The National reports on the drafting of a new and much-needed law in Abu Dhabi to tackle domestic abuse. There's talk of jailing abusive husbands or banning them from their homes and also – perhaps more importantly – of preventing family members from dropping charges in cases of abuse. The latter is probably essential in order to make such a law effective.

Mohammed Tarawneh, a Jordanian judge who has been taking part in the discussions, says: “It is very common for family members to pressure the victims to drop their charges. Sadly, you find a father forcing his daughter to drop sexual harassment charges against her brother, although they’re both his children.”

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 18 March 2010.