A draft law to legalise the role of pharmacists in fighting violence against women

The head of the pharmacists' department in the Kataeb (Phalangist) Party, Dr. Joe Sallum, noted during a conference on "Pharmacists and women: the role of pharmacists in combating violence against women", which was organised last Sunday by the departments of women's issues and pharmacists in the Party, that the idea to organise the conference arose because of the pharmacists endeavor to support the implementation of the recently adopted law to protect women from family violence.  Sallum went on to explain that women victims of violence are likely to approach pharmacists as a first interface in order to obtain painkillers.  Henceforth, pharmacists of the party decided to submit a law petition entitled "pharmacists obligation to report" whereby a pharmacist is required to report cases of domestic violence through a special hotline, after receiving the consent of the victim, and is expected to benefit from immunity and not be legally pursued for this action.
For his part, MP Sami Gemayel insisted on the important role that pharmacists can play in reporting violence.  He also highlighted the need for of enacting a civil family law which he considers to be an entry point for protecting women.  Gemayel also referred to the draft civil marriage law submitted by his party in 1969, while calling for its endorsement.
Source: Al-Akhbar 8 October 2014