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The cost of domestic violence in Belarus

From January till March 2008 Young Women Christian Association of Belarus conducted a social-economic overview “The cost of domestic violence in Belarus”. This research was pilot (explorative), based on the international experience.

The research was made in frames of the international campaign “Rights and roses: women’s rights violations as causes and consequences of trafficking in women” dated for the 8^th of March. The international campaign was initiated by the European network against trafficking in human beings “La Strada”. In Belarus the campaign is titled “Women’s rights and nice words”.

The main aim of the research was to measure the economical impact of domestic violence, executed by women’s intimate partner (husband or ex-husband, boyfriend)

The definition of domestic violence used in the research was taken from the World Health Organization” any act of violence by intimate partner that results in physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to the other partner. This behavior encompasses

·        Acts of physical violence, such as slapping, beating, kicking

·        Mental violence – threatening and constant humiliation

·        Forced sex and other forms of sexual violence

·        Different forms of controlling behavior, for instance, isolation from family and friends, control over actions and limiting access to assistance and information”.

Main outcomes of the research

1. The cost of domestic violence in Belarus is 2 416 385 752  Belarusian rubles, the equivalent of USD 1 125 471. The calculation was made only counting officially registered 2734 cases of family violence in 2006.

2. The total direct costs born by victim and state for one case of domestic violence are Br 883 828. A woman-victim of domestic violence bears the costs of Br 155 000 in single case of domestic violence. The direct costs born by the state in single case of domestic violence are Br 728 828.

There are several types of long-term and short-term costs. The first type includes direct costs for the maintenance of the services, that are used in situation of domestic violence. The second type of costs is indirect costs of lost income as a result of injury. The third one is costs of human suffering and pain. 

3.Only direct costs were counted in frames of this research. The indirect costs were not counted due to objective limitations. Thus, the calculation of the damage is incomplete and understated, reflecting only the damage done to the officially registered number of women-victims of violence (2734 persons).

4. One of the major difficulties in estimation of the economic damage of domestic violence is to measure the consequences of psychological trauma. In some cases the trauma effect might decrease with time provided that victims get assistance of qualified specialists (psychologists, counselors and so on), in other cases in might increase and aggravate, up till psychosomatic diseases, suicide attempts or death.

5. The direct costs born by Belarusian women-victims of violence are 4.7 times lower than those born by the state institutions. In this research it is explained by the different types of costs, but not by the actually bigger costs born by the state. If deeper research is organized it is possible to make a assumption, that in reality the state is bearing smaller costs comparing to victims of violence, as the latter are afraid of publicity and prefer to suffer their family drama alone, without asking for help in health care, social services, police and judicial system.   внутренних дел и судебные инстанции.

Major recommendations

1. Adoption of the Law against domestic violence.

Draft law on prevention and suppression of domestic violence, based on the model UN legislation was written in 2002, approved by the Ministry of Interior of Belarus and sent to the Parliament for discussion, but still not adopted. This document contains preventive and protective measures, such as restrictions –official warnings and prohibitions for the aggressor, as well as protective measures – personal security warrants. The draft also appeals to provide victims of violence with access to shelters. Provided some additional improvements are made, the adoption of the Law will allow to make a clear juridical assessment of the acts of violence in family relationships and provide and adequate protection for the victims and their family members.   Moreover, the documents will facilitate the improvement of the collection of statistical data on the issue, taking into account the gender and family relationships of aggressors and their victims. The effective implementation of the Law requires proper financial support..

2. Creation of the national toll-free hotline for women-victims of domestic violence.. Hotline operation will provide the victims of domestic violence in Belarus with immediate assistance and refer them to the specialized state and non-state institutions. Moreover, the statistics of the calls, and their character will allow proper assessment of the scale of domestic violence on the national level and help to define adequate strategies of prevention and assistance.