It is easier to provide an explanation for natural disasters than for domestic violence, Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog stated at an open day on domestic violence, organised by Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights, Minority, Civic and Religious Affairs and the Constitutional, Judicial and Procedural Committee, that took place in the Parliament Building.

In his opening speech, Minister Balog called every form of domestic violence unacceptable and stated that the Government is committed to creating a clear legal environment. He highlighted that following a public initiative, political consensus was formed on this issue and the proposal on the amendment of the Penal Code will soon be presented for public debate. The document has been drafted by the Codification Workgroup, set up under the direction of Minister Zoltán Balog on 21 September 2012, for the regulation of domestic violence between people in cohabitation within the Penal Code.

The Minister also noted in his speech, that women, the elderly and children suffer the most violence not on the streets, but in their homes, coming from those who live with them, which can cause physical as well as emotional pain. He also emphasised that in 2011 there were 6405 cases of domestic violence and underlined that mothers should be saved from situations that endanger their lives.

The Minister stated that for victims of these types of crime, 14 crisis centres, a temporary shelter for the protection of the victims of human trafficking and other types of shelters are available in Hungary, with the help of government funding. He recalled that in 2011, 843 people applied for a place in crisis centres, two thirds of whom were mothers fleeing with their children. These institutions aim to provide special services to victims of domestic abuse who are in a situation which the social or child protection system or the victims’ natural support system cannot deal with. The centres represent a complex approach, aiming to provide physical services: expert help (legal advice, psychologists, social workers), represent the victims’ interests through instruments of social work and are also in contact with temporary accommodation points for families.

(Ministry of Human Resources)