Mozambique Assembly Passes Bill Against Domestic Violence

3 July 2009 in Africa, Domestic Violence, Government

The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, passed the first reading of a bill on domestic violence against women, severely increasing the penalties for such violence.
Up until now, there has been no such crime as domestic violence on the Mozambican statute book. When a husband beat up his wife, this was treated as a [...]

Domestic relations bill tabled in Uganda

3 July 2009 in Africa, Domestic Violence, Government

Domestic violence is a major developmental challenge across the world. It cuts across race, gender, age, class and ethnic differences.
The Domestic relations Bill, that was tabled in Parliament by the state minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Fred Ruhindi recently, casts a ray of hope for many people.
If passed, it will put to [...]

When Partner Abuse Isn’t a Bruise But a Pregnant Belly

3 July 2009 in Childbirth Pregnancy, Domestic Violence, North America, Rape and Sexual Assault

Janey (not her real name) was 19 when she fell “head over heels” for a guy six years her senior. He moved in just weeks after their first date, which was before she learned about the cheating. When she confronted him, repeatedly, he raped her, repeatedly. When she told him to move out, he threatened [...]

Gay couples to be protected by Hong Kong domestic violence law

22 June 2009 in Asia, Domestic Violence, Legal Police, Lesbian Gay

Hong Kong will still not recognise gay marriages or relationships
The Domestic Violence Ordinance will have an amendment to include same sex couples, the Hong Kong Government have announced. However, the Government has been keen to stress that this will not mean the government will legally recognise same sex marriages or relationships in any other respect.
Following [...]

Men and masculinity under spotlight in Fiji

16 June 2009 in Australasia, Domestic Violence, Men Against VAW

Men enjoy power, privilege and status at the expense of women, a fact that contributes to persistent and widespread gender-based violence.
Stephen Fisher, an Australian trainer on masculinities at the Chisholm Institute, Melbourne, was speaking at the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre’s (FWCC) Pacific Regional Meeting on Violence Against Women at the Naviti Resort on the Coral [...]

Women’s groups in Turkey urge mobilization on gender equality

16 June 2009 in Domestic Violence, Europe, Government, Human Rights

Women’s organizations have called for gender equality education for all in society starting from the top levels, including the president and the prime minister, and down to the bottom, including private citizens, police officers, judges and prosecutors in the wake of a landmark European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decision that punished Turkey for failing [...]

Women and children fleeing abuse flood shelter in Anchorage

8 June 2009 in Domestic Violence, North America

Influx is straining resources far beyond capacity.
For about six months now, the number of women fleeing abusive boyfriends and husbands has been swelling Anchorage’s only shelter for battered women beyond its capacity.
Since the problem surfaced months ago, the overcrowding is still overwhelming staff at the Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis, or AWAIC, shelter.
Shelter workers don’t [...]

Gaps found in research on domestic violence in Switzerland

7 June 2009 in Domestic Violence, Europe

Domestic violence is common in Switzerland, its causes are complex and increased efforts are needed to prevent violent behaviour, experts say.
An extensive study into the reasons for such violence and possible measures against it calls for improved coordination among the authorities, further scientific research and political action.
Precise figures on violence in relationships are not available [...]

Say no to domestic violence – Saudi Arabia

7 June 2009 in Domestic Violence, Middle East

Princess Adela bint Abdullah has lent her support and attention to the second national experts’ meeting on abuse against women and children held last month.
Princess Adela said that the meeting is a continuation of last year’s deliberations and that the determination to implement its recommendations and reduce the number of abuse victims is greater than [...]

Measures being put in place to handle reports of domestic violence in Guyana

7 June 2009 in Domestic Violence, Legal Police, South America

Assistant Police Commissioner Clinton Conway said domestic violence remains a front burner issue at all divisions and the force is working to put more measures in place to deal with it.
Conway, who is also the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) training officer at the Felix Austin Police College said several officers had been trained locally and [...]

Domestic violence and residence permit problems drive Thai women underground in Finland

7 June 2009 in Asia, Domestic Violence, Europe, Family Marriage Partnership, Refugee, Trafficking

Police urged to show more empathy
As many as half of women who have moved from Thailand to Finland are believed to be living “underground”, beyond the reach of social safety nets, according to a fresh report on how Thai women have adapted to Finnish reality.
A large proportion of the 800-1200 Thai women living in [...]

Domestic violence helpline launched in Australia

5 May 2009 in Australasia, Domestic Violence, Funding, Government

The federal Government will provide an additional $41.5 million to tackle domestic violence, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced last week.
“The Government’s position on violence against women is zero tolerance,” Mr Rudd said. “Laws must be strong enough to hold perpetrators to account and offer justice and safety for victims and their families.
“We must also [...]

Liberal policy on domestic violence ‘devastating’ for women in Canada

5 May 2009 in Domestic Violence, Funding, Government, North America, Women's Group

Shortly after they were elected in 2001, the Liberals cut support services for victims of domestic violence as part of a wide-ranging effort to reduce spending and lower taxes. In their second term in office they changed the focus of services, putting more money into programs such as counselling and less into groups demanding changes [...]

Iraqi women suffer regular domestic violence – UN

5 May 2009 in Domestic Violence, Middle East, Rape and Sexual Assault, Violence Against Women, War Conflict

The vast majority of Iraqi women face domestic violence on a regular basis and many commit suicide because of it, the United Nations said last month.
Iraq and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan should take measures to stop violence against women, including honour killings and genital mutilation, the UN mission in Iraq, known as UNAMI, said [...]

Developing Stronger Protection Against Gender-Based Violence in Uganda

5 May 2009 in Africa, Domestic Violence, Government, Rape and Sexual Assault, Violence Against Women, War Conflict

When heads of districts describe efforts to fight sexual violence as a waste of resources, it raises questions about the leadership’s commitment to deal with the matter.
Such is the situation in northern Uganda where district commissioners, have dismissed sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as non-existent, asking that donor funds for psychosocial support for survivors of [...]

Laws enacted to check domestic violence in Nepal

5 May 2009 in Asia, Domestic Violence, Government

The parliament in Nepal has enacted laws making domestic violence and violence at health institutions and health professionals punishable.
The Domestic Violence and Punishment Act 2065 passed on Sunday defines physical, mental, sexual, financial as well as behavioral violence as domestic violence.
The Act has a provision of slapping up to four months of imprisonment and [...]

Fighting violence against women in Chad – but how?

5 May 2009 in Africa, Domestic Violence, Violence Against Women

Awa was killed by her husband last November in Guelendeng, 150km south of the Chad capital N’djamena. Her death was the tipping point for the town’s women, who, appalled by the rampant violence they face, have decided to fight for their rights.
In December dozens of women took part in a protest march, the first of [...]

Occupation and Siege Sideline Rampant Domestic Violence in Gaza

27 April 2009 in Domestic Violence, Equality, Family Marriage Partnership, Legal Police, Middle East, War Conflict

A Palestinian woman fleeing her abusive husband in Gaza several weeks ago was stabbed to death by her enraged husband as the terrified woman sought shelter in her parents home.
The unidentified victim was one of the rare statistics which made the headlines and where the police got involved.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. [...]

Media Spotlight on Domestic Violence in Romania

27 April 2009 in Domestic Violence, Europe, Media

Campaigners in Romania have very effectively used the media to break the public silence around the issue of domestic violence against women, and lobby for changes in laws.
Over many weeks, public interest ads featuring celebrities, both male and female, from the world of music and the electronic media, with artificial bruises and scars, have been [...]

New Zealand police deny that they are not tackling the issue of domestic violence adequately

27 April 2009 in Australasia, Domestic Violence, Publication

The claim has been made by an international human rights group that visited New Zealand last year and compiled a report on how the country deals with domestic violence.
The report*, issued in Wellington by the Leitner Centre for International Law and Justice at New York’s Fordham Law School, considers violence against women in the light [...]