Constitutional Court voids law on domestic violence

The bill authorising courts to issue restraining orders against family members because of domestic violence is unconstitutional, the Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday. The judges said that guarantees are needed before introducing the legal institution of restraint, because it restricts the personal freedom of the person affected.

The Court acknowledged that the institution of restraint is acceptable and necessary to protect the physical and mental safety and dignity of victims of domestic violence.

Parliament passed the bill on December 15, but President László Sólyom sent it to the Court for a preliminary review before signing it into law.

Sólyom believes it is important that Parliament find effective methods against violence within the family, his spokesman Ferenc Wéber told reporters. He said the President is sure that this very serious problem can be solved within the framework of constitutional regulations and regrets that Parliament did not manage to achieve that in December.

Since the bill was passed, seven people have been killed and several others injured Népszabadság reports. In addition, three of the perpetrators committed suicide after killing family members.

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