Activists called on Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the State Duma, to shelve a bill softening penalties on domestic violence, but the committee approved the amendment, and first offenders can be punished only with administrative fines.
The Russian State Duma should act on the principles underlying One World under One Set of Laws, recognizing that international law takes precedence over domestic law. In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children should be protected from all forms of violence. International public laws should be brought to bear to pressure the Duma to backtrack on this legislation. See the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.
