Family violence is not an internal problem of the family

 

Impunity breeds permissiveness…

 

The family is a separate state, at the same time each member of the family is a full-fledged member of the society. The quality of upbringing, education, the level of family’s legal culture definitely affects the development of society and the state as a whole.

Why the fight against family violence should be one of the priorities of modern society?

According to Umutai Dauletova, coordinator of UNPD Gender Program, a child who grew up under pressure and violence, may continue the chain of violence in the future. “Some children are strong by nature and can withstand the challenges. However, some children cannot resist and violent behavior can be detected not only within the family, but also at work, on the street or anywhere else.

The Laws “On protection from family violence” and “On amending certain legislative acts of the Kyrgyz Republic on protection from family violence” were adopted in April 2017 with great efforts of civil society and UNDP “Widening access to justice in the KR” project support.

During the process of promoting, the law were a lot of resistance, the main argument of which was the lack of a budget for implementation.

“The conducted studies showed that in case of domestic violence the direct costs of the state for one murder amounted to 1 million 636 thousand KGS. The total costs consisted more than 2 million 800 thousand KGS. During 2012-2015, 98 homicides based on domestic violence were registered in Kyrgyzstan”, – says Larisa Ilibezova, head of the “Center of Studies Democratic Processes”, – “According to the statistic of judicial department for 2015, 1732 people were found guilty of domestic violence, 1443 of them they were in a state of intoxication at the time of the crime”.

Figures show that conducting active preventive works against family violence is more profitable for the state, than to deal with its consequences.

Novelties of the Law “On protection from family violence”

The novelties of law are: creation of a special department under the Ministry of Labor and Social Development responsible for preventing family violence; creation of a correctional program for perpetrators of domestic violence; creation of crisis centers throughout the country. In addition, introduced changes in providing protection order.

Correction program – aimed for formation of humanistic values ​​and model of non-violent behavior in the family of the person who committed violence in the family.

In Western countries, the program continues for 26 weeks and focuses on ensuring that offenders realize responsibility for their behavior and the obligation to refrain from such behavior and attitudes.

According to Umutay Dauletova, unfortunately, our country have no experience in carrying out a correctional program. It is expected that donor organizations will help in this matter. It is very useful program with involving experienced psychologists. Responsibility for conducting corrections program is given to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Ideally, crisis centers should not be

There are a number of crisis centers in the country supported by donors’ funds. They do not have the opportunity to cover whole country. Despite this, according to statistics 8 thousand people turned to crisis centers in 2016 with family violence cases. 7 thousand people turned to law enforcement bodies and 5 thousand to health authorities.

“Ideally, there should not be crisis centers. They exist because the state is not able to fully organize preventive and human rights measures for victims of domestic violence. For example, after receiving information about domestic violence, authorities such as the police, the prosecutor’s office, health care, social structures should react together and effectively. Now we are forced to create crisis centers, as far as we cannot operatively ensure the safety of domestic violence victims”, – complains Umutai Dauletova.

Men are leading

Larisa Ilibezova notes that, in most cases men are guilty for domestic violence. According to the statistics in 2015 were recorded 1732 cases of domestic violence, in 1164 of them husbands found to be guilty. Sons – 290 people, occupies the next place of committed family violence and 16 wives convicted for family violence.

Unpaid work

Women in Kyrgyzstan are involved in unpaid domestic work. Woman works during a day and work continues in the evening, you need to prepare dinner, clean house, wash clothes, do homework with children. In result woman does not have the opportunity to relax, sleep, and take care of herself. Men tend to rest at home. Of course, it would be comfortable for every person to use this free service – to eat, to live in a clean house, to watch TV. Umutai Dauletova notes that these things also considered as a kind of violence.

Violence breeds violence

Lately, the issues on awarding protection order raised very often. The process of granting a protection order conducted in two stages. The first stage is just warning. According to the law, protection order is awarded to culprit from 3 days to 1 month. Person is evicted from home if another complaint takes place. During this time, he lives with relatives and friends and must realize, change his views. If he comes home and breaks through the door, then woman calls the precinct and he is brought to isolator.

There are doubts – are protection orders able to help families solve internal problems and influence for strengthening spouses mutual relations?

Umutay Dauletova asserts that the state should intervene in cases of domestic violence and this cannot be a personal affair of the family, – “When a person receives a protection order, the perpetrator of domestic violence may become aware of his actions and will feel that his actions will not stay impunity”.

Impunity breeds permissiveness…

Permissiveness breeds lawlessness…  

Lawlessness bears the disintegration of the country.

Meri Bekeshova, communication specialist of UNDP and MFA of Finland Project

“Towards a sustainable access to justice for legal empowerment in the Kyrgyz Republic” 

14.03.2018

 

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