New Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, Adjustment of Social Benefits, and Weapons Regulations
The main event of the week is the adoption of the comprehensive Law on Protection from Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women, which introduces strict protective measures and new penalties. In addition, the Government has established new amounts for social benefits, and new rules for acquiring weapons have entered into force.
Special Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms
The legal definition of domestic violence has been expanded to include economic violence and stalking.
The new law details the forms of domestic violence, classifying them as threats to physical, psychological, or economic integrity. For the first time, it is clearly defined that stalking, restricting freedom of movement, and neglecting the needs of family members requiring special care are considered violence. These norms apply regardless of whether the perpetrator lives in the same household as the victim. Art. 11
New protective measures for victims have been introduced, including the forced removal of the abuser from the apartment.
The court has been granted the authority to impose one or more protective measures on the perpetrator to ensure the safety of the victims. These include: removal from the apartment, prohibition of approaching, contacting, harassing, and stalking. Mandatory addiction treatment and psychosocial treatment may also be imposed, with priority always given to the best interests of the child. Art. 23
A strict obligation has been established for schools, hospitals, and state authorities to report cases of violence to the police.
State authorities, health, and educational institutions are now obliged to report any case of domestic violence they become aware of during their work to the police without delay. This obligation is borne by specific individuals: doctors, social workers, teachers, and educators. If a child was a witness to the violence, this must be specifically noted in the report. Art. 13
Fines of up to 1,000 euros and imprisonment are prescribed for committing domestic violence.
The law establishes strict sanctions for offenses within the family. The use of physical force (even without bodily injury), threats, or economic violence is punishable by a fine of 300 to 1,000 euros or imprisonment for at least 10 days. If the victim of violence is a child or was present during the incident, the penalty will be significantly stricter. Art. 41
Social and Child Welfare
New amounts for social benefits have been established, including a benefit for a newborn child in the amount of 1,127.68 euros.
The Government has adopted a decision on adjusting the base amount for exercising the right to material security. According to the document, the one-time benefit for a firstborn child is now 1,127.68 euros. The amounts of other social benefits have also been updated, including allowances for care and assistance, personal disability allowance, and basic material security for families. Art. 1
Public Safety and Order
Individuals over 18 years of age can acquire Category C weapons without special approval.
The new law stipulates that adult citizens and legal entities have the right to acquire and possess Category C weapons without prior approval from the competent authorities. However, they are obliged to report the purchase to the relevant ministry within 8 days. Sellers are also required to notify the ministry of every sale of such weapons within the same period. Art. 33
Migration and Residence
A package of amendments has been adopted, equating the rights of same-sex partners with the rights of spouses in a number of laws.
The Parliament has adopted a package of amendments to the laws on citizenship, notaries, the central population registry, and civil registries. Now, persons who have entered into a life partnership have the same rights to acquire citizenship as persons in a traditional marriage. In addition, notaries are prohibited from performing official acts in relation to their partners due to a conflict of interest, and state databases are officially updated with information on concluded partnerships. Art. 1