In order to ensure more protection for victims of domestic violence and their children, the Parliament in the Republic of Lebanon approved on 21/12/2020, a number of amendments to Law 293/2014 for the protection of women and other family members from domestic violence.

The Ministry of Justice, “Kafa” organization and the National Commission for Lebanese Women had proposed these amendments in 2018, after it was found that there are gaps in some articles of the law based on the practical experience in its application by the concerned judges.

Among the most prominent amendments that were approved:

• Include in the definition of domestic violence, the criminal practices that take place “during or because of marital life.”
• Include economic violence as one of the punishable types of violence.
• Increasing the number of judges in charge of investigating and examining domestic violence cases, and ensuring that the victim is aware of her rights before the judiciary and her right to seek social assistance.
• The inclusion in the protection order issued in favor of the victim of domestic violence, her children aged 13 years and under, while the protection order only covered the victim’s children who are of legal custody age in accordance with the provisions of personal status laws. As well, in the new law, any minor has the right to request a protection order without his guardian.
• Establishing a special account in the Ministry of Social Affairs to help victims of domestic violence, and the rehabilitation of perpetrators is financed from state contributions, (for this purpose a nominal appropriation is provided in the annual budget of the Ministry of Social Affairs), from donations and from funds resulting from fines imposed under this law.
• Tougher penalties for perpetrators of domestic violence crimes.