Shortcomings of Lebanon’s New Domestic Violence Law

Lebanon’s parliament passed a law on Tuesday criminalizing domestic violence. The new law comes after a long campaign by women’s rights groups responding to the deaths of several women allegedly from abuse by their husbands. Such domestic abuse sparked a number of protests in Beirut on March 8, also International Women’s Day. On that day, protestors called for the passing of the bill against domestic violence.

Although Lebanon appears very progressive on women rights as compared to other countries in the Middle East, the reality is women face high rates of domestic violence and the endemic issue remains an unspoken problem. Local NGO KAFA receives more than 2,600 reports of domestic violence every year. According to KAFA, there were 25 women reportedly killed by family members in Lebanon between 2010 and 2013. The organization drafted its first anti-domestic violence draft law in 2007, which was redrafted and then amended by religious institutions before being considered by parliament in 2010.

Although this law is historical for Lebanon, as it finally recognizes violence against women by their husbands, it has shortcomings and fails to provide women with full legal rights and support. The law includes progressive elements such as a provision that allows women to get restraining orders against abusers. It calls for establishing family violence units in the Internal Security Forces to deal with complaints from survivors, offering temporary shelters for survivors and assigning a public prosecutor to investigate cases of domestic violence in each governorate. However, the new law does not directly criminalize all aspects of domestic violence, including financial and emotional abuse.

Probably the most controversial issue is the fact that lawmakers removed a clause directly criminalizing marital rape. The bill criminalizes the threat or violence to claim marital intercourse but it does not proscribe the actual non-consensual act and the violation of physical integrity. Lawmakers are talking about the “right” of the spouse to marital intercourse, which could lead to the legitimization of marital rape.

Lebanon’s parliament should revise the domestic violence law urgently. Survivors of violence need fast and real solutions. Moreover, lawmakers and government should effectively work on the proper implementation of such law, establishing proper institutions to supervise and monitor the evolution and outcomes of the law.

Religious institutions in charge of personal status laws that often justify this kind of violence against women must also revise the discriminatory laws and unite efforts with central authorities to guarantee that women will enjoy full and equal rights.

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