DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS OF THE WORLD

This page provides links to domestic violence Laws of the following countries:

 

ARGENTINA

Law No. 24417 of 28 December 1994.

 

AUSTRALIA

Family Law Reform Act 1995 (Act No. 167 of 1995), 16 December 1995 [Part VII, Division 11: Family Violence].

 

AUSTRIA

Federal Law of 30 December 1996 on protection against family violence.

 

BELGIUM

Law of 24 November 1997 to fight violence within couples.

 

BOLIVIA

Law No. 1674 of 15 December 1995, Law against Family or Domestic Violence.

Supreme Decree No. 25087 of 6 July 1998, Regulations to Law No. 1674.

 

CAYMAN ISLANDS

The Summary Jurisdiction (Domestic Violence) Law, 1992 (Law No. 20 of 1992) of 17 November 1992. 

 

CHILE

Law No. 19325 of 19 August 1994 establishing rules on proceedings and sanctions relating to acts of intrafamily violence.

Decree No. 1415 of 17 October 1994, Regulations to Law No. 19325.

  

CHINA--HONG KONG

Domestic Violence Ordinance, 30 June 1997.

 

COLOMBIA

Penal Code, Law No. 599 of 24 January 2000 [Book II, Title VI, Chapter I: Intrafamily Violence].

Law 575 of 9 February 2000 [amends Law No. 294].

Decree No. 652 of 16 April 2001 [Regulations to Laws No. 294 and 599].

Law No. 294 of 16 June 1996 setting forth rules on the prevention, remediation, and punishment of family violence.

 

COSTA RICA

Law No. 7586 of 25 March 1996, Law against Domestic Violence.

 

ECUADOR

Law No. 103 of 25 November 1995, Law against Violence against Women and the Family.

 

EL SALVADOR

Decree No. 902 of 5 December 1996, the Law on Family Violence.

 

GUATEMALA

Decree No. 97-96 of 24 October 1996, Law to Prevent, Punish, and Eradicate Intrafamily Violence.

 

HONDURAS

Decree No. 132-97 of 29 September 1997, the Law on Domestic Violence.

 

IRELAND

Domestic Violence Act, 1996 (Act No. 1 of 1996), 27 February 1996.

 

MALAYSIA

Domestic Violence Act, 1994.

 

MAURITIUS

An Act to provide protection to the victims of domestic violence, 1997.

  

MEXICO--FEDERAL DISTRICT

Law of 8 July 1996 on Assistance for and Prevention of Intrafamily Violence.

Penal Code, as amended by the Decree of 26 December 1997 [Book II, Title XIX, Chapter VIII: Family Violence].

 

NEW ZEALAND

Domestic Violence Act 1995 (No. 86 of 1995), 15 December 1995.

Domestic Violence Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 41 of 1998).

 

NICARAGUA

Law No. 230 of 19 September 1996, Law on Amendments and Additions to the Penal Code [amends the Penal Code to add provisions on domestic violence].

 

PANAMA

Law No. 38 of 10 July 2001.

 

PARAGUAY

Law No. 1600 of 6 October 2000 against domestic violence.

 

PERU

Supreme Decree No. 006-97-JUS of 25 June 1997 approving the Coordinated text of the Law on Protection against Family Violence.

Law No. 27016 of 19 December 1998 [amends Supreme Decree No. 006-97-JUS].

Law No. 27306 of 14 July 2000 [amends Supreme Decree No. 006-97-JUS].

 

PORTUGAL

Law No. 129/99 of 20 August 1999 approving the system applicable to advance payment by the State for indemnification due to the victims of marital violence.

Decree-Law No. 48/95 of 15 March 1995 approving the Penal Code, as amended by Law No. 65/98 of 2 September 1998 [Article 152].

 

SAINT LUCIA

Domestic Violence (Summary Proceedings) Act, 1995 (Act No. 7 of 1995), 20 April 1995.

 

SINGAPORE

Women's Charter, as amended by the Women's Charter (Amendment) Act 1996 (Act No. 30 of 1996) [Part VII: Protection of the Family].

 

SOUTH AFRICA

Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (No. 116 of 1998), 20 October 1998.

 

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Domestic Violence Act, 1991 of 16 August 1991 (Act No. 10 of 1991).

 

UNITED KINGDOM

Family Law Act, 1996 (Chapter 27 of 1996) [Part IV, in particular].

 

VENEZUELA

Law of 3 September 1998 on violence against women and the family.