The Interpretation and Understanding of the Dynamics of Domestic Violence

The article deals with domestic violence as with a worldwide social problem. At the same time, this problem is complex, latent and controversial. The continued spread of gender-based violence is hurting the lives of women around the world every day. Finding its expression in many forms, from economic to psychological, violence crosses geographical, cultural and class boundaries. It is a pernicious violation of human rights that threatens the protection and security of countless women. The consequences of this violation have a detrimental effect on society and the world community as a whole. Millions of women are concerned about personal safety, harassment or exploitation. It is impossible to fully investigate the phenomenon of domestic violence and, therefore, to formulate an appropriate counteraction strategy, without taking into account the historical aspect and analysis of the origin of domestic violence as a separate social negative factor. A brief historical outline of significant contextual events makes it possible to reproduce the process of shaping domestic violence as a socially dangerous phenomenon and to analyze its social, legal and psychological nature more deeply. Domestic violence has existed throughout all the historical stages of humanity's formation. Even in early Roman society, a woman was considered the property of a man and therefore subject to his control. According to the provisions of early Roman law, a man could use physical force, divorce or deprive his wife of life for the offenses and crimes committed by her, if such degraded his honor or threatened his property rights. Aspects of family life were considered private issues and not as a subject to public review. Approved in the 15 century Catholic Church "Rules of Marriage" called on the husband to become a judge of his wife. He had to beat her with a stick to convince her to adhere to the generally accepted rules in society at the time and not to commit an offense. According to the "Rules of Marriage" the beatings served as a concern for the soul of the wife.The authors state, that the implementation of the principle of equal rights and opportunities for women and men is one of the important conditions for sustainable socio-economic development, positive changes in society and its well-being, the realization of human rights and self-realization of the individual, the key to effective solution of existing problems, as well as the European integration of Ukraine and implementation international commitments under major international human rights treaties, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, endorsed by the UN General Assembly.