Rape and Domestic Violence: The law prohibits rape, including spousal rape, both of which are punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment. Although there is no specific law on violence against women, the law penalizes domestic physical or psychological violence with a prison sentence of up to three years. Authorities enforced the law effectively.
As of the end of June, the Prosecutor’s Office initiated 45 criminal proceedings related to gender violence and 16 related to domestic violence. As of the end of June, the Prosecutor’s Office concluded 18 cases of gender violence and four cases of domestic violence. Almost all the cases involved elements of psychological abuse and mistreatment. Some cases also involved injuries, sexual aggression, and threats.
The government’s Interdisciplinary Team on Gender Violence (EAID) provided medical and psychological services as well as legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. It also operated a hotline. In addition the government placed abused women and their children in a shelter, in a hotel, or with foster families who agreed to provide shelter. As of the end of July, EAID assisted 92 female victims of domestic violence; 43 of such cases were new. These cases involved psychological, physical, and sexual violence as well as social and economic mistreatment. Caritas, a religious nongovernmental organization (NGO), worked closely with the government and with other NGOs on providing support to the victims in their integration into society.
Victims of domestic violence could also request help from the NGO Andorran Women’s Association (ADA), which works for women’s rights. According to ADA, victims were reluctant to file a complaint with police due to fear of reprisal.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): The law prohibits FGM/C and other harmful traditional practices, which are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment. As of October there were no confirmed reports of FGM/C.
Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment under the provisions for other sexual aggressions, punishable by three months’ to three years’ imprisonment. As of August four cases of sexual harassment were reported.
Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide freely the number, spacing, and timing of children; to have the information and means to do so; and to attain the highest standard of reproductive health free from discrimination, coercion, and violence.
Discrimination: The law prohibits discrimination against women privately or professionally with fines up to 24,000 euros ($30,000). The law does not require equal pay for equal work. Although no cases were filed during the year, ADA and trade union representatives from the Andorran Trade Union reported cases of gender discrimination especially related to unequal salaries for the same work and workplace bullying. The government’s Department of Statistics estimated that women earned 24 percent less than men for comparable work. The government made an effort to combat pay discrimination in general, and it applied pay equality within the government. There were no limitations on women’s participation in the labor market, and the government encouraged women to participate in politics. Women held fewer senior management positions than men.