It seems that as the rest of the world continues...

It seems that as the rest of the world continues to progress for women’s rights, the United States is falling behind, and worse, conservative Christian legislators are forcing us to regress. Whether its voting against the Violence Against Women Act, spreading the message that rape in the military is to be expected, or preventing health care access for low income women, this country is about to join the ranks with the rest of the so called haters of women. Before we put a blaming finger on countries like Pakistan, we need to point the finger inwards and stop the pervasive disintegration of womens rights legislation and court decisions of the United States. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

Senate in Pakistan unanimously passes Domestic Violence Bill

Pakistan’s Senate on Monday passed a bill that makes violence against women and children an offence carrying jail terms and fines, state media said.

The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill was introduced by Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar and passed unanimously by the upper house of the federal parliament, Pakistan Television reported. The law was already passed unanimously in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, in August 2009. It will come into effect after President Asif Ali Zardari signs it into legislation.

Those found guilty of beating women or children will face a minimum six months behind bars and a fine of at least 100,000 rupees ($1,100). Besides children and women, the bill also provides protection to the adopted, employed and domestic associates in a household.

The law classifies domestic violence as acts of physical, sexual or mental assault, force, criminal intimidation, harassment, hurt, confinement and deprivation of economic or financial resources.

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(via thusfarwest)