Download Subtitles for Documentary Series: Justice for Women

[Music] flora lucka and ariana lucka from albania married in 2010 and had two children facing economic duress they began arguing mr lecka made violent threats after those erupted in violent actions mrs lucka reported him to the police the court issued an immediate protection order for mrs lucka for 12 months less than one month later mr lucka killed his wife how did this happen how did the system fail mrs lucka because the police never received the protection order and were not there to protect her because the social services office did not receive the order and did not follow up because no one notified the local coordinator against domestic violence institutions that should have protected mrs lecka failed to coordinate and communicate on her case they failed to follow legal procedures for domestic violence how can we prevent tragedies like this ensure a better coordination among institutions to protect survivors make it compulsory training for police officers to assess risks require mandatory training for judges and prosecutors on laws to protect against domestic violence establish emergency teams of specialists to evaluate and manage risks guarantee obligatory and timely outreach to survivors on case status [Music] the six children of mirella kushta and aryan kushta from albania witnessed their drunk father repeatedly abusing them and their mother after the children called the police all family members were immediately escorted to the police station but mrs kushta and her children refused to report mr kushta for domestic violence or request a protection order mr kushta was detained for a few hours six months later he killed his wife how did this happen how did the system fail mrs kusta because the police did not assess the risks despite evidence of psychological violence and alcohol abuse because the police did not continuously monitor the case because the case was not reported to the referral mechanism to help survivors get support because the survivors of violence under the threat did not report it because the police without a report could not file a case how can we prevent tragedies like this require mandatory training for police on assessing and managing risks amend the criminal code to criminalize psychological violence establishing emergency teams of field specialists to evaluate and manage risks ensure a better coordination and communication among institutions providing protection from violence annis became psychologically and physically violent with his wife indira as soon as they married after a year of insults blackmail and constant attempts to control her behavior indira initiated a divorce anas begged indira to come back he promised he would change indira became pregnant but the harassment and violence persisted afraid for their child andera reported the abuse for years aness used child custody visits to hurt andera the stress psychologically harmed their daughter how did this happen how did the system fail indira because social workers assigned to the case rarely attended child custody visits because nothing was done about repeated violence in front of the child despite video evidence because the center for social work showed bias and prejudice towards indira because civil and criminal procedures took an unreasonably long time because the courts prioritized anes's right to see his daughter over protecting her and indira how can we prevent tragedies like this ensure timely and coordinated actions by social workers the police and the judiciary provide gender sensitive training for social workers to prevent harmful biases require mandatory training for judges and prosecutors on laws against domestic violence take into account all circumstances in a case such as repeated violence in front of a child [Music] one afternoon alina returned home to find a stack of firewood outside her door a gift from her former partner when she lit a fire a few days later the wood exploded her former partner had hidden an m52 hand grenade inside alina survived but with devastating physical and psychological injuries she was forced to take out a loan to cover her medical costs since she received no compensation from the perpetrator and didn't qualify for free legal aid despite a below average salary the perpetrator was convicted but since his eight-year sentence was postponed nearly every day he drives by the bus station where alina waits staring at her from his car how did this happen how did the system fail alina because she was never informed that she could file for compensation from the perpetrator because lawyers were not knowledgeable about best practices for cases of violence against women because protective measures were not taken to stop the perpetrator from harassing alina because the state does not offer integrated services shielding victims from financial hardship how can we prevent tragedies like this develop individual plans for protection and support for every woman survivor secure adequate and continuous financing for integrated services for victims at low or no cost require mandatory training on responding to violence against women for everyone in the system of protection amend laws to make quality specialized support services and free legal aid available to all women survivors [Music] after ten years together fatima filed to end her extramarital union with baseem she took their daughter and went to live with her parents after basin began constantly threatening her fatime requested an emergency protection order three weeks later baseem killed fatime in the center of pristina he has never been brought to justice and his parents were given custody of the child how did this happen how did the system fail fatime because the court did not issue the protection order within 24 hours as required by law because when fatima died three weeks after she requested the order it had still not been issued because as affirmed by the kosovo constitutional court judicial institutions violated fatima's right to life because the center for social work did not enforce visitation rights for fatima's parents to see their granddaughter how can we prevent tragedies like this appoint more judges specialized in criminal proceedings related to domestic violence issue emergency protection orders within the time required by law take consistent sufficient disciplinary action against professionals who fail to follow the law on domestic [Music] violence her wedding night eminee began bleeding heavily from the violent sexual abuse of her new husband instead of bringing her to a hospital her husband took her to a religious leader who gave her traditional remedies amina's condition worsened three days later she died her husband never charged with rape or domestic violence was sentenced to just two years in prison how did this happen how did the system fail eminem because the prosecution charged eminee's husband with a violation of family obligations not sexual and domestic violence because the lesser charge only came with a two-year sentence because at the time kosovo's criminal code did not include a clear definition of marital rape because eminee's husband acquitted in his first trial was only found guilty eight years after her death how can we prevent tragedies like this sanctioned professionals who mismanage cases of violence against women appoint more judges specialized in domestic violence cases require mandatory training on gender sensitivity and case management for all professionals involved in preventing and prosecuting domestic violence the first time andre was physically violent towards his wife maria was during her pregnancy for the rest of their four-year marriage he constantly abused her after she took their child and left he threatened to hurt her and kidnapped the child maria reported him to the police multiple times filed several requests for protection orders and started divorce proceedings despite significant video and text evidence of the abuse andrea's visitation rights were never revoked the stalking and threats continued for years how did this happen how did the system fail maria and her child because maria was referred to mediation during the divorce procedure despite her reports of domestic violence because the police only issued a verbal warning after andrei threatened to kidnap their child because the court failed to enforce protection orders when andre evaded court summons because the law sets extremely low punishments for domestic violence how can we prevent tragedies like this harmonize national policies with the instant bull convention and the european union directive on victims make it mandatory to work with perpetrators in the law on protection from domestic violence prohibit mediation by judges in domestic violence cases consistently apply the family law to revoke or limit the child visitation and custody rights of violent parents [Music] and pettar were married for 22 years and had four children after pettar became violent with his wife and children zoritza requested a protection order and his removal from their home yet she never received word from the court on these measures after pettar was charged with a misdemeanor he spent only 50 days in jail and then the violence and harassment continued when he was convicted a second time despite a criminal record and history of violence the judge gave him only two months in prison less than the legal minimum how did this happen how did the system fail zoritza and her children because the court failed to return a timely decision on the protective measures because the prosecution did not acknowledge ptar's criminal history and illegal possession of firearms although reported by the victim because the two-month prison sentence was below the legal minimum because zoritza was not made aware of her rights or services like free legal aid how can we prevent tragedies like this make the rights of survivors central to all measures for all forms of violence against women legally distinguish between misdemeanor and criminal liabilities in domestic violence cases take into account the perpetrator's history of violence during sentencing and in issuing protection orders follow the law in managing cases of domestic violence for over five years even was physically and psychologically violent with his spouse anna anna reported the violence to the police and ivan was issued a misdemeanor fine for violating public order and peace the police took no other steps to ensure anna's safety even continued to be violent with his spouse because of her disappointing experience with the police anna sought the help of an organization that works with survivors of domestic violence how did this happen how did the system fail anna because the police did not follow the mandatory legal procedures for cases of domestic violence because the violent incident was treated as a violation of public order rather than domestic violence because the law stipulates a fine for officials who failed to properly report domestic violence but this is rarely enforced because the survivor was not informed by the police or the center for social work about the services that were available to her because the survivor was only provided with protection with the help of a civil society organization how can we prevent tragedies like this establish and fund safe houses for domestic violence survivors in accordance with international standards introduce the confidants or persons of trust to provide survivors with information about their rights and legal procedures require mandatory training for professionals on handling cases of violence against women sanctioned professionals who mismanage cases of violence against women jovana ended her five-month relationship with luca after he became violent with her for the next two years luca continued to harass threaten and physically and psychologically abuse jovana jovana reported this behavior to the police and center for social work more than 20 times but neither institution took any steps to prosecute luca or protect yovana legal action only began after jovana took the case to a local organization that assists victims of domestic violence who advocated on her behalf how did this happen how did the system fail yovana because the police did not file an official report for any of the more than 20 incidents of violence that jovana reported because neither the police nor the center for social work issued any temporary protection measures because jovana was not given any information about her rights the legal procedures she could initiate or the services available to her because once the charges were filed the entire procedure lasted seven months which is far longer than the deadline set in the law how can we prevent tragedies like this require mandatory training for police officers social workers and public prosecutors on their legal obligations in managing cases of domestic violence ensure that police reports are filed consistently and immediately in accordance with the law hold officials accountable who do not follow legal procedures and mismanage cases of domestic violence [Music] during their marriage mrs nikolic suffered repeated domestic violence at the hands of her spouse she reported the violence to the center for social work they said it was a family dispute and conducted mediation the violence continued the police intervened 65 times during their marriage but they usually suggested that mrs nikolich should behave properly mrs nikolich decided to file for divorce and for custody of their three daughters she also filed for a protection order on grounds of domestic violence but mr nikolic was only charged with psychological violence which is rarely punished three years later the court rejected all criminal charges against mr nikolic he was granted custody of two of their three daughters how did this happen how did the system fail mrs nikolic because the center for social work classified the case as a family dispute rather than domestic violence because the police failed to identify mr nikolic as the primary aggressor because the prosecutor only filed one criminal charge of psychological violence against mr nikolich and none for physical violence because the children were never recognized or protected as potential victims of violence because the court did not consider parental alienation by mr nikolic as abuse despite clinical expertise showing otherwise how can we prevent tragedies like this require mandatory training on gender sensitivity and working with survivors of violence for all professionals recognize psychological violence as a severe and damaging form of domestic violence require additional training for police officers to properly understand the psychological aspects of violence when assessing risk follow strict procedures when responding to any allegation of domestic violence petra was in a relationship with vladimir who was often jealous after vladimir became violent with her petra immediately reported the violence to the police who undertook a risk assessment and issued a 30-day emergency barring order vladimir violated the order and was sentenced to 14 days in jail a few days after his release vladimir stabbed petra to death at a football stadium the story became a sensationalized news item the media portrayed petra as unfaithful and responsible for her own death how did this happen how did the system fail her because the police did not revise the risk assessment when the perpetrator left jail because the center for social work did not react sooner when petra reported violence although vladimir had a history of violent behavior towards his grandmother because institutions blamed the victim for her death because she chose to meet him despite the responsibility to make her aware of the risks because the media sensationalized the perpetrator's claim that she had been unfaithful blaming her for her own death how can we prevent tragedies like this choir training for professionals to counter stereotypes and develop necessary skills to deal with domestic violence cases sanctioned professionals who mismanage cases of domestic violence develop individual plans for protection and support for every victim make it mandatory the risk assessment at different stages of procedures to prevent the violation of urgent protective measures during their marriage mr mert physically and psychologically abused mrs yamur and their children mr mert even tried to burn her to death she reported him to the police several times mrs yamur left her husband and went to court to file for divorce she received a protection order against him two months later mr merch stabbed her to death in front of their children how did this happen how did the system fail mrs yamur and her children because turkey has yet to specifically criminalize domestic violence against women as outlined in the istanbul convention because mrs yamur and her children were forced to leave their home not the alleged perpetrator because the mrs yamur was not told she could receive financial support or safe accommodation because perpetrators do not face serious consequences when they violate protection orders how can we prevent tragedies like this align turkish criminal legislation with the requirements of the istanbul convention make shelters accessible and available for all survivors of violence as well as for their children appoint gender-sensitive and experienced female staff in law enforcement agencies require regular training within police units on legal arrangements regarding violence against women sanctioned professionals who do not enforce the law mrs delai a young woman with disabilities was raped by her aunt's husband he threatened to kill her if she told anyone after he raped her a second time mrs deli's sister reported it to the police one year later he was found not guilty because a hospital report stated he had erectile dysfunction how did this happen how did the system fail mrs delai because all parties involved in the investigation and prosecution process were slow to act and did not assess all the claims and evidence in detail because mrs dili's school counselor stated that her testimony was unreliable due to her mental disability because of the incestuous nature of the crime officials kept the case quiet preventing the public from advocating on behalf of ms delai because miss steli was discriminated against throughout the case due to her disability how can we prevent tragedies like this adhere to the standards in the istanbul convention and national legislation when investigating and prosecuting cases ensure effective and proportionate punishment for perpetrators establish and maintain rape crisis centers to provide short-term and longer-term services for victims of sexual violence establish accessible and available shelters for survivors of violence especially women from disadvantaged groups require training for all professionals to prevent prejudice against women with disabilities and ensure their equal access to protection employ specialist staff to provide services to women victims of sexual violence taking into account the particularly traumatic nature of this crime violence against women is the symptom not the virus the virus is gender inequality no cure will come as long as ineffective prevention protection and prosecution remain