Public Actions

Parliament passes Law No. 204 to amend the Law on the Protection of women and other family members from domestic violence

Date: 
Wednesday, December 30, 2020

قانون رقم 204 

تعديل القانون رقم 2014/293 تاريخ 2014/5/7 (حماية النساء وسائر الأسرة من العنف الأسري)

 

In order to ensure more protection for victims of domestic violence and their children, the Parliament approved a number of amendments to Law 293/2014 for the protection of women and other family members from domestic violence.

Among the most prominent amendments that were approved:

  • Include in the definition of domestic violence, the criminal practices that take place “during or because of marital life.”
  • Include economic violence as one of the punishable types of violence.
  • Increasing the number of judges in charge of investigating and examining domestic violence cases, and ensuring that the victim is aware of her rights before the judiciary and her right to seek social assistance.
  • The inclusion in the protection order issued in favor of the victim of domestic violence, her children aged 13 years and under, while the protection order only covered the victim’s children who are of legal custody age in accordance with the provisions of personal status laws. As well, in the new law, any minor has the right to request a protection order without his guardian.
  • Establishing a special account in the Ministry of Social Affairs to help victims of domestic violence, and the rehabilitation of perpetrators is financed from state contributions, (for this purpose a nominal appropriation is provided in the annual budget of the Ministry of Social Affairs), from donations and from funds resulting from fines imposed under this law.
  • Tougher penalties for perpetrators of domestic violence crimes.

 

 

Acting Bodies: 
Lebanese Parliament
Type: 
Laws
Categories: 
Social rights (women’s rights, human rights...)
Impact: 
National
Status: 
Approved/ Ratified
Civil Society Response: 
Not applicable