TEHRAN – There are currently 22 centers across Iran providing shelter for homeless women and those who are victims of domestic violence.

Of the centers, dubbed “safe houses”, 15 are run by the private sector and the rest are state-run, ISNA quoted the head of State Welfare Organization, Anoushiravan Mohseni-Bandpei, as saying on Tuesday.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the first center in the northern Golestan province.

“We should provide shelters for those women who are victims of domestic violence,” he said.

He noted that the centers provide beds for women who want to keep their children during their stay at the centers.

The welfare organization pays 1 billion rials (about $25,000) for establishing each new safe house, he added.

SB/

END