The Progress of Nations 1997

<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK="#0000EE" VLINK="#551A8B" ALINK="#FF0000"> <CENTER><TABLE WIDTH="84%"> <TR> <TD> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/prog5.gif" NOSAVE HEIGHT=108 WIDTH=415></CENTER> <H3><B>Outlawing violence against women: A first step</B></H3> Legislation against domestic violence has been enacted in 44 countries around the world; 17 have made marital rape a criminal offence; 27 have passed sexual harassment laws; and just 12 countries have laws against FGM.  <P>The few laws that do exist vary significantly in strength and enforceability from one legal system to another. In countries that have not enacted specific laws, it may be possible to prosecute offenders under more general criminal statutes.  <P>Some governments have introduced accessible and well-integrated legal provisions, such as Ecuador’s 1995 law against domestic violence—a clear-cut prohibition of physical and mental assaults. Current and former cohabitants and parties in non-marital intimate relationships are included in the legislation, and psychological violence is explicitly defined.  <P>Other laws are more vague: New Zealand has enacted family violence legislation without specific reference to women or girls; in Malawi, a constitutional provision makes a general commitment to implementing policy on domestic violence.  <P>In recent years, sexual harassment has been publicly acknowledged as harmful to women, and countries are taking the first steps by adopting legislation prohibiting it. In the last two years, legislation that directly addresses sexual harassment has been passed in Belgium, Belize, Costa Rica, Finland, France, Ireland, Paraguay, the Philippines and Switzerland. Similar legislation has been proposed in Chile, Italy, Jamaica and South Africa.  <P>Laws that criminalize gender-based violence are positive steps but but they offer not guarantees. Worldwide, even where laws are in place, prosecution of perpetrators is rare, and successful prosecutions uncommon.</TD> </TR> </TABLE></CENTER>   <BR>  <CENTER><TABLE BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=6 CELLPADDING=0 COLS=4 WIDTH="84%" > <CAPTION><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Countries that have enacted legislation against:</FONT></FONT></B></CAPTION> <TR> <TD><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Domestic </FONT></FONT></B>  <BR><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>violence</FONT></FONT></B></TD> <TD><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Marital rape</FONT></FONT></B></TD> <TD><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Sexual harassment</FONT></FONT></B></TD> <TD><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Female genital mutilation</FONT></FONT></B></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Argentina</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Australia</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Argentina</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Australia</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Australia</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Austria</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Australia</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Burkina Faso</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Bahamas</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Barbados</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Austria</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Canada</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Bangladesh</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Canada</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Bahamas</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Egypt**</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Barbados</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Denmark</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Belgium</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>France***</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Belize</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>France</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Belize</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Ghana</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Bolivia</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Germany</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Canada</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>New Zealand</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Brazil</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Ireland</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Costa Rica</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Norway</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Canada</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>New Zealand</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Finland</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Sudan****</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Chile</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Norway</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>France</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Sweden</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>China</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Poland</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Germany</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>United Kingdom</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Colombia</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>South Africa</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Guinea</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>United States</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Costa Rica</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Spain</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Ireland</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Cyprus</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Sweden</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Israel</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Czech Republic</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Trinidad/Tobago</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Lesotho</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Denmark</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>United Kingdom</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Malawi</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Ecuador</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>United States*</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Namibia</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>El Salvador</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Netherlands</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Finland</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>New Zealand</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>France</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Panama</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Guatemala</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Paraguay</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Guyana</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Philippines</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Honduras</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Spain</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Ireland</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Sweden</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Israel</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Switzerland</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Italy</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>United Kingdom</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Jamaica</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>United States</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Malawi</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Malaysia</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Mexico</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>New Zealand</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Panama</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Paraguay</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Peru</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Portugal</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>St. Lucia</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>St. Vincent/ </FONT></FONT>  <BR><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1> Grenadines</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD COLSPAN="3" ROWSPAN="4"><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>  </FONT><FONT SIZE=-2>  *      Legislation enacted by state law.</FONT></FONT><FONT SIZE=-2> </FONT>  <BR><FONT SIZE=-2><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica">    **     No criminal law, but a ministerial decree forbids the</FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica">practice.</FONT> </FONT>  <BR><FONT SIZE=-2><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica">    ***    By court decision, not specific legislation.</FONT> </FONT>  <BR><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-2>    ****   1946 law only prohibits infibulation.</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>South Africa</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Spain</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Trinidad/Tobago</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Tunisia</FONT></FONT></TD> <TD COLSPAN="3" ROWSPAN="4"><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-2>   Compiled from various sources, January-May 1997, including R. Boland </FONT></FONT>  <BR><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-2>   (editor, <I>Annual Review of Population Law</I>, Harvard University); N. Toubia </FONT></FONT>  <BR><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-2>   (Director of Research, Action & Information Network for Bodily Integrity of </FONT></FONT>  <BR><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-2>   Women); J. Aeberhard-Hodges (International Labour Organization); and </FONT></FONT>  <BR><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-2><I>   State Responses to Domestic Violence</I>, Women, Law & Development </FONT></FONT>  <BR><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-2>   International, Washington, DC, 1996.</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>United Kingdom</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>United States*</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=-1>Uruguay</FONT></FONT></TD> </TR> </TABLE></CENTER> <CENTER> <H5> <A HREF="women1c.htm"></A></H5></CENTER> <CENTER><A HREF="women1c.htm"></A> </CENTER> <CENTER><TABLE COLS=1 WIDTH="84%" > <TR> <TD> <CENTER> <H5> <A HREF="le4part1.htm">Previous</A>  |  <A HREF="mainmenu.htm">Contents</A>  |  <A HREF="p48b.htm">Next</A></H5></CENTER> </TD> </TR> </TABLE></CENTER>   </BODY>