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Poland steps up protection against domestic violence: justice minister

07.12.2022 09:30
The Polish justice minister has said his country has one of Europe’s best systems of protection against domestic violence.
Polands Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro holds a news conference in Warsaw on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
Poland's Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro holds a news conference in Warsaw on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.PAP/Tomasz Gzell

Zbigniew Ziobro made the statement at a news conference in Warsaw on Tuesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported. 

Outlining new guidelines for prosecutors dealing with cases of domestic violence, Ziobro said that, thanks to new regulations, “Poland is among a small number of European countries that guarantee the highest standard of protection against domestic violence, mainly to women and children.”

He added that the new Polish rules "improved the situation of victims of domestic violence by light years,” for example by cutting "the time needed to evict the perpetrator from the house from around six months to around an hour.“

Ziobro told reporters: “These policies have revolutionised real protection of women and children subjected to domestic violence in our country.” 

Eviction notice, restraining order

Under Poland’s domestic violence laws adopted nearly two years ago, an eviction notice and restraining order may be issued by the police.

Previously, victims had to wait for a decision by a court, which was the only institution with the powers to evict the perpetrator of domestic violence, the PAP news agency reported.  

Moreover, lawmakers last week modified regulations to further strengthen protection of victims of family violence, according to officials.

For instance, police have been given powers to ban a perpetrator of domestic violence from approaching the victim, contacting them by phone and electronic communication devices, as well as from entering specific areas, such as the victim’s workplace, the PAP news agency reported. 

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, gazetaprawna.pl