Legal regulation of the protection of women from domestic violence in Western Europe

Abstract

The relevance of the stated issue is explained by the constant increase in the number of reports of domestic violence in the vast majority of European countries. The purpose of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the legal framework for protecting women from domestic violence in Western European countries using the examples of Italy, Germany, and France. General theoretical methods of research, namely abstract-logical, systemic-functional, analysis and synthesis, and the comparative method, were used in the paper. It was clarified that the criminalisation of domestic violence victims has become a gradual trend in Western European countries. Protective measures such as issuing protection orders, using Global Positioning System bracelets to track perpetrators, and increasing responsibility for committing domestic violence have been implemented. The necessity of criminalising the crime of stalking was justified in Ukraine. Western European countries actively combat domestic violence in general and towards women in particular. It is established that the feature of the German legal system is the presence of specialised police units whose activities are aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence. France focuses on developing state programmes aimed at protecting individuals who have experienced family violence. In all analysed countries, the legislation ensures the protection of domestic violence victims through the issuance of protective orders. The analysis of the legislation of Italy, Germany, and France disclosed features of legal regulation regarding the protection of women from domestic violence and identified advantages and disadvantages that may exist in this area. The results of the study can be used in the research field as a basis for further studies on the protection of women from domestic violence and in legislative activities, providing recommendations for changes to Ukrainian legislation.