Contents of legislative preamble

Last edited: December 11, 2010

This content is available in

Options
Options

A legislative preamble to a law on domestic violence should:

  • State that the legislation should be comprehensive and criminalize all forms of violence against women. (UN Handbook, 3.1.2.)
  • State that the law will protect all women and girls. (UN Handbook 3.1.3.)

For example, one of the first articles of the Maria da Penha Law 2006 of Brazil (hereinafter Law of Brazil) states that:

“All women, regardless of class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, income, culture, educational level, age and religion, enjoy the basic rights inherent to the human person, and are ensured the opportunities and facilities to live without violence, preserve their physical and mental health and their moral, intellectual and social improvement.” Article 2