Lack of definition of domestic violence has hampered the effectiveness of local laws dealing with the issue.
Another weakness of the legislation is its failure to take visiting relationships into consideration.
These points were made by director of the Bureau of Gender Affairs, Patricia Hackett-Codrington, while addressing the Consultation On Domestic Violence Legislation at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday.
Local magistrates, lawyers and representatives of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that deal specifically with domestic violence examined the CARICOM Model Legislation on Domestic Violence for ideas to form the basis of recommendations for improving the existing Domestic Violence (Protection Order) Act of 1993.
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