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Domestic Violence No Longer A Major Crime In Russia

Russia has recently decriminalised domestic violence. Assaulting a family member can only lead one to spend 15 days in jail or a fine of 500 dollars. The clause to this being, 'as long as it doesn't cause substantial bodily harm' or happen more than 'once a year'.

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Amrita Paul
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Taking a regressive step, Russia has recently decriminalised domestic violence. Assaulting a family member can only lead one to spend 15 days in jail or a fine of 500 dollars. The clause to this being, 'as long as it doesn't cause substantial bodily harm' or happen more than 'once a year'.

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Women in Russia are visibly frustrated and agonised by the decision as it effectively lets perpetrators get away with almost no consequences.

One Russian woman called it a 'catastrophic mistake' which will keep more and more women from reporting incidents of domestic violence

Society anyway doesn't hold a favourable view of those who choose to 'wash their dirty linen in public' and if a man beats his wife, he does so because he 'loves' her and it was probably her 'fault' anyway. A whopping 380 out of 383 people in the Russian Parliament voted in favour of this amendment because they want parents to be able to discipline their children without having the state meddling in their affairs.

A staggering number of 36,000 women are beaten by their partners every single day while 26,000 children are physically reprimanded by their parents every year

According to statistics provided by the Russian Interior Ministry, 40 per cent of all violent crimes happens within families. A staggering number of 36,000 women are beaten by their partners every single day while 26,000 children are physically reprimanded by their parents every year. This insensitive decision by policy makers would allow more women and children to be abused in the so-called safety of their own homes. And it would entitle more people to hit their family members with almost nothing at stake.

It does no government any good to cling on to age-old societal norms instead of upholding the rights and safety of a considerable amount of its population at constant risk of being violently abused. And they are unable to speak up about it anticipating victim-shaming and even more severe consequences.

Read More by Amrita Paul

Domestic Violence Russia
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