Gender-based violence in general

The Law Against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Human Trafficking defines and prohibits sexual violence, exploitation, and human trafficking. Among other things, the Law establishes that the penalty for sexual violence shall be imprisonment for a period of five to eight years, and that sentences can be increased for aggravating circumstances, such as gang rapes, sexual violence against the elderly or physically or mentally disabled, or the use of arms or drugs to carry out the sexual violence.

Guatemala’s Decree No. 7-99 establishes a legal framework to promote the dignity and integral development of women, ensuring equal rights and opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Under Chapter 2, the government must adopt policies to eliminate workplace discrimination against women on the basis of marriage or maternity. Chapter 4 requires the creation of educational campaigns and programs aimed at eliminating gender bias, raising awareness of women’s rights, and preventing violence against women.

Decree No. 97-1996 seeks to prevent, punish, and eradicate domestic violence by protecting individuals (particularly women and children) from abuse in the home and providing mechanisms for their support and protection. Article 7 sets out protective measures for victims, including the immediate removal of the aggressor from the household, restraining orders prohibiting contact with the victim, provision of temporary shelter, and access to medical, psychological, and legal support.

In Delhi Domestic Working Women’s Forum v. Union of India, six women were sexually assaulted and raped on a commuter train. The Supreme Court established new requirements for police in handling rape cases, including providing victims with legal representation, informing them of all their rights before questioning, and protecting their anonymity during trial.

The plaintiff is a female former cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she claimed that she was forced to resign after her third year due to rampant sexual hostility. In May 2010, she was raped while at West Point after she took sleeping pills and she also cites several other instances of sexual assault and harassment, claiming that members the Sexual Assault Review Board at West Point failed to punish the perpetrators.

Eight female students of the Nubia Association of Ahilia University were arrested for engaging in immoral activities that violated the public order, in contravention of Sudan's Criminal Code, which incorporates Islamic Sharia law. The immoral activities the women committed consisted of "girls kissing, wearing trousers, dancing with men, crossing legs with men, sitting with boys, and sitting and talking with boys." The women were punished with fines and between 25 and 40 lashes. The lashing took place in public by use of a wire and plastic whip.

The Domestic Violence Act of Trinidad and Tobago provides legal protection to victims of domestic violence, including physical, psychological, and financial abuse. Victims may apply to the court for a protection order if the abuse is occurring, has occurred, or is likely to occur. A protection order can include restrictions on approaching or contacting the victim, entering their residence, or taking their property. It may also require the respondent to leave the home or pay interim financial support.

The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Domestic Violence Act of 2015 protects individuals from domestic violence, defining it as any physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or financial abuse, including stalking, intimidation, harassment, or property damage, among people in close relationships, such as spouses, cohabitants, family members, partners, or individuals sharing a household. It establishes a legal framework for safety, including:

Under the Domestic Violence Act of Saint Lucia the act of domestic violence is broadly defined to include both mental and physical harm. Any person who is convicted of the crime of domestic violence is subject to a fine not exceeding ten thousand East Caribbean dollars, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

The Domestic Violence Act (the “DVA”) serves to combat the prevalence of domestic violence in Grenada.