Ley 176 del 2001
Resumen
Esta ley declara el mes de noviembre de cada año como el "Mes de la Prevención de la Violencia Doméstica" en Puerto Rico. La ley busca concienciar a la población sobre este problema social y exhorta a la acción para su erradicación, destacando el impacto devastador en las familias y la sociedad.
Contenido
(NO. 176) (Approved December 21, 2001)
AN ACT
To declare the month of November of each year as "Domestic Violence Prevention Month."
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
Domestic Violence is one of the social ills that affect the Puerto Rican family. Like a terminal illness, it destroys love, marriage, family, children and the life of those who suffer it.
Almost daily, the media confront us with the harsh reality that in Puerto Rico, Domestic Violence exists in hundreds of homes, it being women and children who face higher risks. According to the numbers furnished by the Statistics Division of the Puerto Rico Police, from 1995 to 1998 a total of 72,397 Domestic violence cases against women and 8,447 cases against men were reported. For the past 16 years until the year 2000, a total of 169 women have been murdered in Puerto Rico in cases of Domestic Violence. Cases such as the Aguada murderer have left a deep impression in each and every one of those who believe in family and in social welfare.
The devastating effects of Domestic Violence also impact the economy, due to expenses incurred by the State, such as health, police, justice, decrease on productivity in employment due to work absenteeism and income loss for the family. Above all, violence generates violence: when
children are victims, or exposed to abuse, they tend to repeat such antisocial behavior, perpetuating this social illness generation after generation.
The current Legislature reaffirms its commitment with the Puerto Rican family, by declaring November as "Domestic Violence Prevention Month." Domestic Violence is a problem of the Puerto Rican community, and therefore, it demands a community solution.
As a people, we owe our affirmative action to those women who have lost their lives and the hundreds of children who have last their innocence. Let's make an indestructible commitment with justice; lets affirm our rejection of any act of domestic violence; lets act to fight and remove the poison of Domestic Violence from our society's womb, for those who are no longer with us and the future of this and all peoples of the world.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- The month of November of each year is hereby declared as "Domestic Violence Prevention Month."
Section 2.- The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall, by proclamation thereto, annually exhort the Puerto Rican people to become aware and carry out acts geared toward domestic violence eradication, particularly during the proclaimed month.
Section 3.- Copy of the annual Proclamation shall be distributed to the media of the country for its disclosure.
Section 4.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 176 (S.B. 692) of the $2^{ ext {nd }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to declare the month of November of each year as "Domestic Violence Prevention Month.", has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today 7th of February of 2005.
Luis Fusté-Lacourt Director