In her report, Ms. Coomaraswamy stated the purpose of the model law: "The objective of this model legislation is to serve as a drafting guide to legislatures and organizations committed to lobbying their legislatures for comprehensive legislation on domestic violence."

The model legislation includes a definition of domestic violence, a declaration of purpose and both civil and criminal provisions. It includes requirements for police officers, judges and prosecutors. Importantly, the legislation highlights the importance of victim safety throughout criminal and civil proceedings. Under the Declaration of Purpose, the model law stresses that all domestic violence legislation should "[a]ssure victims of domestic violence the maximum protection in cases ranging from physical and sexual to psychological violence." The model legislation directs that upon responding to a report of domestic violence, police officers "shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the victim and her dependents are safe." The legislation contains provisions for ensuring safety during criminal proceedings. It states, "during the trial phase, the defendant accused of domestic violence shall have no unsupervised contact with the plaintiff."

The model legislation includes provisions on protection orders and ex parte restraining orders. The legislation provides that "[w]here a situation of grave danger exists to the life, health and wellbeing of the victim and she is unlikely to be safe until a court order is issued, the victim/plaintiff a relative or welfare worker may apply to a judge or magistrate on duty to provide emergency relief, such as an ex parte temporary restraining order to be issue against the abuser within 24 hours of violence occurring."

The model legislation emphasizes the importance of developing written procedures for officials prosecuting crimes of domestic violence and, in Section V, directs the State prosecuting attorney or attorney-general to put such procedures into effect.

The model legislation recognizes that domestic violence cannot be effectively addressed solely in the legal system. In Section VII, the model legislation directs States to provide emergency and long term services to domestic violence victims and to train legal professionals and social service providers in the complicated dynamics of domestic violence.