The most comprehensive compilation of information on the status of
women in the world.

Latest items for DV-LAW-2

Nov. 16, 2024, 2:55 p.m.
Countries: Sudan
Variables: DV-PRACTICE-1, DV-LAW-2, DTCP-PRACTICE-1, DTCP-LAW-1

"For women, customary laws tend to prevail, with rape cases - where reported - handled by community elders. Impunity for perpetrators is also due to a weak legal system, consisting of a mixture of formal and customary laws"`
Nov. 12, 2024, 10:20 p.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Domestic abusers will have their names added to the sex offenders’ register in a major crackdown on violence against women and girls...Domestic abusers jailed for more than 12 months will be placed on the sex offenders’ register, making it easier for police to monitor them. The move will be introduced immediately. The Home Secretary will also tell police forces to treat violence against women as seriously as terrorism and other major crimes...It will be ranked as a ‘national threat’ under each force’s ‘strategic requirements’, with strict rules setting out how they should respond to each crime...For the first time, controlling or coercive behaviour will be ‘put on a par with...more
Oct. 9, 2024, 7:59 p.m.
Countries: Belize
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Among amendments to the DVA, the court may order an abuser to return property, compensate the victim, pay child support, seek therapy or counselling, and turn in weapons to the police. Revisions to the DVA increased penalties for breach of court orders in domestic violence cases and a five-year sentence for subsequent conviction. For first-time offenders, the Act allows for a Rehabilitation Order in place of punishment. Such orders require the offender to undergo probation in a rehabilitation programme and to engage in community service work for one year. Cognizant that a comprehensive approach is needed and that interventions should include the abuser, the Women’s Department established a Batterers Intervention...more
July 18, 2024, 6:38 p.m.
Countries: Guatemala
Variables: DV-LAW-1, DV-LAW-2

"With regard to the strengthening and follow-up of the National Coordination Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Violence against Women, progress was made towards establishing regular and special meetings, following up on policy measures aimed at eradicating violence against women and on the Office’s activities. In 2021, members and alternates were appointed to six working committees. The 2018–2022 strategic plan, which regulates the Office’s actions to prevent, address, punish and provide reparation to victims of violence against women, was strengthened" (5).
April 9, 2024, 9:31 p.m.
Countries: Cuba
Variables: DV-LAW-2

As feminists, we appeal to criminal justice based on facts, that it guarantees reparation and non-repetition as minimum prerequisites that accompany criminal justice from situated gender perspectives.1 Unfortunately, the new Penal Code does not consider them; on the contrary, what it ponders is severity, without reeducation, without individual or collective transformation regarding events marked by gender-based violence (para 11). "Re-victimization and lack of gender sensitivity on the part of legal operators, investigators and medical and medical-legal personnel are considered among the main obstacles for victims to come to denounce in the first place and, second, when they do, the complaints prosper or do not end, as in the Bécquer case,...more
Feb. 20, 2024, 6:27 p.m.
Countries: D R Congo
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"[There is no] protection of the victims of gender-based violence, including domestic and sexual violence" (8).
Sept. 25, 2023, 8:02 a.m.
Countries: Guyana
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"The law prohibits domestic violence and allows victims to seek prompt protection, occupation, or tenancy orders from a magistrate. Penalties for violation of protection orders include fines up to 10,000 Guyanese dollars ($47) and 12 months’ imprisonment" (8).
Sept. 22, 2023, 8:51 a.m.
Countries: Angola
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"The law criminalizes domestic violence and penalizes offenders with prison sentences of up to eight years and monetary fines, depending on the severity of their crime" (18).
Aug. 8, 2023, 8:30 p.m.
Countries: Bulgaria
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"[There is a] one-month time limit for filing protection orders (see the Protection against Domestic Violence Act, art. 10, para. 1)" (6).
July 25, 2023, 10:44 a.m.
Countries: Cambodia
Variables: LRW-LAW-2, LRCM-PRACTICE-1, DV-LAW-2

"[T]he law on the prevention of domestic violence [needs to be reviewed] and criminalize all forms of gender-based violence, including domestic violence and marital rape, to facilitate the process of obtaining protection orders and to ensure that victims/survivors of domestic violence have access to effective remedies and that perpetrators are held accountable" (8). This indicates that some forms of violence are criminalized and protective orders are not currently available to victims (MV- coder comment).
July 21, 2023, 11:58 a.m.
Countries: Azerbaijan
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Article 157 of the Code envisages a fine and administrative detention for inflicting heavy bodily injures by beating and committing other violent actions. Article 158 of the same Code defines various fines to be imposed in case of domestic violence of economic and psychological nature (the violation of legislation on prevention of domestic violence)" (15).
June 27, 2023, 11:16 p.m.
Countries: Algeria
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"The law states that a person claiming domestic abuse must visit a 'forensic physician' for an examination to document injuries and that the physician must determine that the injuries suffered 'incapacitated' the victim for 15 days. The law prescribes up to a 20-year imprisonment for the accused, depending on the severity of injuries. If domestic violence results in death, a judge may impose a life sentence" (27). "[I]f the victim forgives his or her aggressor, legal action ceases" (28). "The law provides for sentences of one to 20 years’ imprisonment for domestic violence" (28).
May 27, 2023, 1:24 a.m.
Countries: Australia
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Union boss Michele O'Neil said the new laws were a historic win.'It cannot be understated just how important winning paid family and domestic violence leave in the national employment standard is,' she said.'With one in four women having experienced some form of violence since the age of 15 by an intimate partner, Australia has a critical problem with women's safety and gender equality.' Ms O'Neil said unions would fight to extend the leave period but '10 days is a very important start'"(Para.6-9). "Frontline domestic violence worker Sam Parker said the entitlements would save lives. 'Women shouldn't have to choose between work and safety. Ten days paid leave offers people the...more
April 1, 2023, 9:26 p.m.
Countries: Uzbekistan
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"To prevent domestic violence, the Protection of Women against Harassment and Violence Act was adopted on 2 September 2019. It defines the concepts of 'sexual violence', 'physical violence', 'economic violence', 'psychological violence', 'harassment' and 'protection order' (article 3). A victim of harassment and violence has the right to: apply to the relevant authorized bodies, organizations or court with a statement that harassment and violence has been committed against her or threatened to be committed; receive free legal advice, economic, social, psychological, medical and other assistance in special centres, including through a toll-free telephone line; apply to the internal affairs bodies with a request to issue a protection order, and if...more
March 31, 2023, 2:31 p.m.
Countries: Egypt
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"[A]rticles 17, 60, 237, 274 and 277 [of teh penal code] condone acts of violence against women, such as domestic violence and so-called 'honour crimes'... Exempting perpetrators from punishment or reducing the sentences imposed [is currently provided for in the penal code]" (7).
March 18, 2023, 10:20 p.m.
Countries: Ethiopia
Variables: LRW-LAW-2, DV-LAW-2

"[J]udges are required to increase the lower end of the penalty in sentencing gender based violence crimes covered under articles 555–560 of the Criminal Code and sexual violence crimes covered under articles 620–628 of the Criminal Code" (4).
March 8, 2023, 1:43 p.m.
Countries: Montenegro
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Penalties for the criminal offense of domestic violence in the family or in the family community have also been increased (Article 220). When it comes to the basic form of this criminal offense, the sentence has been increased from one to two years of imprisonment. When it comes to violating the measure of protection from domestic violence ordered by a court or other state body, the law stipulates imprisonment of up to one year, instead of six months, as was the case with the previous iteration of the law...The CC (Article 220, paragraph 5) imperatively prescribes criminal liability of whoever violates the protection measures against domestic violence imposed on him...more
Feb. 19, 2023, 1 p.m.
Countries: Bulgaria
Variables: DV-LAW-2

“Policy dialogue concerning violence against women in Bulgaria has had a long and controversial history. Some of the important challenges faced include the slow pace of policy and legal reforms, the non-availability and non-accessibility of support services for victims of domestic violence, and poor coordination of efforts” (bottom of first paragraph). “In January 2021, WHO supported Bulgaria’s Ministry of Justice to prepare a draft law amending the Protection against Domestic Violence Act (PADVA), with the participation of the office of the Ombudsman, Civil Society Organizations, and NGO partners. With the entry into force of the new law, a National Commission for Prevention of Domestic Violence will be established as a...more
Feb. 18, 2023, 10:46 a.m.
Countries: Canada
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Police witnesses told the jury Borutski was very good at 'manipulation' and constantly flouted court orders, including never showing up to a mandated partner assault response program" (Para10).
Feb. 18, 2023, 10:38 a.m.
Countries: China
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"One of the officers asked what had happened. The woman said she had been beaten; the man countered that she had scratched him. The officer asked if they wanted the police to 'resolve' the matter. 'How?' the woman asked. 'Oh, by detaining both of you!' the officer replied (Para.12-14). "The mention of detention clearly frightened the woman. Possibly, she never imagined that the victim might also be punished. She said that wouldn’t be necessary, then asked whether the officers could bring her to a shelter or help her buy a new phone — her old one had been destroyed by her husband. That request, of course, was turned down." (Para.15)....more
Feb. 6, 2023, 12:07 p.m.
Countries: Kyrgyzstan
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"[T]he State Party [should]…ensure the issuance and effective enforcement and monitoring of protection orders in cases of domestic violence and impose adequate, deterrent penalties for non-compliance with such orders" (6). This indicates that punishments regarding domestic violence perpetrators are minimal and insufficient (AMC-CODER COMMENT).
Jan. 21, 2023, 8:08 a.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Public pressure meant the courts granted her full retribution, ordering him to be blinded in both eyes, though she spared him at the last moment" (para 9-10).
Jan. 12, 2023, 8:01 p.m.
Countries: Nicaragua
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Later came the approval of Law 779: the Integral Law against Violence against Women (2014), a policy first proposed in the 1980s and finally ratified, despite strong counter-opposition by the religious sector, with the return of the FSLN government. It gives Nicaraguan women a legal framework for the protection and defense of their lives which is implemented with the assistance of 85 all-women police stations, comisarias, whose main focus is on protecting women and children from abuse" (para 18) (NF - CODER COMMENT - The creation of all-women police stations hints that there is additional protection for victims of domestic abuse or at the very least immediately after an alleged...more
Dec. 29, 2022, 6:41 p.m.
Countries: India
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"[A] lot of women face forceful or non-consensual sexual intercourse with their husbands. In such a case, an aggrieved woman can…file an application under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (DV) Act…The Act, however, provides only for civil remedies and provides for no way through which an aggrieved wife can initiate criminal proceedings against her husband" (para 14).
June 14, 2022, 5:24 p.m.
Countries: Denmark
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"There has been several amendments to the criminal law provisions in order to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. For example, act number 718 (2018), increased inter alia the maximum penalty for repeated cases of domestic violence (common assaults) from three to six years. Act number 358 (2018), increased inter alia the level of sentences for aggravated violence by one third compared to the previous level. Denmark has also ratified and implemented the Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe" (13). "In 2017 the Faroese Parliament passed a new bill on restraining and exclusion orders. The bill also grants authority, in cases of violence in intimate relationships,...more
May 27, 2022, 11:45 a.m.
Countries: Serbia
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Domestic violence is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment" (25). "The law prohibits child abuse with penalties ranging from two to 10 years’ imprisonment" (27).
May 16, 2022, 8:09 p.m.
Countries: Suriname
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"...The law imposes sentences of four to eight years’ imprisonment for violation of protection orders by the defendant" (45).
May 12, 2022, 5 p.m.
Countries: Panama
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"Child abuse is illegal. The law has several articles pertaining to child abuse and its penalties, which depend on the type of abuse and range from six months to 20 years’ imprisonment if the abuse falls under a crime that carries a higher penalty" (13).
March 25, 2022, 10:05 p.m.
Countries: Kosovo
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"The criminal code does not specifically criminalize child abuse but addresses various elements of child abuse, including in sections on sexual assault... Penalties range from five to 20 years’ imprisonment" (25).
March 25, 2022, 8:54 p.m.
Countries: United Arab Emirates
Variables: MURDER-PRACTICE-1, DV-LAW-2

"The country employs judicial supervision for individuals considered at risk from relatives threatening to commit honor crimes against or otherwise harming them. Judicial supervision typically included providing housing to individuals for their safety and well-being and family mediation and reconciliation" (12).