Algeria: Parliament Enacts Domestic Violence Law
Thursday, March 12, 2015 8:10 AM

The Algerian Parliament approved new legislation last week prohibiting domestic violence against married women. The law would punish perpetrators with harsh prison sentences of up to 20 years or life in prison, depending on the severity of violence or if the woman dies from her injuries. The law would also prohibit a husband from “disposing” of his wife’s financial assets. However, Amnesty International and Algerian women's rights advocates have criticized a provision in the law that allows courts to pardon domestic violence offenders if the victim withdraws her complaint or forgives her abuser.

Compiled from: Ross, Philip, Algeria Domestic Violence Law: Violence Against Women Illegal, But Human Rights Group Remains Skeptical, International Business Times (March 5, 2015); Algeria passes law banning domestic violence against women, Agence France Presse (AFP) and Yahoo News (March 5, 2015).