Violence against women is highly tolerated in Slovakia, President Zuzana Caputova stated on Thursday following her meeting with Health Minister Michal Palkovic, the Police Corps first vice-president Branko Kiss and Justice Minister Jana Dubovcova, adding that they had discussed measures to strengthen the protection of women against violence in connection with the recent murder in Dubnica nad Vahom (Trencin region).
"There are three areas where systematic steps can be taken in favour of prevention, in favour of the protection of victims of violence, especially against women, which is still a huge problem in Slovakia, including the high tolerance of violence against women. A number of statistics show that, among European countries, tolerance in public opinion is far higher than is healthy," said the president.
Caputova stated that they discussed several measures to bolster protection of women against violence. For example, they talked about standard procedures that could be adopted within weeks, perhaps in August. "To unify the procedures of experts in the case of caring for patients who may be potentially dangerous," she noted.
The head of state pointed out that the amendment to the Criminal Code, which Parliament didn't discuss eventually, contains provisions that would be appropriate for situations related to violence against women. These are, for example, detention centres, protective treatment and new institutions. According to her, it is possible to take out the provisions and push them through in a fast-tracked legislative procedure.
Source: TASR
