Publication date: 23.05.2024
Fines, Administrative Arrests, and Correctional Labor: The Parliament Passed Two Laws to Combat Domestic Violence
On May 22, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine made a significant step in combating domestic violence by passing two crucial laws. The first law (Bill No. 8329) enhances the penalties for committing violence against women and domestic violence. Perpetrators of such crimes will face fines, community service, and administrative arrests. The second law (Bill No. 10420) implements the provisions of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention and Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and the Council, thereby strengthening the protection of victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Strengthening Legal Responsibility
The first bill, No. 8329, introduces stricter penalties for individuals committing domestic violence. According to the new legislation, offenders will be fined up to 70 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens, sent to community service for a period ranging from thirty to forty hours, or subjected to correctional labor for up to one month with a deduction of twenty percent of their earnings. Alternatively, they could face administrative arrest for up to ten days.
Oлена Шуляк, the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional Development, and Urban Planning, emphasized that this bill is one of the regulatory documents adopted to fulfill the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention. The Ukrainian Parliament ratified this convention nearly two years ago on June 20, 2022. The bill ensures proper investigation of violence cases and holds perpetrators accountable.
Implementing the Istanbul Convention
The second bill, No. 10420, enforces the norms of the Istanbul Convention and EU Directive 2012/29/EU. This legislation significantly strengthens the rights and protections for victims of domestic and sexual violence. As explained by Олена Шуляк, this bill is crucial for ensuring effective protection for victims, enabling rapid response from law enforcement and society.
Rights and Duties of Victims
One of the notable provisions of the new legislation is that the rights and duties of the victim come into effect immediately upon the submission of a report of an offense by the victim or another person. Importantly, the new law allows criminal cases involving minors (under 18) to be initiated without a formal complaint from the victims. Instead, cases can be launched based on information recorded in the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations, even if obtained from open sources.You may be interested in the following articles: Analysis, consultation, evaluation. legal analysis of the situation, lawyer's consultation, lawyer's consultation, analysis of documents, legal analysis of the situation, written consultation, verification of documents by a lawyer, lawyers' documents, lawyer's help online, lawyer online, legal opinion, legal opinion of a lawyer, lawyer online.
Expanding Support Infrastructure
In addition to legal measures, she highlighted the construction of shelters across Ukraine, initiated in June 2022. These shelters, including those in the Zakarpattia and Zhytomyr regions, provide free temporary accommodation for victims of domestic violence. Victims can stay in these shelters for up to three months, or up to six months if necessary, ensuring they have a safe refuge and access to essential services during their recovery.
Conclusion
The adoption of these laws represents a comprehensive approach to combating domestic violence in Ukraine. By increasing the legal consequences for perpetrators, ensuring the swift initiation of criminal cases, and expanding support infrastructure for victims, Ukraine is taking significant steps to protect vulnerable individuals and uphold their rights. These legislative measures align with international standards and underscore the country’s commitment to addressing domestic and sexual violence effectively.
