Venezuelan Law Really Speaks for Women's Rights

Filed in archive Latin Culture , Latin News on January 19, 2007

I'm a little late to talk about this, but I think it is worth to spread the word to those (like me) who are not aware of this.

On last November, a revolutionary law was approved in Venezuela. "La Ley Orgánica sobre el Derecho de las Mujeres a una Vida Libre de Violencia" (Organic Law about Women's right to a Non-Violent Life) was approved unanimously on November 25, "Día Internacional de la No Violencia contra la Mujer".

This unique law has no similar in the world. It classifies 19 types of violence against women, including:

- Psychological, physical, domestic and sexual violence;
- Obstetrical violence and forced sterilization;
- Mediatic, institutional, and symbolic violence;
- Forced prostitution, sexual slavery and Harassment.

This is an excellent and innovative law. It deals with certain types of violence and aggressions women suffer every day, which weren't legally acknowledged.

For instance, women in labor are often mistreated and abused; and they have no protection against this awful reality. This kind of violence is so humiliating, most patients don't say anything about it. Now, at least Venezuelan "moms to be" have legal protection against abusive doctors, obstetricians and nurses.

You can read the full text of the law here (in Spanish):

Ley Orgánica sobre el Derecho de las Mujeres a una Vida Libre de Violencia

More info, also in Spanish: Nueva Ley en Venezuela, única en LA y el mundo

I hope this law will be the leading example for other countries. What do you think?