Women across the globe rely on legal protections, such as alimony, to ensure they are not economically disadvantaged during or after a divorce. Alimony is spousal support provided to one spouse during or after a divorce. In addition to protection from asset division and other economic challenges that could arise during divorce, women desire these legal protections in the case of their permanent separation. Provisions such as alimony are significant because they allow for a smoother transition during a difficult time, especially when children are involved. As FIDA Cameroon (one of FIDA International’s member associations) stated, the “protection of women’s rights under national laws and constitutions is essential to promoting human rights and combating poverty.” Alimony laws are an important tool women have worldwide to protect themselves and to keep a fair balance of power in play during a divorce.
Florida recently made changes to their new alimony laws in florida, but what impact will these changes have specifically on women? While other income stream factors, such as the age of the recipient or the total number of alimony recipients, are at stake, the most worrisome modification under the new law addresses “Permanent Alimony”.
Gone is the provision, previously known as “Permanent Alimony”, that ensured both parties’ financial stability after the end of a marriage. In its place, the law now categorizes permanent alimony as “lifetime periodic alimony”. The new law, however, emphasizes a closer relationship between lifetime periodic alimony and an alimony duration schedule, which includes:
So what will this law mean operationally? In practical terms, this change means that fewer and fewer women may receive permanent alimony or lifetime periodic alimony as defined in this law. This will impact women long term in a range of ways, including for some ruing the idea of having children, potentially lowering their incomes, and steering clear of long-term commitments out of fear they may be left with nothing.
This is troubling news. Yet does this law really signal the impending wave of feminism stalling out? Or is it just a way to appease critics of rampant alimony? Regardless of the answer, it is essential to keep women educated about the ever-changing legal landscape so they are never caught off guard. FIDA’s mission is to protect women’s rights and to empower women through legal education and awareness. This mission to protect and empower women’s rights is especially relevant in Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), where FIDA Cameroon is located. The group, composed of 11 member associations, provides legal aid, trains lawyers, and creates training programs for lawyers and judges to protect human rights in eleven African countries. Their advocacy work, legal training, and efforts to change laws are crucial to preserving the freedoms set forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
While the issue at hand focuses squarely on Florida, it stands to reason that the implications and solution are generally relevant to women around the world. Domestic violence, unequal power within relationships, and fear of poverty do not stop at state or country borders, and the alimony suit filed by the NFL’s biggest star is a glaring reminder of this fact. This begs the question, would the outcome be the same if the footballer’s wife were not able-bodied, able to garner a prime-value law degree and get an exceptionally high-paying job? Or what if she did not have a job at all? What if she did not have the capacity to speak English?
Alimony laws can vary drastically outside of the United States, and women worldwide may be unaware of these laws. For instance, in Cameroon, Alimony exists but only a very small percentage of the population can afford the legal services to pursue an alimony suit. Statistics reveal that only 2% of the women who are divorced ever receive alimony. While the list of gaps in information and access to legal recourse is devastating, the point here is that legal education is imperative – and organizations such as FIDA Cameroon can drive this message home.
Women, regardless of their education or economic status, need to be invested in their physical and financial wellbeing. It is important to encourage women to be educated on legal protections that are available to ensure protection against possible abuse – whether financially, physically, or psychologically. Governments and agencies can assist in this process by providing general legal information so that women can protect themselves. But even when governments or agencies skip a step in the outreach process, the global community can still help by holding countries and international organizations accountable to protect these women, particularly when those countries ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).