Mozambique has taken a significant step in the fight to stop violence against women. Parliament recently passed the first reading of legislation establishing domestic violence as a crime separate from simple assault. This is the first of its kind in the country and could increase the penalties for committing violence against an intimate partner by a third.
The law will establish domestic violence as a public crime. Therefore, any witness can bring it to the attention of authorities. A victim doesn’t have to press charges in order for legal action to be taken against perpetrators of domestic violence. In addition, the law will allow the courts to issue restraining orders and suspend parental rights.
As Mozambique progresses in their fight against domestic violence so does the United States. We are fortunate to be starting from more established policies regarding issues of violence against women. Recently there has been an additional advancement with the appointment of a White House Advisor on violence against women. Former executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Lynn Rosenthal is the first to assume this new created position.
This appointment signifies that this administration takes the issue of violence against women seriously. As part of Ms. Rosenthal’s new job description, she will be coordinating global domestic violence efforts. This will be an exciting, but undoubtedly daunting task with the pervasive issues such as honor killings, martial rape, and female genital mutilation still occurring at an alarming rate.
Luckily, some countries like Mozambique seem to be open to progress and are on their way to establishing much need policies for women.
I’m so happy that this administration has made violence against women a priority. Violence against women has been so normalized throughout the world that most people hardly even recognize when women are being verbally or physically abused.
We are taught all of our lives to watch out for the strangers in the bushes, but we are never taught that most arbiters of violence against women are men that we know. I’m glad that this is finally being talked about and addressed on a global scale, although much work is yet to be done.
thanks for sharing!
For Mozambique to reach this level of recognizing equality in the realm of phsycial respect, is a gaint step toward equalizing other aspects of equality of males and females such as the workplace. Healthcare in Mozambique, and religious leadership, are good examples of near equality.
The glass ceilings of the US continue in existence. Only recently, reports show 65-80% salaries of women are what the male workplace receive. Hopefully, that cycle wil soon roll on off as well.
WOW – that’s incredible that the victim doesn’t have to press charges. How very forward thinking. I wonder what would have happened to Chris Brown if this had been the law in the US.
AJ- I remember watching those dark videos in high school that were the extent of our rape prevention education. I never once heard about preventing intimate partner violence in a formal setting. I don’t know what they show/talk about in schools now, but I hope we have progressed or will soon.
Carolyn- That stat about the workplace is awful, but I hate to say I’m not super surprised.