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What it is

A single court order to protect domestic violence victims

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 28 May 2003.

Official title: Private member's bill regulating the Protection Order for victims of domestic violence.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000300· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. It creates a protection order for victims of domestic violence. The investigating judge issues it when there are signs of a crime or minor offense against the victim and an objective risk situation exists. It combines in a single court decision criminal measures against the aggressor and civil and social protection measures for the victim.
  2. The order can be requested from the court, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the security forces, victim support offices, or social services, with no technical formalities or added costs. The on-duty judge calls an urgent hearing with the victim and the aggressor, who is heard separately, and it must be held within 72 hours of the request at the latest.
  3. Civil measures, such as use of the family home, custody, or child support, last 30 days. If the victim then files a family lawsuit, they remain in force for 30 more days while the civil judge decides whether to confirm, change, or lift them.
  4. Every protection order is recorded in the Central Registry for the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence, with immediate access for the courts and guaranteed confidentiality. The order also requires keeping the victim permanently informed about the aggressor's criminal case and prison status.

Who it affects

  • Victims of domestic violence and their family members: Can request the protection order and receive criminal, civil, and social protection measures.
  • Investigating judges, especially on-duty judges: Can issue the order on their own initiative and calls the urgent hearing.
  • Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Fiscal): Can request the order and must be notified immediately of the facts.
  • Social services, assistance institutions, and security forces: Must immediately report known facts and help victims request the order.
  • State, regional, and local public administrations: Must immediately activate their social protection tools when the order is issued.

Words worth knowing

Medidas cautelares
Temporary court decisions to prevent harm while the case is resolved, such as barring the aggressor from approaching the victim.
Juez de instrucción
The judge who investigates a crime before the trial.
Juez de guardia
The investigating judge who handles urgent matters outside regular court hours.
Ministerio Fiscal
The public body that acts in court defending the law and, among other things, victims' interests.
Audiencia
A court hearing where the people involved present their case.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced28 May 2003Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted3 June 2003The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendments10 June 2003Groups propose changes.
  4. Committeeno dateA committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenary11 June 2003All 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senate12 June 2003The Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOE30 July 2003It is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 8 official steps on a timeline
May 2003Jun 200311. 28 May 2003: Presentación22. 3 June 2003: Boletín Oficial de las Cortes Generales Publicación desde 03/06/2003 hasta 06/06/200333. 3 June 2003: Calificación44. 6 June 2003: Pleno Toma en consideración desde 06/06/2003 hasta 10/06/200355. 10 June 2003: Pleno Enmiendas desde 10/06/2003 hasta 11/06/200366. 11 June 2003: Pleno Aprobación desde 11/06/2003 hasta 12/06/200377. 12 June 2003: Senado desde 12/06/2003 hasta 30/07/200388. 30 July 2003: Concluido - (Aprobado con modificaciones) desde 30/07/2003 hasta 23/09/2003

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

The same initiative in the other chamber:

Published in the BOE: Law 27/2003, of 31 July, regulating the Protection Order for victims of domestic violence.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

Read the full method · Report an error