing to the protection of victims of violence had improved significantly.

She pointed to the act on the prevention of domestic violence, the introduction of representatives of minors who are victims of violence and the opening of numerous taboo topics, especially in the field of sexual violence.

Current president Milojka Vida Intihar explained that the victims are provided assistance by skilled therapists, mediators, lawyers, children's rights activists, school advisors and psychologists, doctors and volunteers from other fields.