Domestic violence crackdown 'vital'

BAHRAIN's government was yesterday urged to draft laws that specifically outlaw domestic violence and enforce strict penalties that will have a deterrent effect on offenders.

The call was one of a number of recommendations by Washington-based Freedom House in its report 'Women's Rights in the Middle East and North Africa 2010'.

It focuses on the key areas of Non-discrimination and Access to Justice; Autonomy, Security, Freedom of the Person; Economic Rights and Equal Opportunity; Political Rights and Civic Voice; and Social and Cultural Rights.

Hundreds of women across Bahrain and 17 other countries in the region, were interviewed and surveyed by researchers.

Progress

The aim was to evaluate what kind of progress had been made for women's rights in the last five years, when the report was last conducted.

On Bahrain, the report also suggested that abused women should no longer be required to seek approval from the police before they can access domestic abuse shelters.

It recommended that funding should be increased for non-governmental organisation's programmes, which are aimed at expanding shelter capacities for abused women and monitoring vulnerable populations, including foreign workers.

Bahrain's government was also advised to provide specialised law enforcement units with the legislative and budgetary tools they need to carry out successful investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking offences.

The report also said that victims of trafficking should be guaranteed immunity from prosecution for prostitution, illegal migration and related offences, granted protective and rehabilitation services, and encouraged to testify against those who confined or abused them.

Elsewhere, the report found that Algeria, Kuwait and Jordan had taken the most significant steps for women's rights in the last five years, while Iraq, the Palestinian Territories and Yemen have fallen behind.

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