Putin wants men to beat their wives. Sign the petition!

Russia: Don't Decriminalize
Domestic Abuse

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Dear friends, "A man beating his wife is less offensive than when a woman humiliates a man." Those words belong to a Russian Member of Parliament who recently introduced a bill to decriminalize violence in the home. And it completely ignores the fact that every forty-four minutes, a woman in Russia dies from domestic assault. Demand that Russia protects survivors. Sign the petition to oppose decriminalizing domestic abuse! The bill has been nicknamed the "slapping law," and its supporters say it's about protecting traditional family values and ending state inference in the home. After more than eighty-five percent of the lower house of Parliament voted to approve the bill, it's looking more and more likely that Putin will sign it into law. But this measure would not strengthen families. Instead, it would give abusers the freedom to terrorize their families without repercussion. The new legislation would reclassify a first violent incident as an administrative offense – and not a crime. This could mean that some abusers would face only fines or community service time, rather than prison. In a country where 36,000 husbands beat their wives daily and 12,000 women die from domestic abuse each year, this bill is a serious threat to women's safety and wellbeing. And it doesn't just apply to violence against women. It also applies to children. We cannot let this legislation move forward without making our voices heard. We must stand up today for the tens of thousands of women and children suffering from domestic violence in Russia and around the world. Sign the petition today to show that you reject the "slapping law"! Thank you for all that you do,   Miranda B. The Care2 Petitions Team