• Text size  | | |
• Email this document
• Printable version

Dominica: Update to Responses to Information Requests DMA17694.E of 10 June 1994 and DMA17103.E of 18 April 1994 on the protection available to women victims of domestic abuse

Beyond what is reported in Country Reports 1997, current information on the protection available to female victims of domestic abuse in Dominica could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Country Reports 1997 states that

Beyond the general protection of the Constitution, women do not benefit from any specific civil rights legislation. There is little open discrimination against women, yet sexual harassment and domestic violence cases are common, and there is no family court to deal specifically with domestic violence issues. Women can bring charges against husbands for battery, and both the police and the courts prosecute cases of rape and sexual assault, but there are no specific spousal abuse laws. The Department of Labor recruited a permanent counselor and established a crisis response mechanism to assist women who are victims of domestic violence. The Welfare Department assists victims of abuse by finding temporary shelter, providing counseling to both parties, or recommending police action. The Welfare Department reports all cases of abuse to the police. The courts may issue protective orders, but the police do not consistently enforce them.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information

currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State.

Additional Sources Consulted

Boletín. Red Internacional Latinoamericana y del Caribe Contra la Violencia Domestica y Sexual. ISIS International. 1997-1998.

The Human Rights Watch Global Report on Women's Human Rights. 1995. New York: Human Rights Watch.

International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW). IWRAW to CEDAW Country Reports. 1993, 1994.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1998.

Latin American Regional Reports: Central America and Caribbean Report [London]. 1998.

Women and Politics Worldwide.1994. Nelson, Barbara J.; Chowdhury, Najma. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Women and Violence: Realities and Responses Worldwide. 1994. Davies, Miranda; Bradley, Christine; Thomas, Dorothy Q.;  Narasimhan, Sakuntala; Beasley, Michele [...et al]. London: Zed Books Ltd.

Women International Network. WinNews. 1997-1998.

On-line search (NEXIS).

Two oral sources could not be reached for this Response to Information Request.

Topics: Violence against women, SGBV, Women-at-risk, Violence against women,