Estonia plans to strengthen protection against domestic and psychological violence
In Estonia, the Ministry of Justice plans to supplement a draft law to implement the EU directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. The changes are intended to strengthen protection against domestic and psychological violence and provide for penalties for certain forms of digital harassment, ERR News reports.
Protection of children and cooperation between services
According to Kristina Luht, head of victim support policy at the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Code of Criminal Procedure will be amended to provide that minors will require protection in all cases of domestic violence, even if the assault was not directed at them personally.
Specialists will also have to assess the individual needs of each victim, including the need for protection and support. The law is planned to establish cooperation between victim support services, law enforcement agencies and local authorities in all domestic violence cases. Previously, such interaction was used in high-risk cases.
Changes to criminal legislation
Luht and civil society organizations expressed concern that the term “domestic violence” is currently used in Estonia only in the Victim Support Act. They believe that the Penal Code should include a separately defined offence related to domestic violence, and that psychological violence should be punishable not only alongside physical violence.
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Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta said that the current Penal Code already makes it possible to respond to cases of domestic violence, but police do not always initiate proceedings. According to her, the draft law will broaden the definition of intimate relationships: violence between former partners or violence after cohabitation has ended will also be considered intimate partner violence.
Article 121 of the Penal Code is planned to be renamed so that it covers not only physical violence but any harm to health. After the changes, psychological violence may also be punished under this provision. It is also proposed to expand the provisions on threats so that a person can be held liable if the victim experienced serious and justified fear. Penalties for physical violence are to be strengthened.
Penalties are also planned for certain forms of violence and harassment in the digital environment, including publishing sexually explicit material depicting a person without their consent or threatening to publish it.
Training for specialists
The EU directive provides for the preparation of national plans to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. It also requires preventing the re-traumatization of victims during their interaction with the assistance system. Judges, police officers and victim support service employees must undergo training on the nature of domestic violence and the needs of those affected.
