Characteristics of international experience in combating domestic violence with respect to the principle of gender equality

Domestic violence is defined by the authors as a violation of human rights and they propose ways to combat it. It is noted that domestic violence is one of the most serious human rights violations that occur within the family. This problem has become the subject of international attention, which has led to the adoption of a number of conventions and international documents that recognize domestic violence as a crime and establish global standards for combating it. One of the key international instruments in this area is the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). It recognizes domestic violence as a form of discrimination against women and calls on States Parties to take all necessary measures to eliminate it. In addition, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes children as victims of domestic violence and obliges States to provide them with appropriate protection and assistance. An equally important document is the Council of Europe Convention on Prevention of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). It provides for the criminalization of domestic violence, protection of victims and the introduction of measures to prevent it. International law also considers domestic violence as a crime against humanity if it is committed in the form of mass or systematic attacks on the civilian population. In such cases, domestic violence becomes widespread and is part of a policy of mass violence against women and children. Preventing domestic violence is one of the most effective methods of reducing the number of such crimes in society. The authors proposed the following ways to combat domestic violence, including: 1) systematic and continuous discussion of the problem of domestic violence with loved ones, explaining its causes and methods of prevention; 2) dissemination of information about the signs of domestic violence to help recognize potential cases and provide timely support; 3) in case of confirmation of manifestations of violence, notify the relevant authorities, in particular, the police or social services, which can counteract the negative consequences and save the lives of victims, as well as prevent repeated cases of violence; 4) provide assistance to victims of violence, who may need psychological counseling, medical support or temporary housing for their own safety. It has also been proven that combating domestic violence is a shared responsibility of the entire society. It is the state that must ensure the creation of a safe environment, raising awareness of the problem and active support for victims will contribute to reducing the scale of violence and building a society based on equality and respect for human rights, etc.