Solving the problem of domestic violence will stay among priorities in 2015-2016 for each employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Ministry will do anything to prevent violence; however in case of violence offender will bear strict punishment in compliance with the law.
I would like to express my gratitude to each police officer for their work in the past two years and call on them to intensify their efforts in the fight against domestic violence. In the mentioned period:
- Ministry not only took under control the facts of violence and dully response, but also created renewable map, which is posted on the official web-site of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and depicts each case by means of which public will monitor the scale of the number of facts of violence and response;
- We initiated legislative changes for toughening the criminal responsibility in the cases of domestic violence;
- The authorized employees were dully explained the sensitivity of the issue, moreover, the officers of the territorial organs of the MIA (policewomen and policemen staff) were trained and identified for coordinated and effective response to domestic violence. Besides the mentioned, already 500 district inspectors received the police training being held in this respect;
- The index of legal persecution of abusers has increased two times, in comparison with 2013;
- The monthly index of the use of restrictive orders has increased four times in comparison with 2013;
- In 2014 up to 2200 informative meetings were held with various public groups;
- In order to make proper response on cases of domestic violence, special hot line was launched;
- The Ministry of Internal Affairs is working over the national strategy of violence prevention with involvement of the stakeholder;
- Considering the complexity of the issue, various conditions must be ensured;
- Public must be informed in a better way regarding the negative affect of the domestic violence;
- On facts and risks of violence police should make more dully, effective and coordinated response;
- Victims should have firm guarantees and be self-confident that they will be properly protected by police in case of reporting and that abuser will bear punishment by all means;
- Women, children and elderly people who became victims of violence need better access to safe and secured shelter, as well as other services;
- Law on the illegal as well as on legal ownership of the firearm, for a person with a previous experience of violent action has toughened, considering that in the view of the international statistics the firearm ownership raise the risks of killing women 5 times in case of domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a global issue and significant challenge for contemporary, democratic society. This is why me personally and the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a whole will intensify discussions on the issues of domestic violence. We will also continue close cooperation with the office of public defender and non-governmental organizations, civil sector – issue is complex and requires involvement of all units of the civil sector.
Despite the measures and efforts spent, we believe that we’ll have to do more.
