On March the 26th a round table on the mechanisms of assistance to the victims of domestic violence was held in Minsk with the participation of the Belarusian Orthodox Church (BOC), the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) in Belarus and the State Institutions of the Republic of Belarus.

The meeting was organized under support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Belarus. Exchange of experience in the field of practical response mechanisms on the cases of domestic violence, as well as the resume of the dialogue on improving the regulatory framework was outlined as the main meeting goals.

Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Belarusian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus took an active part in the event.

According to the data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, around 120,000 complaints on cases of domestic violence received annually by the internal affairs bodies. In 2018 the number of citizens held to administrative liability for domestic violence amounted to around 50.000; 2,208 citizens were  prosecuted. 91 persons died following domestic violence.

During the round table critical block of issues was discussed, including the question of the legal basis for countering domestic violence, mechanisms of responce  within the framework of intersectorial interaction, the experience of the Belarusian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus

The following mutual statement has been agreed upon:

Representatives and experts of religious organizations unanimously confirmed their deep concern about the problem and dynamics of the increase in cases of violence, according to the data presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs,

and expressed their readiness for a dialogue on both theoretical issues and practical aspects of organizing joint efforts to prevent and respond to cases of domestic violence.

The BOC and the RCC are ready to provide constructive, elaborated and substantiated proposals for improving cooperation in the field of combating domestic violence.

In turn, the Ministry of the Interior expressed its readiness to discuss and harmonize proposals and initiatives received in working order, stressing the need for a professional approach and holding preliminary discussion with stakeholders engaged.

It is expected that the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church will propose the format of such proposals and the joint work will continue.