Domestic violence is a common problem in Belarus.
According to a study conducted by UN Women:
- four out of five women aged between 18 are 60 are subjected to psychological violence in the family context;
- one in four (with varying degrees of frequency) are subjected to physical violence;
- 22.4% of women experience economic abuse;
- 13.1% are subjected to sexual violence by their husband or domestic partner.
Under the current Belarusian legislation, violence against women includes the following:
“Physical, sexual and psychological violence that occurs in the family, including beating, sexual coercion of girls in the family; violence related to dowry; rape of a wife by a husband; mutilation of female genitalia and other harmful traditional practices; extramarital violence; and exploitation”.
However, throughout 2020 and to this day, we are witnessing numerous crimes being committed against women, gross violations of their rights and freedoms against the backdrop of breaches of legislation of the Republic of Belarus.
It is the law enforcement agencies, which are supposed to guard the law, commit crimes against the peaceful population or turn a blind eye to what is happening.
Belarus Women’s Foundation is doing everything possible to make every citizen in our country, especially women, safe both at home and in public places!!