Violence against women and children is a serious social issue of global proportions. According to the estimates of non-governmental organizations around 200,000 women and children are abused each year just in Slovenia. It is a painful and tragic subject, which was given special attention at the company Ljubljanske mlekarne as part of its involvement in the field of humanitarian aid. At the signing of donation agreements, which took place on 11 January, we undertook to donate 20,000 litres of Alpsko mleko to safe houses, maternity homes and other related organizations across Slovenia with the desire to help women and children, victims of different forms of abuse, to withdraw from abusive environments with the assistance of these institutions.

Violence, committed mostly by men, often erupts as a desire to control another person, control that the abuser effectively maintains using physical, psychical, sexual and economic violence. Slovenia, like many other countries, does not keep special statistics which could accurately show the extension of violence against women, however, according to the estimates of certain associations dealing with this issue, violence is present in every fifth family in Slovenia. Abused women and children can hardly escape from these violent situations. Still, some of them manage to escape and find refuge in safe houses, maternity homes, crisis centres and other institutions. With the desire to help them find a safe and secure environment, Ljubljanske mlekarne has decided, as part of its efforts in the field of humanitarian aid, to continue with its multiannual donations of Alpine milk to such institutions.

For this purpose we organized on 11 January the signing of donation agreements and invited the representatives of maternity homes, safe houses and crisis centres from all over Slovenia and the president of the section of these institutions at the Social Chamber of Slovenia.

On that occasion the Director of Corporate Communications Renata Lovrak said: »Violence against women and children is present throughout the world, victims of abuse come from different social backgrounds and so do the abusers. Stories told by the victims are characterized by pain, fear, awe and the feeling of hopelessness. At Ljubljanske mlekarne we are aware that such difficult moments are a reality existing here and now. This is why we have been donating Alpine milk to institutions helping the victims of abuse for years. With today\'s signing of donation agreements we undertook to donate 20,000 litres of Alpine milk this year also. We believe that with the support of these institutions we can at least partially help hundreds of women and children, victims of different forms of abuse, to withdraw from an abusive environment and at the same time to contribute to public awareness regarding this serious issue.«

The President of the Section for safe houses, maternity homes and other related organizations at the Social Chamber of Slovenia, Suzi Kvas, used this opportunity to sincerely thank Ljubljane mlekarne for the help provided on behalf of all section members: »We are very pleased that companies remember us and especially mothers and children seeking shelter in our homes. Companies in Slovenia are increasingly socially responsible and help people in need in every way they can. We thank Ljubljanske mlekarne for helping women and children to live a healthy life. This is especially important now, in a time of crisis and adversity due to reduced funds by municipalities and also other co-financiers. Any kind of donation is extremely important to allow women to spend quality days in our safe houses.«