Rape and Domestic Violence: The law prohibits rape, including spousal rape, both of which are punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment. The law penalizes domestic physical or psychological violence with a prison sentence of up to three years. Authorities enforced the law effectively. The first law on the Elimination of Gender-Based and Domestic Violence entered into effect on February 11. The law envisages the establishment of a national commission for the prevention of domestic and gender-based violence.
As of the end of June, the Prosecutor’s Office initiated 44 criminal proceedings related to gender violence and 12 related to domestic violence. As of the end of June, the Prosecutor’s Office concluded 10 cases of gender violence and one case 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 (including a hotline) as well as legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. 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 August, EAID had assisted102 female victims of domestic violence. 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 in 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 the ADA, victims were reluctant to file a complaint with police due to fear of reprisal.
Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment under the provisions for other sexual aggressions, punishable by three months’ to three years’ imprisonment. As of June two 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, or violence.
Discrimination: The law prohibits discrimination against women privately or professionally with fines up to 24,000 euros ($26,000). The law does not require equal pay for equal work. Although no cases were filed during the year, the 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 (see section 7.d.).