CEDAW/C/73/D/100/2016
Background
1.
The authors are X. and Y., Russian citizens born in 1979 and 1975, respectively.
They claim to be victims of violations by the Russian Federation of their rights under
article 1 of the Convention, taking into consideration the Committee ’s general
recommendation No. 19 (1992) on violence against women, general recommendation
No. 28 (2010) on the core obligations of States parties under article 2 of the
Convention and general recommendation No. 33 (2015) on women’s access to justice;
article 2 (b) to (f) of the Convention; and article 5 (a), read in conjunction with
articles 1 and 3, of the Convention and taking into consideration the Committee ’s
general recommendations No. 19, No. 28 and No. 33. The Convention and the
Optional Protocol thereto entered into force for the Russian Federation on
3 September 1981 and 28 October 2004, respectively. The authors are represented by
counsel, Valentina Frolova and Mary Davtyan.
Facts as submitted by the authors
Author X.
2.1 X. was married to K. from 2009 to 2013. From 2010 to 2013, her husband
subjected her to systematic physical and psychological abuse: beatings, death threats,
severe injuries, frequent arguments, insults and humiliation. She did not report the
abusive treatment to the police or medical organizations as she was afraid of inciting
further violence.
2.2 X. has two daughters, born in 2002 and 2012, who witnessed the abuses. She
gave up her employment following the birth of her second daughter, who had immune
neutropenia and needed constant care.
2.3 Around 8 November 2010, K. punched X. in the face when they were in a car in
Saint Petersburg, in the presence of their elder daughter, resulting in an injury to h er
nose. She sought medical assistance within 24 hours. She did not report the beating,
however, as she was accompanied by her husband.
2.4 In December 2010, K. beat X. at their home. He pushed her and she fell on a
couch; he then threw a blanket over her and punched her more than 20 times. She
sustained blows to her body and head. She sought medical assistance and reported the
beating. The doctor documented contusions to the chest, the right gluteal region and
the upper third of the left hip and reported the incident to the police.
2.5 The author’s elder daughter lived in constant fear of her father’s aggressive
behaviour and requested to be sent to stay with her grandmother in Irkutsk. The author
acquiesced to her request in January 2011.
2.6 In 2012, X. decided to leave her husband. She subsequently changed her mind,
however, when she learned that she was pregnant. The physical and psychological
abuse continued. In October 2012, she gave birth to her second daughter.
2.7 X. was scared for her safety and the safety of her baby. In February 2013, she
ended the relationship with her husband and moved to another apartment with her
baby. K, however, continued to harass her under the pretext of visiting the baby. He
called regularly, argued with her and continued to make threats and insult her. Every
meeting with her husband resulted in physical and psychological abuse.
2.8 On 2 April 2013, X. was at a paediatric medical centre with her baby. K. entered
the centre and began shouting and swearing at the author. H e insulted her and hit her
in the face at least three times. The medical staff called security and took the author
2/18
19-15442