Over the past 3 years, more than 2,000 citizens deprived of their parental rights

In the last three years, more than 2,000 citizens have been deprived of their parental rights by the courts, with 86% of these cases involving prosecution for refusing to fulfill parental obligations. This was announced today, August 15, at the 55th plenary session of the Senate.

During the session, the Law "On the Protection of Children from All Forms of Violence" was discussed. It was reported that incidents of violence against children have been on the rise in recent years, and existing legal mechanisms are insufficient to prevent such violence and to protect the rights and legal interests of victims.

The new law aims to regulate relations concerning the protection of children from all forms of violence.

Notably, the law establishes that victims of violence can seek assistance from relevant authorities or the courts and receive free legal, economic, social, psychological, medical, and other forms of support at special centers, as well as through a free telephone hotline.

For the first time, the law introduces a new mechanism: the issuance of protection warrants for children who have suffered from violence. These protection warrants, issued by internal affairs bodies, are valid for thirty days and are handed to the victim in the presence of an authorized state body.

If the threat of violence persists, the validity period of the protection warrant can be extended by the criminal court for up to one year upon the request of the victim or their legal representative.

The law also affirms the right of victims to demand compensation for both material and moral damages.

Additionally, the law outlines the main directions of state policy in the protection of children from violence, specifies the state bodies and organizations responsible for implementing these policies, and defines their powers.

The National Agency for Social Protection is tasked with identifying children who are victims of violence or at risk of violence, keeping records of these children, and taking individual measures, where necessary, to prevent further violence.

The law further strengthens parental responsibilities. Parents are required to protect the life and health of their children, care for them, and shield them from harmful information. The physical punishment of children as a form of discipline is explicitly prohibited.

During the discussion, it was emphasized that the adoption of this law is crucial for ensuring the protection of children's rights, enhancing the legal framework for respecting their freedoms and interests, fostering intolerance toward violence against children, and ensuring the accountability of perpetrators.

The law was approved by the Senate.