Most of Russians condemn domestic violence but support the initiative to soften punishment for the first-time offenders. Moreover, an overwhelming majority of respondents say that this measure will help reduce the domestic violence incidents.
MOSCOW, January 19, 2017. Russian Public Opining Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey describing the attitudes of Russians towards battery within the family.
According to the survey data, one-third of respondents (33%) report to have experienced domestic violence or have heard of battery in the families of their friends; and every tenth (10%) faced that personally.
Despite the fact the number of Russians who condemn domestic violence prevails (79%), the percentage of those who accept the use of physical force towards husband/wife/children is rather high (19%).
Most of Russians are confident that the state should impose penalties for those who commit domestic violence. Community service is the most appropriate punishment (25%); 13% choose fine; the arrest of 15 days is proposed by 16% of respondents; conditional sentence – by 6%, and imprisonment - by 10%.
Mitigation of punishment for first-time offender is supported by more than half of Russians (59%). The share of those who oppose this idea is 33%. The positive effects of the proposed measures are expressed by 41% of respondents; they say the number of domestic violence cases will be decreased. On the contrary, 13% expect deterioration of the situation; a further 40% think no substantial changes happen.
The VCIOM survey was conducted on January 13-15, 2017, using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia, and involved 1800 respondents. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Let’s talk about family relationships. Family relationships can be different, and sometimes conflicts occur among members of family. They may result in a family-violence battery. Have you happened to notice any domestic abuse incidents in your friends’ families, or not? (closed-ended question, not more than two answers, %) | ||||
| Total respondents | Those who assess their family’s financial well-being as very good or good | Those who assess their family’s financial well-being as average | Those who assess their family’s financial well-being as very bad or bad |
I know this happened in the families of friends | 33 | 27 | 32 | 41 |
This happened in my family | 10 | 8 | 10 | 13 |
It never happened either in my family or in my friends’ families | 61 | 68 | 62 | 50 |
Don’t know | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Refusal to answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Some people believe that domestic violence is unacceptable. Others say that beating wives, husbands or children is appropriate in some cases. Which of the statements do you agree most? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) |
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| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over | |
Any domestic violence is appropriate | 79 | 84 | 80 | 79 | 77 | 78 | |
Wife/husband/child abuse is appropriate in some cases | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | |
Don’t know | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
In your opinion, should the state punish for domestic abuse or not? If yes, what kind of punishment would it be? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||
| Total respondents | Men | Women |
Community service | 25 | 21 | 29 |
Arrest for 15 days | 16 | 14 | 18 |
Fine | 13 | 14 | 12 |
Imprisonment | 10 | 8 | 12 |
Conditional sentence | 6 | 5 | 6 |
State should not punish for domestic abuse | 6 | 10 | 3 |
Other | 15 | 17 | 13 |
Don’t know | 9 | 11 | 7 |
Today domestic battery is considered a criminal offense in Russia. But there is a wide discussion of an initiative to treat the first-time offence as an administrative offence, not criminal one. What are your attitudes towards this proposition? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) |
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| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over | |
I support it completely | 25 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 32 | |
I am likely to support it | 34 | 45 | 37 | 33 | 36 | 27 | |
I am likely not to support it | 16 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 15 | |
I completely do not support it | 17 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 17 | |
Don’t know | 8 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 9 | |
In your opinion, if the initiative becomes law, will there be more or less incidents of domestic abuse in Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
Definitely more | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
Likely more | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
Likely less | 28 | 24 | 32 | 42 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 26 |
Definitely less | 13 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Nothing will change | 40 | 46 | 34 | 32 | 41 | 45 | 40 | 38 |
Don’t know | 6 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 10 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!