Liberal International, 02.02.2017
Chair of LI Human Rights Committee and LI Vice-President on the Bureau Markus Loening has spoken out over news that Russia’s Federal Council (the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament) has passed a bill decriminalizing domestic violence, calling on President Vladimir Putin not to sign the bill into legislation.

Emphasizing that any form of domestic violence is entirely outrageous, Vice-President Loening said: “Domestic violence is unacceptable under all circumstances. All across the world children and women are suffering beatings by family members. Real men don’t beat their wives or children but protect them from any sort of violence. I call on President Putin not to sign the law. If codified this legislation will serve to further weaken an already deteriorating situation with human rights on the ground in Russia.”

Loening has also offered his full support to the actions currently being undertaken by Yabloko (LI full-member) to oppose the law and urged Putin to adhere to his international obligations. “I further join Yabloko’s leadership and urge President Putin to adhere to Russia’s international obligations under the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As a champion in the fight against domestic violence pioneered through LI Human Rights Committee’s Campaign on the globalization of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, Liberal International will continue to stand side by side those who have been victims of domestic violence and who have been denied justice.”

A statement released by the leader of Yabloko Emilia Slabunova on her Facebook page has slammed the bill and has called on the Russian Duma (Parliament) to adopt a special law on liability for domestic violence, as well as create an efficient state mechanism for the prevention of domestic violence, assistance and rehabilitation of victims.

The Chair of Yabloko’s Gender Faction Galina Mikhaleva has further characterized the law as a return to “patriarchal despotism” and “a permit to act in a family in accordance with the slogan ”beating your wife is a sign of love”. In an effort to raise awareness the Gender Faction has organized a flash mob on social media against decriminalization of domestic violence urging supporters to tweet/share pictures of themselves holding a sign which reads #ЯПротивЗаконаОДекриминализацииСемейногоНасилия (#I am against domestic violence).
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