MOSCOW, May 28 (RAPSI) - State Duma lawmakers are drafting a law to prevent domestic violence, State Duma Healthcare Committee member Saliya Murzabayeva said on Tuesday.

Nearly 40% of women in Russia have suffered from verbal abuse and 20% from domestic violence, but only 12% have complained to the police, doctors or lawyers. The Statistics Service provided the data at a forum on Tuesday on the reproductive health of Russians.

The survey covered 10,000 women in 60 regions.

The bill, which describes the rights of domestic violence victims, is primarily aimed at creating a legal mechanism for taking government-approved economic, social and political measures to prevent domestic violence.

Murzabayeva said the bill stipulates judicial and non-judicial measures to protect domestic violence victims from repeat violence and preventing the culprits from searching out their victims and from harassing, visiting or phoning them.

The proposed judicial measures include defining the rights and the duties of victims and offenders. For example, if there are substantial grounds, offenders can be obliged to pay for the upkeep of common children, to cover victims' medical costs and rent, and be forced to agree to alcohol and drug abuse treatment.

Murzabayeva said the bill was assessed by State Duma legal experts and will soon be presented for public discussion.