Jakštienė, Ramunė

Lietuvoje diskusijos apie seksualinį smurtą dažnai užstringa ten, kur jau seniai neturėtų būti – ties klausimu, ar žmogus pakankamai priešinosi. Ar šaukė. Ar bandė pabėgti. Ar iškart kreipėsi į policiją. Ar jo elgesys atitiko visuomenėje vis dar gyvą „idealios aukos“ scenarijų.

Background. Though technology-facilitated partner stalking is a prevalent form of abuse, prosecutorial research in this field is underdeveloped. Online and offline violence reinforce each other, but this interaction could be leveraged as technology-enabled resistance and evidence. Method. This study employs a doctrinal legal research design, combined with qualitative content analysis, focused on Lithuania’s national-level case law. Fifty-seven court and pre-trial decisions were compiled into a dataset for the study. The main objective of this paper is to identify typical tech stalking behaviors and the criminal law’s response to them. Results and Conclusions. The national case law analysis supports previous empirical findings regarding motivation, typical tactics, and effects of technology-facilitated partner stalking. Deficiencies of national anti-stalking legislation reinforce the difficulties of prosecuting tech abuse. Charging decisions are not consistent and get even more complicated in cases of polyvictimization and non-physical violence. The success of criminal proceedings largely depends on the active involvement of victims, thereby potentially leading to repeat, extended, and secondary victimization. The practice of lenient sanctioning and technical challenges adds constraints on effective prosecution. However, even within the existing national legal framework, there is potential to improve the criminal law’s response by developing digital literacy of the population, building specialized professional capacities (both legal and technical) within law agencies, and expanding the responsibilities of tech developers.

In this episode, the podcast explores how research can inform gender-sensitive support for victims of domestic and intimate partner violence. Recorded in Lisbon, Portugal, host Anna joins a study visit with 2gether4victims partners, bringing listeners directly into the collaborative environment where experts share knowledge and exchange best practices across Europe. Guests include Dr. Ramunė Jakštienė, Associate Professor at Mykolas Romeris University (Vilnius, Lithuania), who contributes expertise in gender and victim support systems through teaching, research, and practice, and Nicole van Gelder, Researcher at Slachtofferhulp Nederland, who focuses on applying evidence and data to improve services for victims of intimate partner violence in the Netherlands. The discussion delves into the findings of the 2gether4victims project, highlighting what makes victim support responsive to the diverse needs of women, men, LGBTQ+ individuals, and persons with disabilities. Key indicators of gender-sensitive practices are explored across policy, program design, service delivery, and evaluation, alongside practical examples from the Netherlands, including specialized centers, tailored interventions, and inclusive online platforms. This episode offers actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers on bridging research and practice to develop support systems that are equitable, trauma-informed, and intersectional. Listeners will gain strategies, best practices, and expert perspectives to enhance support for all victims of gender-based and domestic violence.

The 2gether4victims podcast, Does the Train Only Pass Once?, is a new twelve-part audio documentary, taking listeners on an immersive train journey across Europe to explore how support services for victims of gender-based violence can—and must—improve. Created by Victim Support Europe in partnership with ten organisations and funded by the European Commission’s CERV program, the podcast gives voice to survivors, experts, and front-line support workers who are working to make sure victims are not left standing alone when the train of help arrives.

Moterų ir vyrų lygių galimybių komisijos prie Socialinės aplinkos ir darbo ministerijos (SADM) narė ir Mykolo Romerio universiteto doc. dr. Ramunė Jakštienė laidoje dalinsis įžvalgomis apie smurtą artimoje aplinkoje. Šis reiškinys – gana specifinis. Visgi smurtas yra smurtas net tada, kai smurtautojas to nepripažįsta, o aplinkiniai ar auka neatpažįsta. Laidoje diskutuosime, koks mokslo indėlis ir ar jis gali prisidėti kovojant prieš stereotipus, diskriminaciją lyties pagrindu? Doc. dr. Ramunė Jakštienė supažindins su smurto artimoje aplinkoje požymiais, kad visuomenė ir pažeidžiami asmenys galėtų tinkamai reaguoti.

This study presents an overview of how the issue of obstetric and gynaecological violence is currently being apprehended in the EU. Based on research carried out across the EU 27 Member States, it identifies issues and challenges; looks at the legal framework currently applicable to this form of violence; examines ongoing political and legal developments; and gathers initiatives carried out at national level to improve understanding and prevention of this form of gender-based violence by healthcare professionals and society in general. Finally, it provides recommendations for different stakeholders.

The criminalisation of stalking through a specific law is a clear tendency in the EU. At the end of 2021, a new relevant provision in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania was introduced (Art. 148-1). It incorporates the latest EU legal developments in this field. The new norm determines a wide scope of eligibility and an inclusive concept of stalking to work as an umbrella charge that tackles the whole tactics of stalking. However, the new provision has serious shortcomings that are related to more lenient outcomes for the perpetrator, systemic incompatibility, the generic nature of the law, and consequences-specific construction. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to make urgent amendments to achieve the primary goal of criminalising stalking, i.e., better responding to victims’ experiences.