The Spanish congress has renaged on its initial idea of making alcohol and drugs an aggravating factor in cases of domestic violence.Instad they have recommended that the alcohol and drugs are no longer to be considered to be a mitigating factor.People choose to drink excessively and they choose to take drugs .If they then go on and choose to commit any type of crime then they bear the responsibility of their actions and it is quite right that the alcohol or drugs should not come into the euation.They have done what they have done.
The Euality Commission has unanimously agreed a package of 50 recommended improvements to Spain’s existing domestic abuse laws.Initially they were going to include alcohol and drugs as an aggrevating circumstance,meaning in this case that the person would face a stiffer sentence.However two parties withdrew their support for it at the last minute.
Another recommendation is that men convicted of domestic violence should automatically lose child custody.Initially they also called for the loss of visitation rights.However it was then decided to leave such a decision to a judge ,to decide in the best interest of the child.
These recommendations will now be placed befoe the government for the finer details to be be agreed and brought into the law.They are also seeking increased resources for fighting the battle of domestic abuse ,including psychological support for children from an early age when they have experienced abuse in the home.Even if they are not abused themselves they will have often seen and heard their mother being beaten and injured and this leaves lasting scars.
