National

Gender-Based Violence Law Review

The National Gender-Based Violence Discriminatory Law Review Forum Report recommends a number of gender equality laws.

Published

3 years ago

March 19, 2022

Our News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The National Gender-Based Violence Discriminatory Law Review Forum Report obtained by our news earlier this week, recommends a number of gender equality laws.

However, Keile Campbell reports that some women’s rights activists have mixed views.

The report from last month’s forum recommended the criminalization of marital rape, legalization of abortion and decriminalization of sex work.

Director of activist group Equality Bahamas Alicia Wallace says the last publicly available draft of the Gender-Based Violence Bill should not be passed as it still does not acknowledge marital rape as rape and the one-year time restriction for a woman to report the rape.

Wallace also took issue with the draft as it stands saying consent of the Attorney General is needed for the case to be pursued.

Wallace said it’s been the pandering to naysayers and misogynists as to why things have stayed the same.

United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) member Marion Bethel, said the government’s focus on gender equality legislation since 2018 is due to the pressure from intergovernmental organizations.

Nonetheless, Bethel encouraged activists to use the mandates of intergovernmental bodies such as the United Nations to bring about societal and legislative change to gender-based issues.