Domestic violence
– Does this figure exist in the legal framework? (Source):
a) Under the Domestic Violence Act, the willful infliction or threat of infliction of harm by one person in a domestic relationship upon another person in that relationship and includes child abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse.b) Offences Against the Person Act: Section 42 on Indecent acts establishes sanctions for any indecent act in any place with intent to insult or offend any person.
– Potential Sanction:
a) Protection order: if an order is breached by Section 11, the respondent is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of 12 months or to both.b) A person could be convicted on indictment of an offence against this Act is liable to imprisonment for a
term of ten years or to a fine or to both. A person convicted summarily of an offence against this Act is liable to imprisonment for a term of two years or to a fine of $2,500 or to both.
Causes of divorce
– Does this figure exist in the legal framework? (Source):
Family Law Act: Barbados is a no-fault jurisdiction so there is no need for the spouse filing for divorce to prove any fault on the part of the other spouse. Dand divorce can be granted after one-year separation.
– Potential Sanction:
An application by a party to a marriage for a decree of dissolution shall be based on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.Whilst there is no requirement under Barbadian Law to state the reason for a divorce, non-consensual distribution of sexual images can be a trigger to apply for separation and protection order until the matter is settled.
Other related figures
– Does this figure exist in the legal framework? (Source):
Under the Family Law Act, rights of unions other than marriage are also recognized if the couple (man and a woman) have cohabited continuously for a period of five years.
– Potential Sanction:
There are no express provisions with regard to the distribution of non-consensual images in the Family Law regime other than using the criminal and civil law regime to assist with any remedies for the offended person.