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United Civic Party pushing for new laws governing gender equality, fight against domestic abuse

The United Civic Party (UCP) is pushing for new laws governing gender equality and fight against domestic abuse, Deputy Chairwoman Antanina Kavalyova told reporters in Minsk on December 26.

In 2012, the UCP was among several parties and NGOs that signed the National Gender Platform, a strategic document outlining areas where improvements have to be made by the government and civil society for the purpose of ensuring gender equality, said the politician.

The opposition party has already sent a proposed law against domestic violence to the interior ministry and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. According to Ms. Kavalyova, some of the draft law's provisions have since been included by the interior ministry in a law governing crime prevention.

The UCP proposes the introduction of restraining orders and psychological counseling for domestic abusers, said Ms. Kavalyova.

Speaking at the news conference, UCP Chairman Anatol Lyabedzka linked the party's interest in the subject to the fact that there are many women among supporters of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. "We believe that politicians are wrong to ignore the subject. We are very flexible here, we are ready to cooperate with government representatives where it yields a result in some areas," he said. //BelaPAN