Verkhovna Rada toughened penalties for domestic violence
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the law “On Amendments to the Code on Administrative Offenses to Strengthen Responsibility for Committing Domestic Violence and Gender Violence”.
The corresponding draft law №3908-1 in the second reading was supported by 336 MPs.
“With the development of public relations, our legislation needs improvement, updating and corresponding changes. In particular, due to the fact that domestic violence ceases to be silent and to be a “private matter”, an intolerant attitude is formed to this phenomenon - our society is gradually abandoning the existing stereotypes and the behavior rooted in them. I am convinced that the adoption of this Law will contribute to the development of a society free from domestic violence,” said Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kateryna Pavlichenko.
According to the adopted amendments, Article 173-2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses provides that the commission of domestic violence, violence on the basis of sex, that is, the intentional commission of any acts (actions or inaction) of a physical, psychological or economic nature (the use of violence that did not cause bodily harm, threats, insults or harassment, deprivation of housing, food, clothing, other property or funds to which the victim is entitled by law, etc.), resulting in damage to physical or mental health the victim, as well as the failure to fulfill an urgent prohibition order by the person in respect of whom it is issued, or failure to notify the authorized units of the National Police about the place of his temporary stay in the event of such an order, entail the imposition of a fine of 10 to 20 minimum non-taxable incomes citizens (170-340 UAH) or public works for a period of 30 to 40 hours, or administrative arrest for up to ten days.
If the same actions are committed by a person who has been subject to administrative penalties for one of these violations during the year, this will entail the imposition of a fine from 20 to 40 taxable minimum incomes of citizens (340-680 UAH) or public works for a period from 40 to 60 hours, or administrative arrest for up to 15 days.
Ekaterina Pavlichenko also noted that servicemen, police officers and other law enforcement officers for committing domestic violence will be held accountable on general grounds, and not under disciplinary statutes or special provisions.
Recall, the government allocated funds to help victims of domestic violence. Yesterday, June 30, during the regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the distribution of a subvention in the amount of UAH 274.2 million from the state budget to local budgets was approved. The funds will go towards establishing a network of specialized support services for those affected by domestic and/or gender violence.
At the expense of the subvention, it is planned to create 28 shelters, 39 day centers, 58 advisory services and 40 mobile brigades to support the affected persons.
Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs presented an interactive map of assistance to victims of domestic violence.
