International: DA protection extended to cars in California
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that requires vehicle makers selling internet-connected cars in California to do more to protect domestic abuse survivors. Provisions include manufacturers establish a clear process for drivers to submit a copy of a restraining order or other documentation and request termination of another driver’s remote access within two business […]
International: Olympian’s killing causes outrage
The death of Ugandan Olympic long-distance runner and record holder Rebecca Cheptegei, allegedly set alight by her partner, has provoked condemnation. “[The incident] is a tragic reminder that domestic abuse can and does infiltrate all parts of society, including women celebrated for their achievements in the world of sport and beyond,” Women’s Aid and Women […]
International: DA rises in Ukraine amid tensions of war
Domestic violence is increasing in Ukraine with the country in its third year of war against Russian invaders. According to Ukraine’s internal affairs ministry, police registered more than 291,000 cases of domestic violence across the country in 2023, up a fifth on the previous year. This year’s total is likely to be much higher as […]
International: Queensland may allow pre-recorded evidence in DA cases
The government in Queensland, Australia, has presented a bill to the state’s parliament to allow victims of domestic abuse to give pre-recorded evidence. Part of a package of measures focused on sexual offences, the intention is to reduce the trauma faced by victims of having to testify several times. Proposals include a requirement evidence of […]
INTERNATIONAL: US gun control law in DV cases upheld
Supreme Court justices voted 8-1 in favour of a 1994 ban on firearms for people with restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners. The decision reverses a ruling from an appeals court in New Orleans which had struck down the law. Chief Justice John Roberts said the law uses common sense after […]
International: murder leads to DV law reforms in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s former economy minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev has been jailed for 24 years after being convicted of torturing and murdering his wife, Saltanat Nukenova. Days after her death in November relatives launched a petition urging authorities to pass ‘Saltanat’s Law’ to better protect those at risk of domestic violence. More than 150,000 people signed and the […]
International: Greece to establish refuges
The Greek government will set up a domestic violence refuge in every police district, with the location known only to police, the minister for citizens’ protection, Michalis Chrisochoidis, announced. The development follows the fatal stabbing of Kyriaki Griva outside a police station while seeking protection from her ex-boyfriend, an incident which has refocused national attention […]
International: Jamaica toughens up on domestic violence
The Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act has come into force in Jamaica, giving more clout to the protection orders courts can issue to protect victims from harm and harassment. Those who breach an order now face up to one year in prison and a penalty of up to 1,000,000 Jamaican dollars (£5,900), compared with six months […]
INTERNATIONAL: rise in Ireland’s domestic abuse cases
Irish police responded to 48,400 domestic abuse incidents last year, a 10% increase on 2020, resulting in a 13% rise to 8,600 in charges for crimes involving an element of domestic abuse. Additionally, charges for breaches of domestic violence orders went up 6% to 4,250. The figures show that police have the capacity and resolve […]
International: company’s ‘DA spyware’ banned
United States’ consumer watchdog, the Federal Trade Commission, has banned SpyFone from the surveillance business because of allegations its stalkerware app secretly harvested and shared data on people’s physical movements, phone use, and online activities through a hidden device. “The illegal secret surveillance provided by the apps made it easy for stalkers and abusers to […]
