LONDON, 23 March.- (ANA) - Algeria’s parliament must adopt amendments to the Penal Code introduced by the government criminalizing physical violence against a spouse but should firmly  reject a legal provision that would halt judicial proceedings if a survivor of domestic violence forgives the suspected perpetrator.
 
“The clause which would allow legal proceedings to be stopped if a survivor of domestic violence forgives the perpetrator sets a dangerous precedent and shows a troubling lack of understanding of the triggers of domestic violence. It must be categorically rejected,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director.
“The provision fails to confront the reality of the power relations and inequality between men and women. A failure to withdraw it could expose women who come forward to report domestic abuse to serious risks of violence or coercion to force them to withdraw a complaint.”
To read more about the draft amendments to Algeria's Penal Code please see (in French): https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde28/1131/2015/fr/. - (ANA)
AB/ANA/ 23 March 2015 - - -