As of November 18, Chilean women can finally achieve financial independence from abusive husbands, as the country finally legalised divorce. Until now, the only ways to end a marriage in Chile were to have it annulled, which is complicated, must be mutual and prevents any support payments; or to separate. Even after separation, however, a woman cannot make any major financial decisions without her husband’s permission under Chilean law. The new law allows for divorce after one year’s separation if the request is mutual, and after three years’ separation otherwise. The husband will retain control of his wife’s finances during the wait. Chile has one of the highest domestic violence rates in the world, with one in four women suffering from it.

From Green Left Weekly, December 8, 2004.
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