WUNRN
Armenia, Belarus, Ukraine - Ominous Silence About
Domestic Violence
By Kester Kenn Klomegah
|
MOSCOW,
Apr 22 (IPS) - Over a quarter of Armenian women have been hit or beaten by a
family member and about two thirds have experienced psychological abuse, yet
the state grossly fails to prevent, investigate and punish domestic violence,
say researchers and rights activists.
Levels of
violence against women are roughly the same everywhere in the ex-Soviet
countries, they add.
"During
my research on domestic violence in
"In
Ukraine and
Ara Sanjian,
a director of the
"I
believe there should be a more stringent law to punish extreme cases. However,
it is more important to raise awareness of this issue, not only among women,
but also among men," she points out, adding: "I have met educated
women in Armenia, who see a western plot when matters involving the privacy of
an Armenian family like incest, family violence, and particularly the use of
contraception, are raised."
McGill
explains: "In one case, I spoke to a chief of police in the Vinnytsya
region in Belarus, who informed me that the concept of victim behaviour was
important, because if women were to alter their behaviour, and for instance,
ensure that the house was tidy and dinner was on the table when the men came
home, the men would no longer find it necessary to beat them."
"Victim
behaviour" was deleted from the law after AI launched a campaign.
Laws to
protect victims of domestic violence are notoriously difficult to legislate.
Nearly everywhere in the ex-Soviet countries, lawmakers are very reluctant to
discuss the problem.
A women’s
organisation Doverie (which means trust), a centre for social, psychological
and legal assistance in Orsha Vitebsk region in
Everywhere
the police are reluctant to deal with cases of domestic violence, and often
fail to respond adequately, or impose either minimal sentences or fines for
domestic abuse. As a punishment, fines are counterproductive. It punishes the
whole family by taking money out of the family budget.
There is an
ominous silence about violence against women by their husbands and partners.
Most ex-Soviet countries are parties to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
In
"One of
the biggest problems is that women themselves do not come forward, they are
ashamed to admit that they are victims and they fear repercussions from their
families and abusive partners; they also have financial barriers, they cannot
afford to move out and often, even if they divorce, they end up living in the same
flat as the abuser and continue to be victimised," McGill said.
"
The Armenian
Ministry of Family and Youth runs a network of over 200 crisis centers
throughout the country that offer counseling and legal support to women.
However, the actual quality of the support offered differs according to the
level of expertise of the staff, and there are no state run shelters. The
enormous restrictions faced by NGOs in
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