Violence against women in the family is not a private matter and there is no justification for it. It is a human rights abuse which states are obliged to act against under international law.

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With over 10 million inhabitants, Moscow is the largest city in the Russian Federation. Yet it does not have a single shelter for victims of violence against women. Even a small shelter would send the right signal; that the authorities are willing to protect women from violence in the family.

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