Does Lithuanian Legal Regulation ensure the Prevention of Repeated Domestic Violence?

Artimųjų smurtas yra ypatingai skaudi pasaulinio masto problema, paliečianti pačias jautriausias žmogaus vertybes. Taip yra todėl, kad įvairių formų smurtą naudoja patys artimiausi žmonės, kuriais auka labiausiai pasitiki. Deja, smurtą artimoje aplinkoje dažnai vis dar patiria moterys, o nuo to kenčia ne tik jų asmeninis gyvenimas, tačiau smurtavimas dažnu atveju paliečia ir jų vaikus bei kitus artimuosius. Nors Lietuva per nepriklausomybės laikotarpį yra padariusi akivaizdžią pažangą kuriant bei tobulinant pakartotinio smurto artimoje aplinkoje užkardymo modelį, tačiau tyrimai rodo, kad artimųjų smurtas yra vis dar dažnas reiškinys. Iš to darytina išvada, jog šios problemos išsprendimui neskiriama pakankamai dėmesio, arba kovos su juo priemonės nėra pakankamai veiksmingos. Artimųjų smurtas prieš moteris apima nusikaltimus, pažeidžiančius pačias svarbiausias žmogaus teises, tokias kaip teisė į gyvybę, sveikatą, seksualinio apsisprendimo laisvę ir neliečiamumą, taip pat teisę į nuosavybę bei turtines teises ir interesus. Tam, kad šios vertybės nebūtų pažeistos pakartotinai, t. y. smurtas artimoje aplinkoje prieš moteris nepasikartotų, LR teisėkūroje imtasi tokių priemonių: išleistas ANSAAĮ, papildytos tam tikrų BK specialiosios dalies straipsnių nuostatos, priimtos BPK pataisos bei skirtos atitinkamos civilinės teisinės priemonės, kurių visuma skirta padėti smurtą artimoje aplinkoje patyrusiai aukai išvengti galimo smurto pakartotinumo. Šio magistro baigiamojo darbo tikslas ištirti, ar Lietuvos teisinis reguliavimas užtikrina pakartotinio smurto artimoje aplinkoje užkardymą. Šiame darbe, kompleksiškai panaudojant dokumentų, statistinės analizės ir loginės-lingvistinės analizės metodus, yra nustatyta Lietuvos teisinio reguliavimo įtaka smurto artimoje aplinkoje pakartotinumo užkardymui. Atsižvelgiant į būtinumą kovoti su smurtu artimoje aplinkoje bei į tai, kokius padarinius ir žalą gali padaryti smurtas prieš artimuosius, panaudojant lyginamosios analizės metodą, atlikta Austrijos bei Vokietijos teisinių sistemų, susijusių su pakartotinio smurto artimoje aplinkoje užkardymu, analizė. Tyrimo metu nustatyta, jog veikų, susijusių su pakartotiniu smurtu artimoje aplinkoje rodikliai mažėja, tačiau artimųjų smurtas vis dar išlieka didelė problema, kurios sprendimas įtakotų darnesnės ir sąmoningesnės visuomenės vystymąsi. Dėl šių priežasčių, pagrįstai galima teigti, kad Lietuvos teisinio reguliavimo mechanizmą, susijusį su pakartotinio smurto užkardymu, yra tikslinga modernizuoti bei tobulinti. Atlikus tyrimą nustatyta ir tai, kad Austrijos bei Vokietijos valstybėse buvo pasiekti pozityvūs rezultatai pakartotinio smurto artimoje aplinkoje užkardymui, smurtautoją atskiriant nuo smurtą artimoje aplinkoje patyrusios aukos nedelsiant, tik nustačius smurto prieš artimuosius faktą bei taikant žymiai ilgesnius atskyrimo terminus. Atsižvelgiant į kai kurių Lietuvos mokslininkų atliktus tyrimus bei smurto artimoje aplinkoje užkardymo modelius pažengusiose valstybėse, nustačius smurto artimoje aplinkoje faktą, yra siūloma Lietuvos teisiniame reguliavime įteisinti Apsaugos nuo smurto orderius, kurie dar pirminiame etape efektyviai padėtų užkardyti pakartotinį artimųjų smurtą.Does Lithuanian Legal Regulation ensure the Prevention of Repeated Domestic Violence? The purpose of this Master thesis is to analyse whether the Lithuanian legal regulation ensures prevention of repeated domestic violence. The object of research is legal regulation of the Republic of Lithuania that is intended to ensure prevention of repeated domestic violence against women. The hypothesis of research is that the Lithuanian legal regulation related to prevention of repeated domestic violence is not effective enough because it is an often case that domestic violence recurs. In order to achieve the research’s purpose, the following tasks have to be implemented: to review topics of domestic violence with regard to historical and theoretical aspects; to reveal peculiarities of legal regulation of prevention of domestic violence in the Lithuanian legal system; to examine legal, social guarantees and preventive programmes used to prevent repeated violence; to analyse and compare legal regulations of Lithuania and other Member States of the European Union related to prevention of repeated domestic violence. The following methods are used as a complex to carry out this research: comparative method, method of data analysis, method of linguistic-logical analysis, and method of statistical analysis. The study found that rates of recidivism related to domestic violence are declining, but domestic violence remains a major problem, the solution to which would affect the development of a more cohesive and conscious society. For these reasons, it can be reasonably stated that it is expedient to modernize and improve the Lithuanian legal regulation mechanism related to the prevention of repeated violence. The arguments that prove research relevance and necessity of the problem’s solution are provided below. Domestic violence is one of the most painful topics in the world. It touches the most sensitive human values. This is because violence of various forms is used by the closest people, whom the victim trusts the most. It is a pity that women still suffer domestic violence, resulting in damage caused not only for their personal life but also for their children and other close persons. Although Lithuania has made an evident progress in the years of independence, but various researches show that a victim of domestic violence is in high probability of experiencing repetition of such acts. It allows presuming that in order to solve this problem, it is necessary to draw more attention to it or to search for more effective measures that would ensure prevention of repeated domestic violence. The study found that rates of recidivism related to domestic violence are declining, but domestic violence remains a major problem with solution would affect the development of a more cohesive and conscious society. For these reasons, it can be reasonably stated that it is expedient to modernize and improve the Lithuanian legal regulation mechanism related to the prevention of repeated violence. While researching whether the Lithuanian legal regulation ensures prevention of repeated domestic violence, the following was determined: (1) the fight with discrimination experienced by women not only in society but also among the close persons has been started quite recently in the world. It is stressed in the first international legal acts governing fundamental human rights that all the people are equal and any discrimination, including that of women, is forbidden. This is considered a beginning of prevention of repeated domestic violence. (2) The scientists who are researching domestic violence distinguish four forms of violence – physical, sexual, psychological and economical violence. The most frequently encountered form of violence is psychological violence, because it is often used together with other forms of violence. (3) The domestic violence violates especially important human rights, such as ownership and property rights and interests, as well as fundamental freedoms, including right of sexual self-determination and immunity, and in case of the most dangerous activities – right to health or even life that are protected not only by the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, but also by the documents of international legal power. (4) International organizations have made many efforts to create preventive measures against violence when worries about violence against women had been raised, so the most important documents of international level are the Istanbul Convention and the Directive that provide the goal to ensure protection from various forms of domestic violence and stress damage that may arise if violence is not prevented. (5) In order to ensure prevention of repeated domestic violence in Lithuania, the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence was issued, and the most essential provisions of the Directive were transferred to the Code of Criminal Procedure. The provisions of criminal law regarding liability for certain forms of domestic violence are included in the current legal system. In addition to the aforementioned evident shifts to create an institution of prevention of domestic violence, civil law contains provisions that in case of acto f domestic violence, a possibility is created to initiate a divorce procedure at the fault acto of the spouses. (6) The Austrian and German legal systems related to prevention of repeated domestic violence allow making a conclusion that use of order for protection against violence in case of acto f domestic violence may serve as an effective remedy to prevent repetition of domestic violence. With regard to good practice of the discussed countries in attempt to ensure prevention of repeated domestic violence, it is recommended in the Lithuanian legal regulation to consolidate a legal mechanism of order for protection against domestic violence.Teisės fakulteta