The Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Marija Obradović, has supported the significant initiative of the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, to introduce harsher penalties for rapists and perpetrators of domestic violence, as well as for intimate partner violence.
Five-fold and life sentences for the most serious crimes shall put these criminals on par with those convicted of aggravated murder, repeat offenders and multiple murderers. It is a harsh, but the only possible state response in a worrying situation in the country, when domestic violence and violence against minors is on an alarming increase, Obradović has said, appealing to all women in Serbia to loudly and strongly support and promote this initiative.
“As a member of the SNS Presidency, I will simultaneously request strong support within our political party for this proposal, and everyone else should do the same, in order to strengthen the fight against violence, especially against intimate partner and domestic violence, which is on the rise all over the world, regardless of economic and educational level.
In this way, potential perpetrators would, to a good extent, be deterred from committing a criminal act, aware of the harsh punishments, and at the same time, general and special prevention would be achieved.
Harsh punishments, social supervision, and constant education of the entire population through all institutions, political organizations and NGOs, shall strengthen the response of Serbian citizens to the social and psychological deformity and lack of empathy in the world today”, the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Marija Obradović, has stressed.