Pakistan's Punjab must enforce new law on violence against women-rights group
NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Pakistan's Human Rights Commission (HRCP) on Thursday welcomed a landmark law passed by the country's most populous province, Punjab, to stop violence against women, but said it would make a difference only if there was "efficient enforcement".
The Protection of Women against Violence Bill 2015, passed in Punjab on Wednesday, criminalises all forms of violence against women, including domestic, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic and verbal.
Under the new law, the provincial government will establish district protection centres, residential shelters and a toll-free helpline for victims of violence.
The law also says family courts must hold hearings within seven days of a complaint being made, and a decision must be taken on all complaints within 90 days. For serious offences, courts can order defendants to wear GPS-linked bracelets to monitor their movements.
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