Women's Rights, International Norms, and Domestic Violence: Asian Perspectives

This article examines domestic violence laws in two Asian jurisdictions and highlights the importance of using a gender analysis to create an alternative narrative of, and different solutions to, the problem. The paper reviews some of the theoretical analyses of domestic violence and draws on international human rights discourse to supplement domestic developments. The tension between cultural norms and international norms is considered and it is suggested that certain universal norms need to be championed—in this case the right of women to be free from domestic violence.