Countries: Italy
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"The Italian Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved new legislation to strengthen measures against gender violence. They include stricter restraining orders and heightened surveillance on men found guilty of gender-based violence" (para 36).

Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: DV-LAW-2

"'Instead of using police resources to drug test all offenders of VAWG related crimes, the government should instead place its focus on tackling these serious crimes against women and girls and focus on urgently improving outcomes for survivors' [Ruth Davison, chief executive of charity refuge]" (par.9). This suggests that more could be done in regards to policies protecting victims of domestic violence (IME - CODER COMMENT).

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

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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

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).

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

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

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).

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).

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).