The European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday that Russia has failed to establish an effective legal framework to address domestic violence, which has resulted in de facto discrimination against women.

The ruling came in response to a complaint filed by four Russian women whose partners were violent and threatening. One of the women was mutilated by her husband, who kidnapped her, tied her up and cut off her hands with an ax. The women argued that Russia had failed to protect them because of the country’s lack of remedies to deal with domestic violence.

The court found Russia in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights because its legal system fails to define “domestic violence” and fails to provide the substantive and procedural provisions necessary to prosecute the various forms of domestic violence. Further, it ruled that Russian authorities were aware of the acts of domestic violence committed against the applicants but failed to investigate them. The court emphasized the “staggering scale of domestic violence against women in Russia and the systematic problems in securing prosecutions and convictions.”

Based on the court’s ruling, Russia must introduce “urgent changes” to its laws to prevent domestic violence and compensate the four affected applicants. The court also urged the government to legally define domestic violence and cover all forms of domestic violence.