IMPROVEMENT OF THE NATIONAL MECHANISM FOR RESPONDING TO CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AGAINST UKRAINIAN CITIZENS ABROAD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2195/2024/2.128-7Keywords:
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, domestic violence, gender-based violence, Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian citizens abroad, assistance to victims of violenceAbstract
Background. Social problems concerning ensuring human rights in Ukraine in general and protecting citizens from domestic and gender-based violence in particular, which have become especially urgent as a result of full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation, are highlighted. With reference to international legal acts, the need for special legal and social protection of internally displaced persons, in particular those who have left Ukraine, is substantiated.
Methods. The study is based on the method of a comprehensive systematic study of the socio-political and regulatory situation that has developed in Ukraine and the countries of temporary stay of its citizens due to the need to protect against largescale armed aggression by the Russian Federation and the need for further deployment of measures for social and legal protection of this category of citizens.
Results. The study on prevention and counteraction to domestic violence among refugees in different countries has been analyzed and summarized. A number of factors have been identified that cause the aggravation of the situation among internally displaced persons, which, in turn, requires strengthening of human rights work with this particular category of persons on the part of the subjects of prevention and counteraction to domestic violence. Particular attention is paid to the situation regarding social protection of Ukrainian citizens, who, in order to protect them from the results of full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation, were forced to leave Ukraine. The thesis on the need to strengthen the social and legal protection of the abovementioned category of persons from domestic and gender-based violence is substantiated.
Conclusions. It was emphasized that this situation limits the opportunities for Ukrainian citizens affected by domestic violence to use mechanisms available in the host country for protection and access to justice. The reasons for this restriction include the lack of proper legal knowledge, discrimination by the authorities of the host state, ignorance of the language, threats from the offender, etc. At the same time, with reference to international and national legislation, the principles of extending Ukraine's obligations to protect the human rights of its citizens abroad are highlighted. It is proved that the solution to this problem is possible by expanding the list of entities that take measures in the field of prevention and counteraction to domestic violence and gender-based violence by including foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in such a list. It was emphasized that such measures require legislative regulation, namely the introduction of appropriate amendments and additions to the laws of Ukraine "On Prevention and Counteraction to Domestic Violence" and "On Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men". The positive consequences of these legislative innovations are predicted.
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