Plan B Forum

Putin just decriminalized domestic violence in Russia:

The new Russian law reduces battery of a relative to a civil offence instead of a criminal one in first instances, when the victim suffered no serious harm.

British Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday hit out at the new legislation, telling Parliament: 'We see this as a retrograde step by the Russian government. Repealing existing legislation sends out absolutely the wrong message on what is a global problem.'

And human rights group Amnesty International described the move as a 'sickening attempt to trivialise domestic violence'.

More here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... uises.html

Paying devils advocate here. Since it's noted as first offence only and only in cases of the admittedly vague "no major bodily harm" couldn't this encourage victims to report as it won't be "criminal" right off the bat?

No. Decriminalizing assault within the family is sickening and has no moral or practical value, except to send a message to abusers that it's no big deal and the same to the rest of society.

I say that as a person who grew up watching my father beat my mother, my siblings, and who was beaten myself.

And someone who worked many years as a DV advocate and then prosecuted abusers - and who has had at least 1000 hours of education/training in the dynamics of domestic abuse and how to advocate for victims as well as educate society.

This is a terrible thing for Russian women, children - AND men.

quite mild in comparison to many muslim countries......

oh yeah, that s just their "culture" and must be respected....

selective outrage much?

the commentary by old hank before this live performance is worth listening to.....

quite mild in comparison to many muslim countries......

oh yeah, that s just their "culture" and must be respected....

Wes, could you please show me where anyone on this board has ever said anything remotely like "that s [sic] just their "culture" and must be respected" in regards to Muslim mistreatment of women?

(He asked, knowing it would be impossible)

So now as a good little Trumpanzee, you're even defending the Putin Regime...

couldn't this encourage victims to report as it won't be "criminal" right off the bat?

I think it would more likely have the opposite affect...

For many women, finding the courage to report an abuser is a difficult process, and if they know that reporting him won't result in anything other than to piss the abuser off, it seems logical that they would be less likely to report the abuse, not more.

Exactly, LJ.

Back in the day when it was normative for cops to just show up and tell a guy to chill out, then leave, women reported far less frequently. That was also when there were no shelters or domestic violence projects to help, and most people just ignored the problem even when their friends and loved ones exhibited the bruises.

For the record, I believe we still have a long way to go, especially toward reaching out to men who are abused - because that does happen much more frequently than most people realize and the stigma is huge.

And of course I don't respect ANY culture that normalizes violence against or oppression of women and children, what a stupid thing to suggest.