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	The Russian parliament has passed the second reading of a controversial Bill to decriminalise some forms of domestic violence.</p>
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	The State Duma voted 385-2-1 to eliminate criminal liability for battery on family members that does not cause bodily harm.</p>
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	The Bill that makes battery on a family member punishable by a fine or a 15-day day arrest has yet to be approved in the third reading.</p>
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	From the Duma, it would proceed to the upper house, largely a rubber-stamp body, and then to President Vladimir Putin&#39;s desk.</p>
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	The Bill stems from a Supreme Court ruling to decriminalise battery that does not inflict bodily harm, but to retain criminal charges for those accused of battery against family members.</p>
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	Conservative activists objected, arguing it was a threat to parents who might spank their children.</p>
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	Activists picketed the Duma on Wednesday morning to oppose the Bill, which has caused controversy and attracted more than 200,000 signatures online against it.</p>
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	Olga Batalina, one of the Bill&#39;s co-authors, rejected suggestions that it would sow impunity for those who beat up their families.</p>
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	&quot;The Criminal Code still carries criminal responsibility for battery, but now it will be applicable only for repeat offenders,&quot; she told state television.</p>
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	All those &quot;who terrorise their family members, who do it repeatedly ... will face criminal responsibility&quot;.</p>
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	Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov would not comment on the Bill.</p>
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	A survey this month by state-run pollster VTsIOM showed that 19% of Russians said &quot;it can be acceptable&quot; to hit one&#39;s wife, husband or child &quot;in certain circumstances&quot;.</p>
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	The nationwide poll by phone of 1,800 people was held from January 13-15. The survey had a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 25th January 2017)</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/russia-set-to-decriminalise-some-forms-of-domestic-violence-773999.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/russia-set-to-decriminalise-some-forms-of-domestic-violence-773999.html</a></p>
