150 Countries Have Laws Criminalising Marital Rape. These 34 Countries, Including India, Don’t
The recent verdict on the marital rape law has created a stir among Indian citizens. The Delhi High Court’s split verdict has left us all, particularly women, with many unanswered questions. Why does such a straightforward decision of criminalising marital rape need to go through long hours of debate? There are already 150 countries across the world that have criminalised marital rape. India is among the only 34 nations that have yet not done the needful. The other countries in this list are mostly developing nations.
The results of the National Family Health Survey 5 provide some shocking details, which should act as an eye-opener for lawmakers to take a rather quick step in deciding the fate of culprits who use marriage as a shield to rape their wives. The survey reveals that 32% of married Indian women have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence from their partners. It was also discovered that 25% of married women in the 18-49 age group, who have experienced spousal physical or sexual violence, report having physical injuries.
Yet, India still remains among countries that stand by bygone ideas, where a man is given the right to do everything to a woman in the name of marriage, even rape What’s worse is that people are more concerned about ‘fake cases’ when the majority stats suggest that women are victims of marital rape and it is destroying lives.
According to News 18, this is the list of other countries that have not yet criminalised marital rape.
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- China
- Haiti
- Laos
- Mali
- Myanmar
- Senegal
- Tajikistan
- Afghanistan
- Botswana
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Iran
- Lebanon
- Malaysia
- Nigeria
- Singapore
- Uganda
- Algeria
- Brunei Darussalam
- Egypt
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Libya
- Mongolia
- Oman
- South Sudan
- Yemen
- Bahrain
- Central African Republic
- Ethiopia
- Kuwait
- Sri Lanka
Also Read: Delhi HC’s Justice Rajiv Shakdher Says False Cases Not A Reason To Not Strike Down Unconstitutional Marital Rape Exception
This issue should spark debates with the purpose of preventive measures so that lives are saved as opposed to concerns that it would ruin the sanctity of marriage.
