Belarusian authorities can take away children from families without trial

The Belarusian authorities received the legal opportunity to take away children from the families in the case of real threat to their life and health.

According to presidential decree #5 of 5 May 2009 (that introduces amendments to the notorious creation of the deputy head of the presidential administration N.Piatkevich – decree #18 of 24 November 2006) now it can be done without trial, on decision of the commission on the affairs of minors.

In addition, the authorities also received a set of means of influence on the negligent parents with the aim to make them compensate the expenditures for the state upbringing of their children.

For instance, the decree introduces administrative responsibility of negligent parents from forced employment on court verdict (administrative arrest with obligatory drawing to labor) and amends the order of punishment within the frames of criminal law for other actions or inaction ensuing in non-implementation or incomplete implementation of the monthly obligations on compensation of the expenditures on upbringing of the children.

According to the decree, those who suffer from alcoholic addition and systematically violate the labor discipline will be directed to activity therapy centers.