Bill outlaws revenge porn

THE Senate will on Monday debate a bill which among other things will outlaw revenge porn, intimate images of their former romantic partners sent by disgruntled individuals after a break-up.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi will pilot the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2020, to give more protection to victims on top of that in the 1999 parent act.

The definition of "emotional or psychological abuse" is expanded.

The bill bans “the dissemination of intimate images of the applicant or applicant's child" electronically or by any other means.

Also prohibited is emotional abuse by way of "unwelcome or intimidatory contact" by any method including electronic means.

“Moreover, preventing a person from making or keeping connection with his family or friends or any other controlling or coercive behaviour towards the person or his child will be considered ‘emotional or psychological abuse,’” said a parliamentary guide to the bill, Bill Essentials.

The bill also sets up a register of individuals accused of domestic violence.

“The Commissioner of Police shall establish electronically a National Domestic Violence Register," says Bill Essentials. "The amendment places a responsibility on the Commissioner to ensure all domestic violence reports are entered in the Register. The Register shall be accessible to police officers in each police station but shall not be accessible to the public.”

The bill mandates the reporting of suspected domestic violence.

It says anyone who has even a temporary care over a child or other vulnerable person and suspects they are suffering domestic violence must report this to the police, on pain of a penalty of seven years imprisonment or a $15,000 fine. The protection is for those under age 18 and for someone who is dependent on another person due to physical or mental disability, age or infirmity.

The person mandated to report their suspicions of domestic violence are anyone residing with the victim, any medical professional who conducted a medical examination, and anyone who has actual custody or control of the victim, the bill says. More so, also mandated to report suspected abuse are the victim’s “attendant, employer, teacher or caregiver,” or person who in “any other capacity has temporary custody, care, charge or control of the victim.”