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Talk:Marital rape/Country lists

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20th and 21st century criminalization

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  Marital rape is criminalized

As the concept of human rights has developed, the belief of a marital right to sexual intercourse has become less widely held. In 1965, Sweden altered its statutes so that husbands could be charged for raping their wives.[1] In December 1993, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women[3]. This establishes marital rape as a human rights violation. This is not fully recognized by all UN member States. In 1997, UNICEF reported that just 17 States criminalized marital rape.[2] In 2003, UNIFEM reported that more than 50 States did so.[3] In 2006, the UN Secretary General found "Marital rape may be prosecuted in at least 104 States. Of these, 32 have made marital rape a specific criminal offence, while the remaining 74 [sic] do not exempt marital rape from general rape provisions. Four States criminalize marital rape only when the spouses are judicially separated."[3]

Countries which were early to criminalize marital rape include Poland (1932), Czechoslovakia (1950), the Soviet Union (1960), Denmark (1960), Sweden (1965), Norway (1971), and some other members of the Communist Bloc. The Israeli Supreme Court affirmed that marital rape is a crime in a 1980 decision, citing law based on the Talmud.[4][5] Criminalization in Australia began with the state of New South Wales in 1981, followed by all other states from 1985 to 1992.[6] Several formerly British-ruled countries followed suit: Canada (1982), New Zealand (1985), and Ireland (1990).[6]

Many United States rape statutes formerly precluded the prosecution of spouses, including estranged or even legally separated couples. In 1975, South Dakota removed this exception.[7] In 1993, North Carolina became the last state to remove the spousal exemption.[citation needed] However, as of 1999, 33 of 50 U.S. states regard spousal rape as a lesser crime [Bergen, 1999]. The perpetrator may be charged with related crimes such as assault, battery, or spousal abuse. There are other criminal charges that may be inapplicable to married couples. For example, in the U.S., there is a marriage exemption to the charge of statutory rape even if one of the spouses is under the age of consent in the jurisdiction where the sexual act takes place.

Germany outlawed spousal rape only in 1997, which is later than other developed countries. Female ministers and women's rights activists lobbied for this law for over 25 years. [8]

In India, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 (passed August 2005; entered into force October 2006) created a civil remedy for victims, but it did not criminalize marital rape,[9][10] and jail time is only considered if a court order has been violated.

Thai legal scholar Taweekiet Meenakanit voiced his opposition to legal reforms that made spousal rape in Thailand a crime. He said it was "abnormal logic" to allow a man to file a rape charge against a woman. He also disagrees with making a crime of a husband raping his wife, on the grounds that this would be difficult to effect since many Thai wives were dependent on their husbands and would not want to divorce them or put them in jail.[11]

Recent countries to criminalize marital rape include Turkey (2005),[12] Mauritius (2007),[13], Ghana(1998/2007),[14] Malaysia (2007),[15][16], Thailand (2007),[17] Rwanda (2009)[18], South Korea (2009),[19] and Jamaica (2009)[20]. Human rights observers have criticized a variety of countries—including Japan[21], Poland[22], and Kazakhstan[23]—for failing to effectively prosecute marital rape once it has been criminalized.



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Countries that have made spousal rape a criminal offence

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Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Macedonia, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, The Philippines, Poland, Peru, Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe[24]

Countries that have not made spousal rape a criminal offence

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Afghanistan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Malaysia, India[25]Malta??

Proposed new text

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Countries that have made spousal rape a criminal offence

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By source

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Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, The Philippines, Poland, Peru, Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe[26]

Note: the State Department reference is unclear. So I'm keeping a running list of countries whose criminalization is only sourced to this reference: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Macedonia, Republic of the Congo. Other sources contradict criminalization claimed by the State Department in these cases: Honduras, Pakistan.

South Africa, The Philippines, Cyprus, Sweden, Gambia, Mauritania, Namibia, Seychelles, Bhutan, Nepal, Palau, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, ((India)) .Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States [3]

Article on Southern Africa: Lesotho, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe[27] Also, Swaziland. Tanzania (for separated couples only) Zimbabwe (but prosecution requires approval of the Attorney General)[28]


International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan[29]

Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland.[6]

Israel[4]

Nicaragua (1996)[30]

Greece, Italy, Netherlands, San Marino, Serbia[31]

Somalia (1964; other sources seem to contradict for the current situation), Laos (1965), Portugal (1982), India (1983), Canada (1985), Tonga (1987; seems to have been overturned in 1987 or 1999, see below), Austria (1989), Malaysia (1989), Ireland (1990), Bahamas (1991; contradictory information below), Netherlands (1991), Peru (1991), Barbados (1992), Switzerland (1992), South Africa (1993), Antigua and Barbuda (1995), Sri Lanka (1995), Finland (1996), Croatia (1998), Germany (1998), Belize (1999), Namibia (2000), Trinidad and Tobago (2000), Zimbabwe (2001), Nepal (2002), Serbia (2002), Lesotho (2003), Palau (2004), Liberia (2005), Saint Lucia (2005).[32]

Individual references: Recent countries to criminalize marital rape include Turkey,[12] Mauritius,[13] Ghana,[14] Malaysia,[15][16] Thailand,[17] Rwanda,[18] South Korea,[19], and Jamaica[20]

Cuba,[33] Colombia (criminalized 1996; aggravating factor (greater punishment) by 2001),[34] Cambodia (Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence Protection of Victims; 2005),[35]

Papua New Guinea (2003)[36]

By continent

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North America: Canada, United States

Latin America & the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Africa: Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda,Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

Europe: Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Asia: Bhutan, Cambodia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, The Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea

Countries that have not made spousal rape a criminal offence

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Afghanistan[37]

Bahamas[38]

Pakistan[39]

Yemen[40]

India

Zambia[41][42]

Honduras[43] (Note: this contradicts the unspecified State Department material)

Sri Lanka (except in cases of separation)[44][45] (Note: this contradicts the unspecified State Department material and the UN material)

Nigeria,[46] Kenya, Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia[47]

Tanzania (unless separated), Botswana, Zambia, and Malawi[28]

Tonga — Second reference states that marital rape law was overturned in 1999; first states that legislation of 1987 inserted a marital rape exemption. Consistent with earlier criminalization.[48][49]

Saudi Arabia[50]

Bahamas[51] india Jordan, Egypt[52]

Syria[53]

Laos[54]

Algeria, Bahrain, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Syria[55]

Democratic Republic of Congo[56]

Mali[57]

Conflicting information

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Bangladesh[60][61]

References

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  1. ^ Elman, R Amy (1996). Sexual subordination and state intervention: comparing Sweden and the United States. Berghahn Books. p. 90. ISBN 1571810714.
  2. ^ UNICEF, The Progress of Nations, 1997, 48.
  3. ^ a b c Report of the Secretary-General, In-depth study on all forms of violence against women, United Nations, UN Doc A/61/122/Add.1, 6 July 2006.
  4. ^ a b Geis, Gilbert (1977). "Rape-in-marriage: Law and law reform in England, the United States, and Sweden". Adelaide Law Review. 6: 284.
  5. ^ David Kauzlarich, Introduction to Criminology, 2008, p. 79.
  6. ^ a b c Jennifer Temkin, Rape and the legal process, p. 86.
  7. ^ The New York Times, Marital rape: Drive for tougher laws is pressed, 13 May 1987
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ Justin Huggler, "India abolishes husbands' 'right' to rape wife," Independent (London), October 27, 2006.
  10. ^ South Asia Research Institute for Policy and Development, India’s landmark domestic abuse law takes effect, October 26, 2006.
  11. ^ The Nation, Anger over proposed change to rape laws, 14 February 2007
  12. ^ a b Anti-Discrimination Committee Takes Up Situation of Women in Turkey, UN Information Service, 21 January 2005.
  13. ^ a b Collen, Lindsey; Kistnasamy, Kisna; Lallah, Rajni (23 April 2007). "Rape and the Sexual Offences Bill: Beyond the illogical, punitive attitude..." l'express. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  14. ^ a b Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Its Causes and Consequences, Yakin Ertürk : addendum : mission to Ghana, 2008.
  15. ^ a b MP Teresa Kok, Mixed reaction to marital rape reform, Sassy MP, September 15, 2007.
  16. ^ a b AP, "Malaysian jailed for marital rape," Sydney Morning Herald, August 6, 2009.
  17. ^ a b "Thailand outlaws marital rape," AFP, June 22, 2007.
  18. ^ a b Rwanda: Final steps towards the adoption of a law to combat gender violence
  19. ^ a b [2]
  20. ^ a b In Jamaica women’s groups react to Senate passing Sexual Offences Bill, July 28, 2009.
  21. ^ Sumie Asatori and Fumi Suzuki, Discrimination in the field of Reproductive and Sexual Rights in Japan, Space Allies (Women's Rights NGO), July 2008.
  22. ^ Sexual Assault Laws in the CEE/FSU Region
  23. ^ International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, "Kazakhstan," in Women 2000: An Investigation into the Status of Women's Rights in Central and South-Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States (9 November 2000).
  24. ^ U.S. State Department 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
  25. ^ . Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/rape-india-marital-women-un-undp-sdg-sustainable-development-goals-a6931821.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ^ U.S. State Department 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
  27. ^ Southern Africa: Justice for survivors of marital rape, how far has SADC come?
  28. ^ a b Karen Stefiszyn, "A Brief Overview of Recent Developments in Sexual Offences Legislation in Southern Africa," United Nations, EGM/GPLVAW/2008/EP.04, 12 May 2008
  29. ^ On page http://www.stopvaw.org/80533bf2-2799-456b-8419-6b44638c1049.html or from reports by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, linked from that page.
  30. ^ Della-Giustina, J. A (2009). "A Cross-cultural, Comparative Analysis of the Domestic Violence Policies of Nicaragua and Russia". Journal of International Women’s Studies. 10: 34.
  31. ^ Council of Europe, Legislation in the member States of the Council of Europe in the field of violence against women, Strasbourg, 2009. vol. 1:139; v1:156; v2:19; v2:74,78; v2:87
  32. ^ Frank, David John (2010-12-01). "Worldwide Trends in the Criminal Regulation of Sex, 1945 to 2005" (PDF). American Sociological Review. 75 (6): 867–893. doi:10.1177/0003122410388493. Retrieved 2011-03-07. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Fourth Periodic Report of Cuba, Document number CEDAW/C/CUB/4, 27/09/99.
  34. ^ OMCT, Violence Against Women in Colombia, 2003, p. 175.
  35. ^ UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) (20 January 2011). "Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture: Cambodia". CAT/C/KHM/CO/2. Retrieved 8 March 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  36. ^ "In 2003, amendments were applied to the Criminal Code and the Evidence Act, making spousal rape and sexual harassment (such as groping) a criminal act. However, enforcing the law is a problem. Even women who are victims are reluctant to speak to the police, due in part to the response they may receive, that can include complete disregard and/or further harassment." Japan International Cooperation Agency (2010). Country Gender Profile: Papua New Guinea (PDF). p. 6. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  37. ^ "Rape is not a crime in the Afghan Penal Code. Under the code, rapists can only be charged with “forced” zina, or adultery, which sometimes results in women also being prosecuted for zina." Human Rights Watch (2009). “We Have the Promises of the World”: Women’s Rights in Afghanistan. Human Rights Watch.
  38. ^ Marital Rape Bill Not A Priority, Bahama Journal, May 3, 2010.
  39. ^ Human Rights Watch (2007-04-10). Human Rights Watch World Report 2007. Seven Stories Press. pp. 300–301. ISBN 9781583227404.
  40. ^ Human Right Watch, World Report Chapter: Yemen, 2010.
  41. ^ "A clause outlawing marital rape has been dropped because of cultural considerations." Fidgen, Jo (2009-11-30). "Zambia's celebrity couple reveal wife-beating past". BBC. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  42. ^ "But Zambia does not have a comprehensive law on sexual violence or a provision for marital rape or psychological abuse in its penal code." Human Rights Watch (2008-12-16). Zambia: Curbing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  43. ^ Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Honduras: Domestic violence; legislation and protection available to victims (2007-2009), 13 January 2010.
  44. ^ Goonesekere, Savitri (2004). Violence, law and women's rights in South Asia. SAGE. pp. 60–61. ISBN 9780761997962.
  45. ^ Fernando, Vijita (2008-10-14). "Sri Lanka: Island Dilemma: Is It Marital Rape or Domestic Violence?". News Blaze. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  46. ^ "Men, under our culture and substantive Criminal law, cannot be found guilty of the offence of rape against their wives, an unfaithful husband can therefore forcefully have sexual intercourse with his wife against her consent. … It is unfortunate that Section 6 of the Nigerian Criminal Code does not recognize marital rape." Ifemeje, Sylvia Chika (2010). "Gender discrimination/inequality and vulnerability of women to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria". The University of Ilorin Law Journal. 4: 7.
  47. ^ Fareda Banda, Project on a Mechanism to Address Laws that Discriminate Against Women, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Women’s Rights and Gender Unit, 6 March 2008, pp. 85-87.
  48. ^ "Section 118(2) of the Criminal Offences Act". The Secretary Generals database on violence against women. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
  49. ^ Women & Children Crisis Centre. "Gaps in Tongan Rape Law need to be addressed ::". Retrieved 2011-03-07.
  50. ^ "2009 Human Rights Report: Saudi Arabia". U.S. State Department. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  51. ^ Equality Now (2010), Words and Deeds: Holding Governments Accountable in the Beijing +15 Review Process, retrieved 2011-03-07
  52. ^ Warrick, Catherine. (2009). Law in the service of legitimacy: Gender and politics in Jordan. Farnham, Surrey, England; Burlington, Vt.: Ashgate Pub. ISBN 9780754675877 0754675874. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  53. ^ UK Home Office (2010-09-03), Country of Origin Information Report - The Syrian Arab Republic, retrieved 2011-03-08
  54. ^ UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (24 July 2009). "Lao People's Democratic Republic boasts new legislation, machinery to improve women's lot, but expert committee faults rape, domestic violence policies". WOM/1743. Retrieved 8 March 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  55. ^ Freedom House (2010-03), Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa 2010 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ Peterman, Amber (2011-06). "Estimates and Determinants of Sexual Violence Against Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo". American Journal of Public Health. 101 (6): 1060–1067. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2010.300070. ISSN 0090-0036. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  57. ^ MALI: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (Instruments and Policies tab), in Women's Network for a Better World, Map of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa and Spain.
  58. ^ "Liberia's struggle against sexual violence in the wake of conflict," Sex Trafficking and Prostitution, Stanford University.
  59. ^ Amnesty International, "Libya," 2011.
  60. ^ UNFPA, Options and Opportunities for Adolescents - BANGLADESH.
  61. ^ Joseph, Suad (2005). Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures: Family, law, and politics. BRILL. p. 703. ISBN 9789004128187. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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