In this Act unless the context otherwise requires,

"abuse" means conduct that hams or may cause imminent harm to the

safety, health or well-being of the complainant; "applicant" means a person who applies for a civil protection order under this Act;

"associated respondent" means a person associated with another person against whom an application for a civil protection order has been brought; "child" means a person below eighteen years;

"complainant" means a person who is or has been in a domestic relationship with a respondent and is or has been subjected or allegedly subjected to an act of domestic violence and who makes a complaint to the police;

"Court" means the High Court, Circuit court or District Court;

"harassment" means sexual contact without the consent of the person with whom the contact is made, repeatedly making unwanted sexual advances, repeatedly following, pursuing, or accosting a person or making persistent, unwelcome communication with a person and includes,

(a) watching, loitering outside or near a building where the harassed person resides, works, carries on business, studies or happens to be;

(b) repeatedly making telephone calls or inducing a third person to make telephone calls to the harassed person, whether or not conversation ensues;

(c) repeatedly sending, delivering or causing the delivery of letters, telegrams, packages, facsimiles, electronic mail or other objects or messages to the harassed person's residence, school or workplace; or

(d) engaging in any other menacing behaviour;

"household chattels" include jewellery, clothes, furniture and furnishings, refrigerator, television, radiogram, other electrical and electronic appliances, kitchen and laundry equipment, simple agricultural equipment, hunting equipment, books, motor vehicles other than vehicles used wholly for commercial purposes and

household livestock;

"interim protection order" means an order made by the Court under section 13 pending the final determination of an application;

"intimidation" means intentionally inducing fear in another person by

(a) threatening to abuse that person or a third party,

(b) threatening to damage, destroy or dispose of property in which that person or a third party has a material interest, or

(c) exhibiting a weapon before that person; "marriage" includes marriage under any custom or religion; "Minister" means the Minister responsible for Women and Children Affairs;

"Ministry" means the Ministry responsible for Women and Children Affairs; "next friend" means a person who intervenes to assist a child to bring a legal action;

"order" means a protection order;

"organization" means a non-governmental organization;

"place of safety" means premises where the welfare of a victim of domestic violence is assured;

"physical abuse" means

(a) physical assault or any use of physical force against another person,

(b) forcibly confining or detaining another person, or

(c) depriving another person of access to adequate food, water, clothing, shelter or rest;

"Protection order" means an order made by the Court under sections 14, 15 and 16 on the final determination of an application.

"respondent" means a person who is or has been in a domestic relationship with a complainant and who has committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence against the complainant; and

"Social welfare officer" includes a probation officer.