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Publication date: 24.05.2024
The Council Preliminarily Supported the Project on Combating Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Violence
Introduction
Domestic violence and gender-based violence remain serious problems in today's society. They have a devastating impact on victims, their families and society as a whole. In response to this, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine recently preliminarily supported an important draft law aimed at improving mechanisms for countering these forms of violence. This article will consider the main provisions of the draft law, the legal basis and the significance of its adoption for Ukrainian society.
Context and Relevance of the Problem
Statistics and Impact
According to the National Police of Ukraine, the number of cases of domestic violence remains at a high level. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of appeals to law enforcement agencies and social services. Gender-based violence is also a widespread phenomenon that requires immediate intervention and a systemic approach to address it.
International Obligations of Ukraine
Ukraine is a party to many international treaties and agreements aimed at protecting human rights and combating violence, including the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). Adoption of the new draft law will contribute to the fulfillment of these obligations.
Main Provisions of the Draft Law
The bill, previously approved by the Verkhovna Rada, contains several key provisions aimed at strengthening protections against domestic violence and gender-based violence.
1.Definition and Classification of Violence
The bill offers clear definitions of various forms of violence, including:
Physical Abuse: Any intentional act that causes physical pain or bodily harm.
Psychological abuse: Actions that cause psychological suffering, humiliation or isolation of the victim.
Economic violence: Control over financial resources, limiting access to funds or forcing financial dependence.
Sexual violence: Any unwanted sexual act or coercion.
2. Protective Measures and Mechanisms
The draft law provides for the introduction of a number of protective measures:
Urgent restraining orders: Possibility of immediate restriction of contacts with the aggressor.
Temporary restraining orders: Long-term measures that limit the aggressor's rights to contact the victim.
Permanent Restraining Orders: Permanent restrictions that can be imposed by a court.
3. Support for Victims
The project provides for the creation of a support system for victims of violence, including:
Assistance centers: Creation of specialized centers to provide psychological, legal and social assistance.
Hotlines: Organization of 24-hour hotlines for consultation and support.
Educational programs: Increasing citizens' awareness of rights and mechanisms of protection against violence.
4. Liability for Violence
The draft law strengthens responsibility for committing violence:
Criminal liability: Establishment of tougher punishments for committing various forms of violence, including increasing prison terms and introducing new articles into the Criminal Code of Ukraine.Administrative responsibility: The introduction of administrative fines and other punishments for persons who committed violence, but their actions were not serious enough to qualify as criminal offenses.
5. Prevention and Education
The bill also emphasizes the importance of preventive measures:
Educational campaigns: Implementation of national educational campaigns aimed at increasing citizens' awareness of the problem of violence and methods of its prevention.
Trainings for law enforcement officers and social workers: Conducting specialized trainings for persons who work directly with victims of violence to improve their qualifications and work efficiency.
Cooperation with public organizations: Active cooperation with non-governmental organizations dealing with the protection of the rights of victims of violence.
6. Interdepartmental Coordination
The project provides for the creation of a coordinating body that will be responsible for the implementation of state policy in the field of combating violence:
National Coordinating Center: Body that coordinates the actions of various state structures and organizations in the field of combating violence.
Regular reports and monitoring: Implementation of a system of regular reporting and monitoring of the effectiveness of measures aimed at combating violence. You may be interested in the following articles: lawyer consultation, lawyer consultation, document analysis, legal analysis of the situation, written consultation, document review by a lawyer, lawyers documents, help lawyer online, lawyer online, legal opinion, legal opinion of a lawyer, lawyer online.
Importance and Expected Consequences of the Adoption of the Draft Law
The adoption of this bill will have a significant positive impact on society and will contribute to the protection of citizens' rights.
Increasing the Protection Level of Victims
The introduction of new mechanisms for the protection and support of victims of violence will significantly increase their level of safety and well-being. Victims will be able to receive the necessary help and protection faster and more efficiently.
Reducing the Level of Violence
Strengthening responsibility for violence and introducing preventive measures will contribute to reducing the level of violence in society. Educational campaigns and trainings will help to change the public attitude to the problem of violence and increase the level of awareness among citizens.Fulfillment of International Obligations
Adoption of the draft law will contribute to Ukraine's fulfillment of international obligations in the field of human rights protection, in particular the provisions of the Istanbul Convention. This will increase Ukraine's international authority and help strengthen relations with other states and international organizations.
Increasing the Effectiveness of State Policy
The creation of a national coordination center and the implementation of a monitoring system will allow better coordination of the efforts of various state structures and organizations, which will increase the effectiveness of state policy in the field of combating violence.
Conclusion
The adoption of a new draft law on combating domestic violence and gender-based violence is an important step on the way to the protection of human rights in Ukraine. This draft law not only strengthens responsibility for committing violence, but also provides victims with the necessary support and protection. Its implementation will contribute to reducing the level of violence, increasing the awareness of citizens and fulfilling Ukraine's international obligations.
