The Palestinian Authority has repealed certain provisions in its criminal code that discriminate against women, including an article (article 308) that allowed rapists to escape criminal punishment if they married their victim. Additionally, Palestine has eliminated a provision that allowed judges to reduce sentences for violent crimes against women and children, a loophole that a UN study found was used to protect perpetrators of so-called “honor killings.” In the same month, the Palestinian Prime Minister announced additional positive reforms relating to child custody, including allowing “women who have custody of their children, to open bank accounts for them, transfer their children to different schools, and apply for their passports.”
However, the organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) encouraged Palestine to make even greater progress on women’s rights, including adopting comprehensive domestic violence legislation. HRW noted that Palestine is due to have its first review before the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in July of 2018.
Compiled from: Palestine: ‘Marry-Your-Rapist’ Law Repealed, Human Rights Watch News (May 10, 2018).