ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - During Friday's debate on a bill on protection against domestic violence, parliamentary deputies demanded prison sentences as appropriate punishment for abusers. They voiced doubt that fines were adequate
punishment for abusers.
ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - During Friday's debate on a bill on
protection against domestic violence, parliamentary deputies
demanded prison sentences as appropriate punishment for abusers.
They voiced doubt that fines were adequate punishment for abusers.
#L#
Several benches requested that domestic violence be defined more
precisely so that one could avoid ordinary parental supervision
being treated as abuse.
The MPs warned that the increase of domestic violence, along with
the growing unemployment, alcohol abuse etc., was one of the
consequences of the war. Nevertheless, they remarked that violence
was also present among the wealthy and famous.
The MPs presented data from the Interior Ministry on the discovery
of domestic violence. According to the data, around 13,500 abusers
were reported to the police between 1997 and 1999, while in the past
three years this number increased to more than 25,500.
Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic accepted some
suggestions by the MPs, including the one on the need for a more
precise definition of measures for the protection of the victims of
domestic violence.
A special training course for judges in charge of domestic violence
cases will be held next month with the aim of speeding up trials and
making the punishment of abusers more efficient.
Anticevic Marinovic called on the public to demonstrate more trust
in the judiciary or rather leave it up to judges to decide when an
abuser will be punished with fines and when with imprisonment.
The Sabor ended this week's sitting and will continue with its work
next Wednesday.
(hina) sp rml sb