Calls for full annulment of an unfair law article on VAW

ABAAD non-profit organization staged a symbolic sit-in yesterday in front of the Parliament demanding the full annulment of Article 522 of the Penal Code, which provides for the end of all prosecution against a sexual assaulter if he marries his victim. (Section 7 of the Penal Code/ on crimes of obscene or abusive nature). The move coincides with the meeting of the Parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee to study a proposal submitted by MP Elie Kayruz to repeal the above article without amendment. Partaking in the protest, were a number of deputies, namely Samir Jissr, Ghassan Mkhaibir and Elie Kayruz. On the occasion, lawyer Danielle Howayek from Abaad explained that the basic demand is a complete eradication of the article which contains a text that is blatantly humiliating to women and vindicates the cruelty of perpetrators of rape crimes. Howayek categorically rejected any adjustment of the said article that facilitates the violation of women’s human rights. For his part, MP Mkhaibir revealed an initial approval by above committee members to abolish the article. To note, the move comes as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. (The promotional video of the campaign: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-gKu9yw6eI). Commenting on the promo announcement, journalist Ahmad Mohsen wrote in Al Akhbar newspaper that the video which shows a shackled woman dressed in white, a symbol of marriage, who is harshly beaten, is in fact meaningless, and only justifes violence. The promo implores affection and compassion, thus supports patriarchy’s vision of women as weak  (To review the article of Ahmad Mohsen in “Al Akhbar” please check: http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/268917) . 

(Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, December 1, 2016)

 

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