The Special Law on Gender Based Violence

Brief Description

The Special Law on Gender Based Violence (Law 84/VII/11) defines violence against women as a symptom of unequal power relations and a mechanism to control women. The primary focus of the GBV Law is to regulate the measures needed to effectively achieve the principle of gender equality, to repress and make perpetrators accountable, and guarantee support to victims. It does not limit violence to the context of marital relationships: it considers isolated or recurrent violence, occurring within the family or within any intimate relationship, present or prior, irrespective of cohabitation. It takes into account physical, psychological, sexual, moral, financial, as well as sexual harassment.