Domestic violence can take many forms: physical, psychological, economic, and sexual violence. The perpetrator can be not only one of the spouses, but also other family members or relatives - children, grandchildren, parents.
Domestic violence differs from domestic conflict in that it is regular, the perpetrator's actions are intentional and aimed at causing pain, control, etc.
Signs of domestic violence
It is probably domestic violence if:
- You are constantly criticized, accused, or condemned for any of your actions, insulted, humiliated, threatened, or intimidated, the abuser forbids you from expressing your own opinion or communicating with other people, your words are twisted, and your weaknesses are used against you - these are signs of psychological violence.
- You are systematically beaten or pushed, threatened with death, deprived of food, sleep, medicine, rest, not allowed to go outside or not allowed home - these are signs of physical violence.
- Forbidding you from spending your money or using your property, threatening to take or taking your money or property, controlling what and how much you eat, buy, etc. are signs of economic abuse.
Offenders can be held accountable
A person who commits domestic violence faces administrative to criminal liability, depending on the situation — from a fine and community service to imprisonment.
In addition, there are additional measures of influence:
- an urgent restraining order: obliges the abuser to leave your place of residence and prohibits him from returning there or contacting you in any way. This order is issued by the police if the health or life of the victim is in danger. It is valid for up to 10 days;
- Restraining order: prohibits staying in the same place of residence with you and coming within a certain distance of your place of residence, study, work, etc., as well as contacting and searching for you in any way, etc. The decision to apply the specified order is made by the court if it is provided with sufficient grounds and evidence for this. The term of validity is up to 6 months and can be extended for a maximum of 6 more months.
How to get help
The first thing you need to do to bring the perpetrator to justice is to contact the police.
Next, it is worth contacting lawyers from the free legal aid system for professional support - this is free of charge and guaranteed by the Law of Ukraine "On Free Legal Aid".
All victims of domestic violence are entitled to services from the BPD system, including:
- legal advice on your rights and how to hold the perpetrator accountable;
- clarification of what evidence is needed and how to collect it;
- assistance with applying to the court for a restraining order or other issues for protection from violence, representation of interests in court.
All ways to obtain legal assistance are listed on the BPD system website: https://legalaid.gov.ua/kliyentam/yak-otrymaty-bpd/
Real stories of how the BPD system helps
He abused alcohol and was abusive: his son was forbidden to approach his mother
Ms. Svitlana lives with her adult son in their shared apartment. Her husband does not work anywhere and lives off his mother, who is disabled and receives a pension.
The son has been abusing alcohol for a long time and is aggressive towards his mother: insulting, intimidating, threatening with physical violence. Ms. Svitlana has repeatedly contacted the police, after which the perpetrator was brought to administrative responsibility. However, neither this, nor the urgent restraining orders issued to the husband and even the opening of criminal proceedings on the fact of domestic violence, had any effect on the husband.
«"Recently, my son has started bringing drunk people I don't know home, who behave inappropriately and allow themselves to speak indecent words to me. Later, my son brought an unknown woman with a child to live in our apartment, who also constantly abuses me," notes Ms. Svitlana.
And since the woman moves around in a wheelchair, she cannot physically find shelter from domestic violence from her son, as she is limited in her mobility and cannot leave her place of residence.
At one point, Ms. Svitlana realized that she couldn't take it anymore, so she turned to the BPD system for help.
Having studied the circumstances of the case, the lawyer filed an application with the court for the issuance of a restraining order and provided as evidence court decisions on bringing to administrative responsibility, urgent prohibitory orders, and a certificate of the woman's disability.
The court issued a restraining order for a period of 6 months, prohibiting the husband from being in the same place of residence as Ms. Svitlana and from approaching her at a distance closer than 300 m, from searching for her, and from contacting her in any way.
Restraining order issued to daughter who terrorized mother
Ms. Olga's everyday life was filled with obscene language, threats of physical violence, and constant bullying from her own daughter. In this regard, the woman repeatedly contacted the police, resulting in several administrative reports being filed, which did not help stop the domestic violence in the family.
In desperation, she turned to the lawyers of the BPD system.
From the woman's words, the lawyers learned that her daughter often abuses alcohol, and then, while intoxicated, systematically commits domestic violence. She not only insults and tries to intimidate her mother, but also often beats her and kicks her out of her own apartment.
The woman has another home and asked her daughter to move there and leave her alone. However, the daughter did not move and continued to abuse her.
The deputy head of the free legal aid department provided legal assistance to a victim of domestic violence.
She clarified the circumstances of the case: three resolutions on bringing the daughter-abuser to administrative responsibility, which confirm the fact of systematic bullying, did not change Ms. Olga's life situation.
Then, having agreed on a legal position with the client, she filed an application with the court for the issuance of a restraining order, collected evidence, including an extract from the register of the territorial community, a copy of the certificate of the association of co-owners of the apartment building, a certificate from the family doctor, and later represented the client's interests in court.
The court ruled in favor of Ms. Olga and issued a restraining order against the abusive daughter - she must move out of her mother's apartment.
Son banned from approaching and communicating with mother due to domestic violence
Galina lives with her adult son. He often abuses alcohol while intoxicated and systematically commits domestic violence: insults, humiliates, beats her, and demands money - these are signs of psychological, physical, and economic violence.
Halyna repeatedly contacted the police, but the violence continued. In desperation, she turned to the legal aid office. A lawyer who cooperates with the BPD system was appointed to represent Halyna's interests in court.
She spoke with the client, collected evidence in the case, and applied to the court for a restraining order against the abuser.
The court reviewed the case materials and issued a restraining order against Galina's son for a period of 6 months. Now the man is prohibited from approaching closer than 50 m to the mother's places of residence, work or frequent stay, from being in their place of residence, from stalking or contacting her in any way.