PARLIAMENT has approved a series of laws on domestic violence requiring aggressors to leave the homes of their victims following a court order, and not to come within five meters of the victims. The changes also increase penalties for rape from 2-8 years to 5-12 years in jail.
As of January 1 next year, a court has seven days after a notice is filed of domestic violence to decide whether to order an aggressor to leave a common residence. Aggressors who disobey the order can be jailed for a year.
Women's rights advocates have praised the changes, but say they will wait to see how they work in practice before further comment.
