Issues of preventing domestic violence and crimes against minors were discussed at the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office

A meeting of the coordination council for combating crime and corruption was held under the chairmanship of the Prosecutor of the Vitebsk region, Vadim Sushchinsky.

On the agenda: issues of improving the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies and other prevention entities in preventing crimes and offenses that infringe on the life and health of citizens, including in the sphere of family and domestic relations, as well as crimes against sexual inviolability committed against minors, identifying children in extreme life situations, victims of crimes, cruelty and violence.

The discussion was attended by heads of structural divisions of the regional executive committee, law enforcement agencies of the Vitebsk region, as well as via video conferencing, prosecutors of cities and districts, deputy chairmen and officials of administrations, city and district executive committees, heads of territorial internal affairs bodies and the Investigative Committee.

It was noted that over 9 months of 2019, the number of murders increased by 36% (from 25 to 34). This trend is also observed in the sphere of family and domestic relations, where the number of "domestic" murders doubled (from 4 to 8).

The region also observes a rather complex criminal situation in the sphere of family and domestic relations.

An increase in crimes of the category "domestic violence" this year has been registered in the Oktyabrsky and Zheleznodorozhny districts of Vitebsk, Braslavsky, Gluboksky, Dubrovenksy and other regions.

An increase in "domestic" murders was allowed in the Pervomaysky district of Vitebsk, Dubrovenksy, Lepelsky, Miorsky, Sharkovshchinsky districts, and the city of Novopolotsk.

The relevance of the problem of domestic violence is also evidenced by the significant number of criminal cases initiated for preventive purposes, as well as the number of persons brought to justice under Part 2 of Article 9.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus for inflicting beatings and suffering in families - 3448 (2737) persons, including 22 for domestic violence against children.

The main reasons for committing the specified

crimes are the stable antisocial behavior of the offender and the victim, alcohol abuse, unemployment, family disharmony due to drunkenness and parasitism.

In the sphere of family and domestic relations, 77% of all registered crimes are committed while intoxicated.

The emerging negative trends are largely facilitated by shortcomings and omissions in the preventive work of prevention entities.

Thus, in not all regions of the oblast, subprograms No. 1 "Family and Childhood" and No. 3 "Prevention and Overcoming of Drunkenness and Alcoholism" of the State Program "People's Health and Demographic Security of the Republic of Belarus" are duly implemented (Ushachsky, Braslavsky, Beshenkovichsky and other districts).

Local authorities and social protection bodies do not always properly implement the National Action Plan for Gender Equality in the Republic of Belarus for 2017-2020, especially in terms of organizing work to provide "crisis room" services to victims of domestic violence.

Despite the data on the increase in the number of applicants and users of such facilities in 2019, prosecutors have identified facts of artificial inflation of these indicators.

The organization of work of public law and order protection points (Beshenkovichsky, Verkhnedvinsky, Vitebsky and other districts) needs qualitative improvement.

The work of the internal affairs bodies in terms of sending individuals to treatment and rehabilitation centers, initiating preventive criminal cases, applying protective orders, and restricting the legal capacity of persons whose drunkenness puts families in a difficult financial situation is subject to criticism.

The activities of housing and communal services in identifying cases of domestic violence (keeping records of apartments where persons with antisocial behavior constantly gather; visiting apartments by employees of housing and communal services, taking measures, informing internal affairs bodies) have been criticized.

Issues related to the protection of children affected by domestic violence and abuse, as well as crimes against sexual integrity, remain relevant.

For reference: in 9 months of 2019, 35 children (9 months of 2018 – 67) suffered from grave and especially grave crimes in the region, including 21 (39) minors from violent crimes against sexual integrity (Articles 166, 167 of the Criminal Code).

In 2019, young children also died as a result of violent criminal acts committed by their negligent mothers in Lepel and Beshenkovichi districts.

For 9 months of 2019, 13 offenders were prosecuted under Part 2 of Article 9.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences for domestic violence against their children; in 2018 – 20 (2017 – 11).

Out of 1066 children in socially dangerous situations, only 32 are registered due to parental abuse of their rights, including due to domestic violence.

The departmental fragmentation of prevention entities also contributes to the inadequate identification of children in socially dangerous situations due to domestic violence (50% of social investigations were conducted without the involvement of police officers, which negatively affects their quality).

The weakened state of departmental control over the work of educational institutions is noteworthy.

Educational institutions fail to inform the police about cases of minors leaving dormitories, as a result of which they are drawn into anti-social behavior (Beshenkovichi district, Vitebsk city, and others).

In this regard, the Prosecutor of Vitebsk region focused on issues of discipline in the region's schools and monitoring social networks frequented by teenagers.

The quality of establishing the causes and conditions of crimes of the categories under consideration by preliminary investigation bodies is also of significant importance.

"For the work in this direction to be effective and achieve the desired result, everyone must conscientiously fulfill their official duties," said Vadim Sushchinsky, addressing those present in the hall and studios.

By

as a result of the discussion by the coordination council, an appropriate decision was made, and specific measures were developed aimed at increasing the effectiveness of preventive activities in this area of work.

The implementation of the measures has been taken under special control.

Information Service
of the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office