State responses to domestic violence: current status and needed improvements.

This paper reports on state responses to domestic violence which endeavors to contribute to the process of reforming the legal treatment of such violence. A review of the literature revealed that most states continue to address domestic violence through their constitutional provisions and their penal and civil codes. Analysis of the study which surveyed 146 womens rights advocates including lawyers academics and service providers from 94 states is also presented. Chapter 1 provides a broader context placing legal form as one among many strategies designed to eradicate gender violence. Chapter 2 identifies international legal instruments and standards relevant to domestic violence. It demonstrates that many norms and provisions implicate the subject of domestic violence and may be interpreted to require states to both prohibit and prevent domestic violence. Chapter 3 reviews selected laws that states have employed to address the issue. Chapter 4 presents the survey respondents evaluation of the legal treatment of domestic violence and their recommendations for its improvement. The last chapter incorporates the conclusions of the research into a model for drafting domestic violence legislation.