NASILJE U PORODICI U REPUBLICI SRPSKOJ KROZ ZAKONODAVNI OKVIR
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA THROUGH LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

Summary/Abstract: Domestic violence is one of the most severe social problems in contemporary society. Although it has existed throughout history, it was only at the end of the last century, with the actualization of gender equality issues, that this problem slowly entered the sphere of socially unacceptable behavior, beginning to be legally sanctioned. The topicality of this problem in legislation arises precisely from the serious and harmful consequences it has on family members, especially children and women. The need to take preventive action, which is the essence of legal regulation of this area, results from a multitude of international documents that have been adopted in the meantime and have become an integral part of the national legislation of the countries that have signed them. Bosnia and Herzegovina, and thus the Republic of Srpska, are signatories to all international documents pertaining to this issue, thus committing to incorporating their provisions into the existing legal system. Domestic violence has been recognized as a type of criminal offense in the Criminal Code of Republic of Srpska since 2000, but in 2005, the first Law on Protection from Domestic Violence was adopted, marking the first time this area was singled out as a special legally regulated area of state authorities' systemic action. The very complexity of domestic violence as asocial deviation and the need for a better social response to violence have imposed the need for a law that will more effectively address domestic violence. Since then, up to the present day, the area of protection and support for victims of domestic violence has been constantly improved legislatively, as evidenced by several amendments to the law, as well as by the adoption of a completely new legal solution in 2012. A new law is about to be drafted. This paper presents the development of legislation related to the regulation of addressing and prosecution of domestic violence in the legal system of the Republic of Srpska, with reference to the reasons that led to the aforementioned changes in legislation.

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