- Title: Lebanon scraps law protecting rapists
- Date: 7th December 2016
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (DECEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) PARLIAMENTARY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE'S MEETING ROOM WITH SIGN READING (Arabic): "COMMITTEE OF ADMINISTRATION AND JUSTICE" LEBANESE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETING MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, ROBERT GHANEM SITTING (LEFT) VARIOUS OF MPS DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, ROBERT GHANEM, SAYING: "The first meeting we had was back in September, on September 21, when we started discussing this subject. Today is our sixth meeting and therefore the general orientation and decision is to abolish article 522 and study the articles 503 to 521 each separately and we started studying these articles in the presence of representatives from justice ministry and bar association." VARIOUS OF CEDAR, LEBANESE NATIONAL EMBLEM ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESOURCE CENTRE FOR GENDER EQUALITY (ABAAD) MANAGER, ALIAA AWADA, SAYING: "MP Robert Ghanem, Head of Administration and Justice Committee in the Lebanon's parliament announced the abolition of article 522 that is related to marrying a rape victim. In addition to this, regarding article 504 which is related to raping a woman who has a physical or psychological disability, the penalty of the rapist has been raised to a minimum of seven years - which we consider as another great thing. This is a victory for the civil society movement and a victory for the feminist movement in Lebanon." EXTERIOR OF PARLIAMENT BUILDING LEBANESE CEDAR EMBLEM ON PARLIAMENT BUILDING LEBANESE FLAG ON TOP OF PARLIAMENT
- Embargoed: 22nd December 2016 13:19
- Keywords: Lebanon women law rape marriage campaign
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BVXNIF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Lebanese Parliament on Wednesday (December 7) repeal a controversial law exempting rape offenders from persecution if they marry their victim.
"Head of Administration and Justice Committee in the Lebanon's parliament announced the abolition of article 522 that is related to marrying a rape victim," Aliaa Awada, manager of ABAAD, a gender equality organisation said.
Awada hailed the parliament's decision as a big step forward.
"This is a victory for the civil society movement and a victory for the feminist movement in Lebanon," she said.
The lawmakers also raised penalties for raping a minor or people with mental or physical disabilities.
The controversial law, dating back to the 1940's, created a loophole allowing rapists to escape punishment if they married their victims.
The decision to abolish the law comes after years of campaigning by activists, parliamentarians and gender equality organisations on social media, national television and billboard campaigns.
The campaign included a powerful video produced by Lebanese director Danielle Rizkallah showing a raped and beaten woman, her bruises covered with bandages that resemble a white wedding dress. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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