Marital rape to be recognised as sexual in new domestic violence law draft

The government is preparing to amend the "Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010" to make it more relevant and effective in addressing present-day issues. One of the major changes in the draft ordinance is the recognition of forced sexual relations with a wife as a form of sexual abuse. The proposed amendments also aim to improve the legal process by reducing the court’s response time to complaints from seven working days to three, and setting a 60-day timeframe for resolving cases. In addition to removing outdated provisions, the revised law will introduce several new measures, such as ensuring the rights of widows, offering special protections for children and people with disabilities, providing access to counseling, and increasing penalties for violations of court orders. The government also plans to raise public awareness, train officials involved in handling such cases, and establish shelters along with support funds to better assist victims.