Indicator 29: Existence of a police directorate or unit, specifically dedicated to domestic violence

Experience has shown that complaints of domestic violence are often not of interest to the police, as they are regarded as “banal” cases and “private issues, compared to other types of “more serious” violence. Addressing cases of domestic violence is more likely to be efficient if there are specialized units within police forces with sufficient resources, who have acquired knowledge and experience to deal with the complex nature of VAWG as well as skills to receive victims, carry out the necessary investigations, and refer the cases to the courts.

Algeria does not yet have such a specialized unit within its police force. Lebanon, although the law provides for the establishment of such a unit, has not yet created it. In Egypt and Tunisia special units exist but they deal with VAWG in general and not with domestic violence. Only Jordan, Palestine and Morocco have specialised units for domestic violence.

Countries

Algeria

There is no directorate unit affiliated to the police specifically dedicated to deal with domestic violence.

Egypt

There is the Combating Violence Crimes against Women Unit affiliated to the Ministry of Interior. The unit is set up to receive and deal with complaints from women victims of VAWG and coordinate with different institutions

Jordan

There is the Family Protection Directorate affiliated to the Public Security Department that is specifically dedicated to deal with domestic violence. The department is set up to receive complaints from women victims of VAWG, settle disputes in misdemeanour cases filed by women victims of VAWG and enables courts to impose protective measures and protection orders.

Lebanon

There is not a specific directorate unit that deals with domestic violence. The law on the protection of women and family members against domestic violence requires a special unit on domestic violence to be established within the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces to examine complaints. However, the directorate has not yet been created.

Morocco

There are 132 police units set up to support women victims of all forms of violence, particularly domestic violence.

Palestine

There is the Family and Juvenile Protection Unit affiliated to the Palestinian Police. The unit is set up to receive and deal with complaints of domestic violence and coordinate with different institutions.

Tunisia

Article 24 of law on combating violence against women requires forming special units in each police district to receive complaints from women victims of violence in general. However, these units have not been created yet, because the law does not provide for the establishment of specialized units to receive domestic violence complaints. There is no specific directorate unit affiliated to the police that deals with domestic violence.

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2020 Regional Index on VAWG