Russian Federation :Main achievements in Prevention of domestic violence 6/7

1. Drafting the law on “Prevention of domestic violence”

In 2012 the Ministry of Labor and Social development established a working group within the Council on Gender issues for drafting legislation on domestic violence. A representative of a national NGO – the head of the Center ANNA - was asked to chair this working group. The legislation was drafted first by lawyers and representatives of NGOs and then by representatives of the state including the Government Commission on Public Health, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Legislative Committee of the State Parliament (Duma), Labor and Social development and other governmental agencies were cooperating in order to develop a comprehensive law. The draft law was based on best practices that exist in Russia and on the UN model legislation. The hearings on the draft law were conducted with the participation of the Office of the Higher Commissioner on Human Rights, the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, the Public Chamber of Moscow, the Moscow Duma, and the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. The draft law also went through the process of evaluation by each relevant Ministry and was supported with comments by the majority. A significant role in promoting the draft law was played by the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights that raised the issue of the necessity of adoption of the law on domestic violence in Russia by the President. On the other hand, the NGO community was able to collect over 150,000 signatures requesting the law to be adopted. Work on the draft law that is called “On prevention and response to domestic violence” was a true example of a strong collaboration of NGOs and governmental agencies with the leadership of civil society organizations.

2. Increased response from the public

• In 2012-2015 in Russia 5 non-governmental shelters were opened; most of them are partially funded by local governments. Non-governmental shelters work in Moscow, Nizhniy Novgorod, Pskov, and Vologda.
• Progressive representatives of Russian Orthodox Church are taking an active stand on the movement against domestic violence and developing an approach aimed at encouraging zero tolerance attitudes toward violence in Cristian families. Every January starting from 2011 the round table discussions on domestic violence with the participation of leading women’s NGOs are conducted within the framework of Christmas Readings. At the round table discussions the leaders of women’s NGOs present the issues of domestic violence and the ways of developing an effective response to cases of violence. The training program on domestic violence for priests was established within the Orthodox Church. They also started cooperation with the leading women’s NGOs in terms of establishing services for women. In March 2015 Center ANNA facilitated opening a shelter by the Novo-Spassky Monastery near Moscow. It can serve as a model for the Orthodox Church in order to be disseminated in the other regions, particularly in the rural areas.  
• Private companies in Russia in cooperation with Center ANNA started to provide support to non-governmental shelters both in kind and financially.  The interest of private companies to the issue of domestic violence is a new phenomenon in Russia. It demonstrates the effectiveness  of public educational campaigns on violence against women conducted by Center ANNA in cooperation with the entire women’s movement from 1997.
• New programs aimed at the involvement of men into the movements on combating violence against women are launched in different regions of Russia and contribute to gender equality. One of the best practices is “Papa-groups” that teach men to become fathers and care-givers sharing parental responsibilities with the children’s mothers. This program also includes domestic violence prevention component. Program has been developed by the men’s group in Saint Petersburg in cooperation with Center ANNA.

This report is prepared by a group of experts under leadership of “ANNA” Centre for the Prevention of Violence. The Report covers areas of concern in regards to women’s rights especially violence against women with assessment of the state system of tackling violent incidents against women, hence the emphasis in the report on the analysis of the current law and practice.

The monitoring was conducted in Russia in 2010—2015. The monitoring results do not claim to be comprehensive; however, they do provide a general assessment of the situation, identify key problems and trends, evaluate the steps taken to resolve them and analyse existing obstacles. The list of violent incidents contained in the report is neither exhaustive nor representative; however it is a vivid illustration of the nature and scope of violence committed against women in Russia.