Domestic violence in CR
Domestic violence. Domestic violence is defined as any abusive behavior done in an effort to gain power and control over an adult, who is in a close relationship (spouse, partner) to the perpetrator. Domestic violence against women is considered a serious problem and the fact that it is unacceptable has been declared in international law regulations which have been adopted by the Czech Republic. A research study in 2003 found that in the Czech Republic, 38% of women have some experience with different forms of violence during their lives. (Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 2003) http://www.soc.cas.cz/en/
The European Union is interested in the phenomenon of domestic violence, but there have not been any acts of secondary law declared by the EU. No measures in the field of domestic violence have been adopted which would be mandatory for member states of the EU.
No coordination of measures, which would be aimed especially at the needs of victims of domestic violence, has been ensured in the Czech Republic. The adoption of the amendment of act No.140/1961 of the Criminal Code could be considered a partial success (1.6.2004) as it included §215 a) Abuse of person living in the same residence. On 1.7.2004, through act No. 283/2004, a new duty was inserted into the Criminal Code. This new duty commands all authorities active in a criminal procedure to give sufferers or witnesses who are endangered by an accused who is at liberty an opportunity to ask for information about the accused (for example if the accused was released from prison). These partial changes were focused only on the criminological viewpoint in finding a solution for the problem of domestic violence, and did not take into account a gender view of this problem, or an interdisciplinary approach. New act 135/2006 Sb. Has been valid since January 2007. This new legislation allows police to expel the perpetrator from home for a period of 10 days. This period can be prolonged by court order maximally au to 1 year.
The Government of the Czech Republic admitted domestic violence was a form of violation of women’s human rights in a reaction to critics of the Commission of CEDAW http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/cedw.htm, by publishing the Report of the Czech Republic about the fulfilment of the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and by introducing Government Decree No. 236 from 8. 4. 1998 “Priorities and Procedures for Promoting of Gender Equality”. The task of combating violence against women becomes a part of “Priorities and Procedures for Promoting of Gender Equality” on an annual basis.
The problem of domestic violence was addressed by NGOs: ROSA, proFem, Gender Studies, La Strada and Elektra in 1995. They established a Coordinated Circle for prevention of violence against women. Other significant activity was a Campaign on violence against women by 10 NGOs in 2003 and 2004 (ROSA was a coordinator of that campaign). NGOs interested in the problem of domestic violence decided on a cooperative basis to establish a campaign for the Coalition of Organisations against Domestic Violence (KOORDONA). Another coalition of organizations is the Alliance of Domestic Violence organized by Bílý kruh bezpečí (White Circle of Safety).
