Marital rape laws by country

Marital rape illegal

Marital rape legal

'Marital rape' legal, but forced marital sex still punishable.

Legal status unclear

This article provides an overview of marital rape laws by country.

## Overview

[edit]

See also: Anti-rape movement and Sexual consent in law

Marital rape is illegal in many countries. Throughout history until the 1970s, most states granted a husband the right to have sex with his wife whenever he so desired, as part of the marriage contract. However, in the 20th century and especially since the 1970s, women's rights groups initiated the anti-rape movement, demanding that they be given sexual autonomy over their own bodies, including within marriage.[1][2] These rights have increasingly been recognised,[1][2] and consequently marital rape has been criminalised by about 150 countries as of 2019. In some cases, marital rape is explicitly criminalised, in other cases the law makes no distinction between rape by one's husband or rape by anyone else.[2] In a few countries, marital rape was criminalised due to a court decision.[1] In some countries, the prevailing logic goes that there is no such thing as 'marital rape', since the verb 'to rape' (Latin: rapere) originally meant 'to steal' or 'to seize and carry off' (although its meaning shifted during the Middle Ages to 'violently abducting a woman for the purpose of forced coitus'[3]), and it is impossible to steal something you already 'own', and a husband 'owns' his wife in marriage.[1]: 48 However, in a few of those countries that do not criminalise marital rape, such as Malaysia, a husband can still be punished if he uses violence in order to have sex with his wife.[4]

## A

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Afghanistan | No[5][6] | The 2009 Law on Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) does not exclude spousal rape in its section on Sexual Assault.[law 1] However, Article 134 (2) of the Shia Personal Status Law states "It is the duty of the wife to defer to her husband's inclination for sexual enjoyment".[law 2]
Albania | Explicitly criminalised[7] | The Criminal Code was amended in 2012 and 2013 to criminalise marital rape.[8] (Article 102.)[law 3]
Algeria | No[9] | The law criminalises rape but does not address spousal rape.[10] The Penal Code does not explicitly exclude marital rape from the definition of rape,[law 4] however the Algerian Family Code requires a wife to obey her husband[11]
Andorra | Yes[12] | Rape, including spousal rape can be punished by up to 15 years imprisonment.[13] The Penal Code does not exclude marital rape from its definition of rape (Article 145).[law 5]
Angola | Explicitly criminalised[14] | Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal and punishable by up to eight years' imprisonment.[15] Article 170 of the Código Penal explicitly includes a spouse in its definition of rape.[law 6]
Antigua and Barbuda[16] | Explicitly excluded[17] | Article 3 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act, 1995, includes in the definition of rape: "with a female person who is not his wife".[law 7]
Argentina | Explicitly criminalised[18] | Rape of men and women, including spousal rape, can be punished by imprisonment from six months to up to 20 years.[19] Spousal rape is criminalised by Article 5 (3) of the Law of Comprehensive Protection of Women (Ley de Protección Integral s las Mujeres), 2009.[law 8]
Armenia | Yes[20] | Rape is a criminal offense, and conviction carries a maximum sentence of 15 years; general rape statutes (Article 138 of the Criminal Code)[law 9] applied to the prosecution of spousal rape.[21]
Australia | Explicitly criminalised[22] | Criminalisation in Australia began with the state of New South Wales in 1981, followed by all other states from 1985 to 1992.[23] The government enforced the law effectively. The laws of individual states and territories provide the penalties for rape.[24] The first Australian state to deal with marital rape was South Australia, under the progressive initiatives of Premier Don Dunstan, which in 1976 partially removed the exemption. Section 73 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act Amendment Act 1976 (SA) read: "No person shall, by reason only of the fact that he is married to some other person, be presumed to have consented to sexual intercourse with that other person".[25]
Austria | Yes[26] | Spousal rape can be punished by up to 15 years imprisonment,[27] and was first criminalised in 1989.[28] The Criminal Code (§ 201) does not explicitly excludes marital rape from the definition of rape.[law 10]
Azerbaijan | Yes[29] | Spousal rape is illegal, but observers stated police did not effectively investigate such claims.[30] The Criminal Code does not exclude marital rape from its definition of rape (Articles 108, 149).[law 11]

## B

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

The Bahamas[31] | Explicitly excluded[17] | Rape of men or women is illegal, but the law does not protect against spousal rape, except if the couple is separated or in the process of divorce, or if there is a restraining order in place.[32] Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act, 2010, includes "person who is not his spouse" in the definition of rape.[law 12]
Bahrain[33] | Explicitly excluded[law 13] | Rape is illegal, although the criminal code allows an alleged rapist to marry his victim to avoid punishment. The law does not address spousal rape.[34] Article 353 of the Penal Code explicitly excludes spousal rape.[law 13]
Bangladesh | No[35] | The law prohibits rape of a female by a male and physical spousal abuse, but the law excludes marital rape if the female is above 13.[36] Section 375 (Of Rape) of the Penal Code includes the exception: "Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under thirteen years of age, is not rape."[law 14] This has recently been challenged and ruled against, possibly due to poor drafting[37]
Barbados[38] | Explicitly criminalised[39] | The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016 modified section 3 (4) of the Sexual Offences Act 1992, removing the previous "marital exemption" and replacing it with explicit criminalisation of marital rape.[law 15][40]
Belarus | Yes[41] | Article 166 of the Criminal Code[law 16] criminalises rape in general but does not include separate provisions on marital rape.[42] Prosecutions for marital rape are rare and it is often regarded as a private rather than criminal issue.[43]
Belgium | Yes[44] | Marital rape was criminalised by court decision in 1979.[45] The criminal code was amended in 1989 to treat marital rape the same as other forms of rape.[46][47] (Code Pénal Art. 375)[law 17]
Belize | Explicitly criminalised[48] | Article 46 of the Criminal Code[law 18] criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape. The code states that a person convicted of rape shall be sentenced to imprisonment for eight years to life.[49]
Benin[50] | Explicitly criminalised[51] | Article 2 of the 2011 Law Portant prévention et répression des violences faites aux femmes (For prevention and repression of violence against women),[law 19] explicitly prohibits spousal rape and provides the maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment for conviction of raping a domestic partner.[52]
Bhutan | Explicitly criminalised[53] | Spousal rape is illegal and prosecuted as a misdemeanor.[54] (Penal Code Sec. 199 & 200)[law 20]
Bolivia | Explicitly criminalised[55] | In 2013 the government passed the Law Guaranteeing Women a Life Free from Violence (Ley Integral Para Garantizar A Las Mujeres Una Vida Libre De Violencia).[56] Its provisions included the repeal of the marital rape exemption in the Penal Code,[57] and making rape by a spouse an aggravating factor when sentencing, extending imprisonment by 5 years.[law 21]
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Yes[58] | The maximum penalty for rape, regardless of gender, including spousal rape, is 15 years in prison. The failure of police to treat spousal rape as a serious offense inhibited the effective enforcement of the law.[59] The 2003 Penal Code removed "marital exemption" from Article 203 (Rape).[law 22]
Botswana[60][61] | Customary law[62] | The law criminalises rape but does not recognize spousal rape as a crime.[63] Customary law holds that sex within marriage is consensual.[62]
Brazil | Explicitly criminalised[64] | Since 2005,[law 23] the law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape.[65] (Articles 213 & 226 of the Criminal Code)[law 24]
Brunei | Explicitly excluded[66] | The law does not criminalise spousal rape and Article 375 of the Penal Code[law 25] explicitly states that sexual intercourse by a man with his wife is not rape, as long as she is not younger than 13 years.[67][68]
Bulgaria | Yes[69] | The law criminalises rape (Article 152 of the Criminal Code).[law 26] While authorities could prosecute spousal rape under the general rape statute, they rarely did so.[70]
Burkina Faso[50] | Explicitly criminalised[71] | In 2015 the government passed the Law on the Prevention and Repression of Violence Against Women and Girls and Support for Victims. Conviction of rape is punishable by five to ten years' imprisonment.[72] Marital rape is covered by this law.[71]
Burundi | Explicitly criminalised[73] | Spousal rape was criminalised in 2016 by the Loi N° 1/13 du 22 septembre 2016 portant prévention, protection des victimes et répression des Violences Basées sur le Genre (Articles 2i & 27),[law 27][73] with penalties of up to 30 years' imprisonment. The government did not enforce the law uniformly, and rape and other domestic and sexual violence continued to be serious problems.[74]

## C

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Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

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|

Cameroon[75] | Customary law[76][77] | The law does not address spousal rape,[78] but does not exclude marital rape. Judges accept the principle husbands have "disciplinary rights" over their wives, including when they refuse to have sexual relations.[76] It is also accepted that during marriage the woman implicitly consents to sexual intercourse whenever the husband wishes.[77]
Canada | Explicitly criminalised[79] | Articles 271 & 278 of the Criminal Code[law 28] criminalise rape of men or women, including spousal rape, as sexual assault, and the government enforced the law effectively.[80] Marital rape was first criminalised in 1983.[81][82]
Cambodia | Yes[83] | Spousal rape is not specifically mentioned in the penal code (articles 239–245),[law 29] but the underlying conduct can be prosecuted as "rape", "causing injury", or "indecent assault". Charges for spousal rape under the penal code and the domestic violence law were rare.[84] Marital rape was criminalised in 2005.[85]
Cape Verde[50] | Explicitly criminalised[86] | Spousal rape is implicitly covered by the 2001 gender-based violence law;[law 30] penalties for conviction range from one to five years' imprisonment.[87]
Central African Republic[75][88][89] | Customary law[62] | The law prohibits rape, although it does not specifically prohibit spousal rape.[90] Customary law holds that sex within marriage is consensual.[62]
Chad[75][88] | Customary law[62] | The law does not specifically address spousal rape.[91] Customary law holds that sex within marriage is consensual.[62]
Chile | Explicitly criminalised[92] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape (Penal Code art. 369).[law 31] Penalties for rape range from 5 to 15 years' imprisonment.[93] Marital rape was criminalised in 1999.[94]
China | No[88][95][96] | The law does not safeguard same-sex couples or victims of marital rape.[97]
Colombia | Explicitly criminalised[98] | Although prohibited by law, rape, including spousal rape (art. 211(5) of Ley 599 de 2000),[law 32] remained a serious problem.[99] Marital rape was criminalised in 1996,[100]
Comoros | Explicitly criminalised[101] | In 2014, Loi N° 14-036/AU dealing with violence against women was promulgated, amongst its provisions (art. 1) was the criminalisation of marital rape.[102]
Democratic Republic of Congo[88][103] | Customary law[62] | The legal definition of rape does not include spousal rape.[104] Customary law holds that sex within marriage is consensual.[62]
Republic of the Congo[75][88] | Customary law[62] | Customary law holds that sex within marriage is consensual.[62] Women's rights groups have reported that spousal rape was common.[105]
Costa Rica | Explicitly criminalised[106] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape (Ley de Penalización de la Violencia contra las Mujeres No. 8589 art.29)[law 33] and domestic violence, and provides penalties from 10 to 18 years in prison for rape. The judicial branch generally enforced the law.[107]
Croatia | Explicitly criminalised[28][108] | Conviction of rape, including spousal rape, is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment.[109] (Articles 152 & 154(1)(1) of the Criminal Code)[law 34]
Cuba[110] | Explicitly criminalised[88] | The law specifically criminalises rape of women, including spousal rape, and separately criminalises "lascivious abuse" against both genders. The government enforced both laws. Penalties for rape are at least four years' imprisonment.[111]
Cyprus | Explicitly criminalised[112] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape (sec.5 The Family Violence (Prevention and Protection of Victims) Law),[law 35] with a maximum sentence of life in prison for violations. The government enforced the law effectively.[113] Marital rape was criminalised in 1994.[114] Spousal rape is also criminalzed in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus).[115]
Czech Republic | Yes[116] | The explicit exclusion of marital rape was removed from Czechoslovak penal code in 1950. Since then, it is punishable as other cases of rape.[117] The current Czech law prohibits rape, including spousal rape, and provides a penalty of 2 to 15 years in prison for violations.[118][119] (Section 185 of the Penal Code)[law 36]

## D

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Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

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|

Denmark | Yes[120] | The law criminalises rape against women or men (the statute is gender neutral), including spousal rape, and domestic violence. Penalties for rape include imprisonment for up to 12 years.[121] (Section 216 of the Criminal Code)[law 37]
Djibouti | No[122][123] | The law includes sentences of up to 20 years' imprisonment for rape but does not address spousal rape.[124]
Dominica | Explicitly criminalised[125] | The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016 repealed the previous "marital exclusions" of the rape law and introduced a specific marital rape section [s3 (3)] to the Sexual Offences Act.[law 38]
Dominican Republic | Explicitly criminalised[126] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape, and other forms of violence against women, such as incest and sexual aggression. The sentences for conviction of rape range from 10 to 15 years in prison and a fine of 100,000 to 200,000 pesos.[127] In 1997, Ley 24-97 (Sobre Violencia Intrafamiliar, de Genero y Sexual)[law 39] modified the Penal Code to explicitly criminalise spousal rape (art. 332).[law 40]

## E

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Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

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|

East Timor | Explicitly criminalised[128] | Although rape, including marital rape, is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison, failures to investigate or prosecute cases of alleged rape and sexual abuse were common.[129] In 2010, Article 2(2)b) of Law No. 7/2010 on Domestic Violence, extended the definition of rape (art. 172 of the Criminal Code) to explicitly include marital rape.[law 41][law 42]
Ecuador | Explicitly criminalised[130] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape and domestic violence. Rape is punishable with penalties of up to 22 years in prison.[131] (Articles 155-158 of the Código Orgánico Integral Penal).[law 43]
Egypt[9] | Case Law[132] | The law prohibits rape, prescribing criminal penalties of 15 to 25 years' imprisonment, or life imprisonment for cases of rape involving armed abduction. Spousal rape is not illegal,[133][88][134] based on a 1928 Court of Cassation ruling that "a wife cannot withhold sex from her husband without a valid reason according to sharia".[135]
El Salvador | Unclear  | Marital rape is not specifically addressed by statue. The World Bank's 2018 " "Women, Business and the Law" report states that the country's general rape laws apply to marital rape.[136] The 2017 El Salvador Country Report on Human Rights Practices suggests this is only at a judge's discretion.[137] An earlier (2011) report, the "UN Womens Justice Report" states there are no laws covering marital rape.[88]
Equatorial Guinea[75][88] | Explicitly excluded[138] | Marital rape is explicitly excluded from the definition of rape within the law.[138]
Eritrea[122] | Explicitly excluded[139] | Article 307 of the Penal Code Explicitly excludes marital rape except where spouses are not living together.[law 44]
Eswatini | Explicitly criminalised[140][141] | The 2018 Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, Section 151, provides that "any relationship, previous or existing, shall not provide a defence to any offence under this Act", thus criminalising marital rape.[140] As of 2021, the Amended Marriage Act, which would further criminalise marital rape, had not been promulgated by the Government.[142] However, the first arrest of a man on the charge of marital rape under the 2018 Sexual Offences Act took place in January 2020.[141]
Ethiopia[143][144] | Explicitly excluded[122][138] | Marital rape is excluded from the definition of rape in Article 620 of the Criminal Code, which limits rape to "outside wedlock".[122][law 45]
Estonia | Explicitly criminalised[145] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape (Criminal Code §58(2) & 141),[law 46] and physical abuse, including domestic violence. The penalty for rape, including spousal rape, is imprisonment for up to 15 years.[146]

## F

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Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

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|

Fiji[147] | Case law[148] | Rape (including spousal rape), domestic abuse, incest, and indecent assault are significant problems; there was a large increase in the reported number of rape cases in 2017, due at least in part to greater awareness that a spouse can be charged with rape of his/her partner. The law provides for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for rape.[149] The definition of rape in §207 of the Crimes Decree does not explicitly include spousal rape[law 47] and it is not recognised by customary law.[148] However, in Dutt v The State [2006], the court ruled that spousal rape is a crime under the rape law.[148]
Finland | Yes[150] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape, and the government enforced the law effectively. Rape is punishable by up to four years' imprisonment. If the offender used violence, the offense is considered aggravated, and the penalty may be more severe.[151] Marital rape was criminalised in 1994.[152]
France | Explicitly criminalised[153] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape, and domestic violence, and the government generally enforced the law effectively.[154] The Court of Cassation authorized prosecution of spouses for rape or sexual assault in 1990.[155] In 1994, Law 94-89 criminalised marital rape;[155] a second law, passed 4 April 2006, makes rape by a partner an aggravating circumstance in prosecuting rape.[156] (Article 222-24(11) of the Criminal Code)[law 48] In 2025, the ECHR ruled in H.W. v. France that under French law and the European Convention on Human Rights, "marital duties" do not and cannot include an obligation to have sex with one's spouse without one's consent (which is not presumed to exist within marriage), overruling earlier case law from lower courts in France.[157]

## G

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Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

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|

Gabon[158] | Explicitly criminalised[159] | Marital rape was criminalised in 2013 and the penalties on conviction are five- to ten-year imprisonment sentences and a very heavy fine.[159] Authorities seldom prosecute rape cases.[160]
Gambia | Yes[161][50] | Although spousal rape was widespread;, police generally considered it a domestic issue outside its jurisdiction.[162]
Georgia[47] | Explicitly criminalised[163] | Marital rape is Explicitly criminalised by Articles 11-1 & 137 of the Criminal Code[law 49]
Germany | Yes[164] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape, and provides penalties of up to 15 years in prison.[165] The "Marital exemption" was removed by a revised law in 1997.[166]
Ghana[50] | Yes[167] | The "marital exemption" was removed from the country's rape laws in 2007.[168]
Greece | Explicitly criminalised[169] | Rape, including spousal rape, is a crime punishable by penalties ranging from 5 to 20 years' imprisonment.[170] Law 3500/2006, entitled "For combating domestic violence", which punishes marital rape, entered into force on 24 October 2006.[171] (Articles 1 & 8)[law 50]
Grenada | Explicitly criminalised[172] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape, and stipulates a sentence of flogging or up to 30 years' imprisonment for a conviction of any nonconsensual form of sex.[173] Marital rape was criminalised in a 2012 amendment to the Criminal Code.[174]
Guatemala | Explicitly criminalised[175] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape, and sets penalties between five and 50 years in prison. Police had minimal training or capacity to investigate sexual crimes or assist survivors of such crimes, and the government did not enforce the law effectively.[176] Spousal rape was criminalised in 2009 by Articles 28 & 30 of Ley Contra la Violencia Sexual, Explotación y Trata de Personas (Law against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons).[law 51]
Guinea | No[50][177] | The law criminalises rape and domestic violence, but both occurred frequently, and authorities rarely prosecuted perpetrators. The law does not address spousal rape.[178]
Guinea-Bissau | Explicitly criminalised[179] | The law prohibits rape, including spousal rape, and provides penalties for conviction of 2 to 12 years in prison; however, the government did not effectively enforce the law.[180] Spousal rape was criminalised in 2014 by Arts. 4(f) & 25 of Law No. 6/2014.[181]
Guyana[182] | Explicitly criminalised[183] | Marital rape was criminalised by §3 & 7 the Sexual Offenses Act 2010.[184][law 52]

## H

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Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

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|

Haiti[185] | No  | While the law prohibits rape of men or women, it does not recognize spousal rape as a crime.[186]
Honduras | Explicitly criminalised[187] | The law criminalises all forms of rape of men or women, including spousal rape,[188] but unlike other rapes is not a "public crime" and thereby requires the survivors to complain for prosecution to occur.[189] Marital rape was explicitly criminalised in 2005 by arts. 140 & 141 of the Código Penal.[law 53]
Hong Kong | Explicitly criminalised[190] | Section 117(1B) of the Crimes Ordinance, introduced in 2002, states that "unlawful sexual intercourse (非法性交、非法的性交) does not exclude sexual intercourse that a man has with his wife".[law 54]
Hungary | Explicitly criminalised[191] | Rape of men or women, including spousal rape, is illegal.[192] The "marital exemption" was dropped from law in 1997.[193] Secs.197(3)(b) and 459(14) of the Criminal Code explicitly criminalise spousal rape.[law 55]

## I

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Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Iceland[47] | Explicitly criminalised[194] | Art. 70 of the Almenn hegningarlög (Penal Code), introduced in 2006, makes a relationship between the perpetrator and victim an aggravating factor.[law 56]
India | Marital rape explicitly excluded from the legal definition of rape but Wife can file case under Domestic Violence act[195][196][197] |

See also: Rape in India § Marital rape, and Violence against women in India § Marital rape

Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) considers forced sex in marriages as a crime only when the wife is under the age of 18. Rape of an estranged or separated wife is a criminal offense for up to seven years under Section 67.[law 57] Nevertheless, occasionally different high courts across India have questioned the exception granted to married men in the rape laws.[198][199][200] Supreme Court of India is yet to decide the validity of such an exception.[201] The central government has claimed that a husband who forces his wife to have sexual relations with him can be prosecuted under different provisions of law.[196] Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 provides protection to wife who is victim of Marital rape or any form of Sexual violence .
Indonesia | Not clearly described[202][203] | Art. 285 of the Penal Code includes "out of marriage" in the definition of rape,[law 58] however, marital rape is considered a form of domestic violence under arts. 5, 8, 46, 47 and 53 of the Law Regarding the Elimination of Violence in the Household, 2004.[law 59]
Iran[204] | Explicitly excluded[205] | Rape is illegal and subject to strict penalties, including death, but it remained a problem. The law considers sex within marriage consensual by definition (Penal Code art. 221)[law 60] and, therefore, does not address spousal rape, including in cases of forced marriage.[206]
Iraq | No  | Art. 393(1) of the Penal Code criminalises sexual intercourse and buggery without consent without reference to marriage, since Article 394 criminalises the same acts outside of marriage for underage people.[207] Article 398 (previously Article 427) is a marry-your-rapist law: it allows authorities to drop a rape case if the perpetrator marries the victim.[207][208] The law permits a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if the victim dies.[208]
Ireland[47] | Yes[209] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape, and the government enforced the law. Most persons convicted received prison sentences of 5 to 12 years.[210] Section 5 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990 removed "marital exemption" from Irish law.[23][law 61]
Israel[211] | Case Law[212][213] | Rape, including spousal rape, is a felony punishable by 16 years in prison, or up to 20 years' imprisonment.[214] The Israeli Supreme Court affirmed that marital rape is a crime in a 1980 decision, citing law based on the Talmud[212][213]
Italy | Explicitly criminalised[215] | The prescribed penalty for rape, including spousal rape, is 5 to 12 years in prison.[216] In 1976 in Sentenza n. 12857 del 1976, the Supreme Court ruled that "the spouse who compels the other spouse to carnal knowledge by violence or threats commits the crime of carnal violence" (as rape was then known).[217] In 2013, art. 609-ter(5-quarter) was added to the Criminal Code which made rape by somebody in an 'affective relationship' with the victim an aggravating factor.[law 62]
Ivory Coast | Yes[218] | The law prohibits rape and provides for prison terms of 5 to 20 years for perpetrators.[219] The Penal does not specifically include spousal rape in the definition of rape.[law 63]

## J

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Jamaica[17] | Explicitly excluded[220] | The Sexual Offences Act, Sec. 5(3)[law 64] criminalises spousal rape only when spouses have separated or begun proceedings to dissolve the marriage; when the husband is under a court order not to molest or cohabit with his wife; or when the husband knows he suffers from a sexually transmitted infection.[221]
Japan | Yes[222] | The law criminalises all forms of rape involving force against women. The law does not allow spousal rape.
Jordan | Explicitly excluded[223] | The law stipulates a sentence of at least 10 years of imprisonment with hard labor for the rape of a girl or woman 15 years of age or older.[224] Art. 292(a)(1) of the Penal code explicitly excludes marital rape from the definition of rape.[law 65]

## K

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

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|

Kazakhstan | Yes[225] | The law criminalises rape. The punishment for rape, including spousal rape, ranges from 3 to 15 years' imprisonment.[226] Spousal rape is not explicitly included in the definition of rape. (Criminal Code, Art. 120)[law 66] There were reports of police and judicial reluctance to act on reports of rape, particularly in spousal rape cases.[226]
Kenya | Explicitly criminalised[122] | Marital rape is excluded from the definition of rape in the Sexual Offences Act (2006), section 43(5).[law 67] However it is included in Section 3(a)(vi) of the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act (2015): "‘In this Act, 'violence' means abuse that includes sexual violence within marriage".[122][law 68]
Kiribati | Yes[227] | Rape, including spousal rape, is a crime, with a maximum penalty of life in prison, but sentences typically were much shorter.[228] Spousal rape is not explicitly included in the definition of rape. (Penal Code, Sec. 128)[law 69]
Kosovo | Yes[229][230] | The Kosovo Criminal Code does not explicitly include marital rape in the definition of rape. (Art. 230)[law 70]
Kuwait[231] | Yes/No  | Rape carries a maximum penalty of death, which the courts occasionally imposed for the crime though spousal rape is not covered under this law.[232] However, in August 2020, Kuwait passed a domestic violence law criminalizing "physical, psychological, sexual or financial mistreatment, whether in words or actions" amongst family members including spousal mistreatment. The law does not address marital rape specifically and came into effect in January 2021.[233]
Kyrgyzstan | Yes[234] | Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal, but the government failed to enforce the law effectively. Police generally regarded spousal rape as an administrative, rather than a criminal, offense.[235] The Penal Code does not explicitly include marital rape in the definition of rape. (Art. 129)[law 71]

## L

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Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

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|

Laos | Explicitly criminalised[236] | Marital rape was explicitly criminalised in December 2014 by art. 79 of The Law on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Children.[law 72] Domestic violence often went unreported due to social stigma.[237]
Latvia | Explicitly criminalised[238] | Spousal rape is explicitly considered rape with "aggravated circumstances".[239][12] (Criminal Law, Secs. 48(1)(15) and 159)[law 73]
Lebanon | Yes/No  | Article 503 of the Penal Code defines rape as "forced sexual intercourse [against someone] who is not his wife by violence or threat."[law 74][240] Law no. 293 (2014) gives a legal "marital right of intercourse".[law 74][241] However, in May 2014 the Protection of Women and Other Family Members from Domestic Violence Law added new offences of the use of threats or violence to claim the "marital right to intercourse".[240][242][243] Critics of the law point out that the threats or violence are the criminal offences but not the rape.[244]
Lesotho[60] | Explicitly criminalised[245] | The law criminalises the rape of women or men, including spousal rape (Penal Code Act, 2010, Sec. 52(2)(h)(ii)),[law 75] and domestic violence. Rape convictions carry a minimum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment.[246]
Liberia | Yes[247] | Rape is illegal, but the government did not enforce the law effectively, and rape remained a serious and pervasive problem. The law's definition of rape does not specifically criminalise spousal rape,[248] but "marital exemption" was removed from the law in 2006[249] by the Rape Amendment Act.[law 76]
Libya | No[9] | The law criminalises rape but does not address spousal rape.[250] Spousal rape is not considered a crime[251] but a private matter.[252]
Liechtenstein[47] | Explicitly criminalised[253] | Rape, including spousal rape, is a criminal offense. Penalties for rape and sexual violence vary between one and 15 years' imprisonment, depending on the degree of violence and humiliation of the victim, and between 10 years' and lifetime imprisonment if the victim is killed.[254] Marital rape was criminalised in 2001,[255] by the Law on Sexual Offenses.[253]
Lithuania | Yes[256] | Rape and domestic violence are criminal offenses, and although no law specifically criminalises spousal rape,[257] a wife can file a complaint against her husband for rape or sexual assault under Article 149 of the Criminal Code.[256][law 77]
Luxembourg | Explicitly criminalised[258] | The law prohibits rape, including spousal rape, and the government enforced the law effectively. Penalties for violations range from five to ten years' imprisonment.[259] In 1994, in Judgment no. 223/94 V, 1994, the Court of Appeal confirmed the applicability of the provisions of the Criminal Code regarding rape to marital rape.[46] Since 2013, the maximum penalty for rape can be doubled if carried out by a spouse (Code Pénal, Art. 377(5)).[law 78]

## M

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Macau | Yes  | [260]
Macedonia | Yes[261] | The penalties for rape, including spousal rape, range from 1 to 15 years' imprisonment.[262] Marital rape was criminalised in 1996,[263] although not explicitly (Criminal Code, Art. 186).[261][law 79]
Madagascar[60] | Customary law[62] | The law prohibits rape but does not address spousal rape.[264] A bill to prohibit spousal rape was defeated in the Parliament of Madagascar in 2014.[265] Customary law holds that sex within marriage is consensual.[62]
Malawi[61][266] | Case law[267] | Although the definition of rape in the Penal Code (s.132) does not include a "marital exemption",[law 80] the presumption of a wife's consent under Customary Law was upheld by the High Court of Malawi in R.vs. Mwasomola, 4 ALR(Mal) 572.[267] The Marriage, Divorce, and Family Relations Act enacted in 2015 explicitly introduces the concept of spousal rape, but the act does not prescribe specific penalties and applies only to legally separated spouses.[268][law 81]
Malaysia[269] | Yes/No  | The concept of rape within marriage is not recognised. However, if a man "causes hurt or fear of death or hurt to his wife or any other person in order to have sexual intercourse with his wife ", he may be imprisoned up to five years if convicted according to Section 375A of the Penal Code (adopted on 7 September 2007).[270][271][272][law 82]
Maldives | Explicitly excluded[273] | The Sexual Offences Act (Act 17/2014) excludes marital rape, except in very narrow circumstances such as the couple are legally separated or one has a STI.[274][275]
Mali | Yes[276] | The Code Pénal, Art. 226, does not specifically prohibit spousal rape,[law 83] but law enforcement officials stated criminal laws against rape apply to spousal rape.[277]
Malta | Explicitly criminalised[278] | The 2005 Law To Make Special Provisions For Domestic Violence[law 84] added article 202(h) to the Criminal Code. This article made rape by a spouse an aggravating factor.[law 85] In 2018 ACT No. XIII further changed art. 202(h), changing "spouse" to "he current or former spouse, civil union partner or cohabitant".[law 86]
Marshall Islands | Yes[279] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape, although not explicitly (Criminal Code s. 213.1(1)(a) & 213.2(1)(a)),[law 87] and establishes penalties of up to 25 years' imprisonment for first-degree sexual assault.[280]
Mauritania | Yes[281] | Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal. Rapists who are single men face penalties of forced labor and whipping, and married rapists are subject to the death penalty.[282] The Law does not differentiate between rape within marriage and rape outside marriage.[283] (Code Pénal, art. 309)[law 88]
Mauritius | Explicitly criminalised[284] | Amendments to the Protection from Domestic Violence Act (PDVA) came into force in September 2016. The amendments redefine the term "spouse" to include unmarried couples of the opposite sex; redefine "domestic violence" to include verbal, psychological, economic, and sexual abuses. Although the amendments do not mention spousal rape, section 2.d. stipulates that a spouse cannot force or threaten the other partner into a sexual act "from which the spouse or the other person has the right to abstain."[285][law 89] Spousal rape was first criminalised in 2007.[286]
Mexico | Explicitly criminalised[287] | Federal law criminalises rape of men or women and conviction carries penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment. Twenty-four states have laws criminalising spousal rape.[288] Article 265 bis of the Código Penal Federal explicitly criminalises rape of a "wife or concubine".[law 90]
Micronesia | Yes/No  | Marital rape is explicitly excluded from the definition of rape in Pohnpei State (Pohnpei Code, Title 61, Ch. 5, §5-141(2)),[289] but not in the states of Kosrae, Yap and Chuuk.[290]
Moldova | Explicitly criminalised[291] | The law criminalises rape or forcible sexual assault and establishes penalties for violations ranging from three years to life in prison.[292] Since 2010, the law has also explicitly criminalised spousal rape (Criminal Code, arts.133(1) & 171 (2)(b2))[law 91]
Monaco | Explicitly criminalised  | Rape, including spousal rape, is a criminal offense with penalties of 5, 10, and up to 20 years in prison, depending on the type of offense.[293][12] Spousal rape was explicitly criminalised Law No. 1.382 of 2011.[294]
Mongolia | Explicitly criminalised[295] | The criminal code outlaws sexual intercourse through physical violence, or threat of violence, and provides for sentences of 1 to 20 years' imprisonment or life imprisonment, depending on the circumstances.[296] Marital rape was criminalised by the Law to Combat Domestic Violence (art. 6.1.4).[295]
Montenegro | Yes[297] | In most cases the penalty provided by law for rape, including spousal rape, is one to ten years in prison. In practice, the average conviction resulted in three years.[298][12] Spousal rape is not explicitly included in the definition of rape (Criminal Code, art. 204).[law 92]
Morocco | Yes/No  | Spousal rape is not outlawed in the penal code.[299][300] Forced marriage and harassment was outlawed in 2018.[301][302] However, there is jurisprudence criminalizing marital rape, with a man having been found guilty of marital rape by the Tangier Court of First Instance in 2020.[300] In May 2022, a Rabat Family Court ruled against a man who had sued his wife for refusing sex, ruling that "sexual intercourse may not be carried forcibly [...] as it contradicts the religious purpose of intercourse".[303]
Mozambique | Explicitly criminalised[304][14] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape, and domestic violence. Penalties for conviction range from two to eight years' imprisonment if the victim is 12 years of age or older and 20 to 24 years' imprisonment if the victim is under 12.[305] Marital rape is explicitly criminalised by Law N.29/2009 on Domestic Violence Perpetrated Against Women, (arts. 3 & 17)[law 93] and the Criminal Code Law N.35/2014, (arts. 37(aa) & 218).[law 94]
Myanmar | Explicitly excluded[306] | Spousal rape is not a crime unless the wife is younger than 13 years,[307] and is explicitly excluded from the definition of rape in section 375 of the Penal Code.[law 95]

## N

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Namibia | Explicitly criminalised[62][179][308] | The law criminalises rape of men and women, including spousal rape. By law rape is defined as the commitment of any sexual act under coercive circumstances. The courts tried numerous cases of rape during the year, and the government generally enforced court sentences providing between five and 45 years' imprisonment for those convicted.[309] Marital rape was outlawed in 2000,[310] by section 2(3) of the Combating of Rape Act.[law 96]
Nauru | Explicitly criminalised[311] | Rape is a crime and carries a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment. Section 104 of the 2016 Crimes Act[law 97] specifically applies penalties for rape of married and de facto partners.[312]
Nepal | Explicitly criminalised[313] | Section 219 (4) of the 2017 Criminal Code Bill states, "If a man rapes his wife when he is still in marital relationship with her, he shall be sentenced to up to five years in jail.".[314] Marital rape was also criminalised under the previous Criminal Code (2006).[47]
Netherlands | Yes[315] | The law in all parts of the kingdom criminalises rape, including spousal rape, and domestic violence. The penalty is imprisonment not exceeding 12 years, a fine not exceeding 78 thousand euros ($93,600), or both. In case of violence against a spouse, the penalty for various forms of abuse can be increased by one-third.[316] Legislative changes provided a new definition for rape in 1991, which removed the marital exemption, and also made the crime gender-neutral.[317]
New Zealand | Explicitly criminalised[318] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape (Crimes Act 1961, sec. 128(4)).[law 98] The maximum penalty is 20 years' imprisonment.[319] Marital rape was first criminalised in 1985.[23]
Nicaragua | Explicitly criminalised[320] | The law criminalises all forms of rape of men or women, regardless of the relationship between the victim and the accused. Sentences for those convicted of rape range from 8 to 12 years' imprisonment.[321] Marital rape was criminalised in 2012 by Ley No. 779[law 99] which modified arts. 37 & 169 of the Código Penal.[law 100]
Niger | Yes[322] | The law does not explicitly recognize spousal rape,[law 101] and authorities seldom prosecuted it. Victims often sought to deal with the rape within the family or were pressured to do so, and many victims did not report spousal rape due to fear of retribution, including loss of economic support.[323]
Nigeria | Explicitly excluded[50][324] | Marital rape is explicitly excluded from the definition of rape in the Northern Nigeria Penal Code provided the spouse has reached puberty (Section 282(2)),[50] and likewise excluded from Section 357 of the Nigerian Criminal Code (applying to the southern states).[325]
North Korea | No[326] | As of 2017 it was legal.[327]
Norway | Yes[328] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape,[law 102] and the government generally enforced the law. The penalty for rape is up to 21 years in prison, depending on the severity of the assault, the age of the victim, and the circumstances in which the crime occurred.[329] Unlike Sweden and Denmark, Norway never had an exemption for marital rape, and a 1974 Supreme Court verdict confirmed that rape in marriage was a criminal act.[330]

## O

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Oman | Explicitly excluded[331] | The law criminalises rape with penalties of up to 15 years in prison but does not criminalise spousal rape.[332] Article 218(1) of the Penal Code of Oman explicitly excludes marital rape from the definition of rape.[law 103]

## P

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Pakistan | Yes  | Marital rape was explicitly excluded in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 under section 375. The Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 continued to reflect this and included in its definition of rape "to whom he or she is not validly married". This ordinance was repealed by the Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act, 2006 and rape under Section 375 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 was reinstituted.[law 104] The new definition did not include a reference to marriage. It was argued that the intent was to include marital rape in the offence.[333][334] As of February 2015, there were no reports of a case being brought before a superior court to clarify the law.[333] In 2021 an amendment was made to Section 375 which expanded the applicability of the crime through the inclusion of a definition on "consent" which thus far had not been defined, which would indirectly also include marital rape.[2][335]
Palau | Yes[336] | Rape, including spousal rape, is a crime punishable by a maximum 25 years' imprisonment, a fine of $50,000 (national currency is U.S. dollar), or both.[337] The 2012 Palau Family Protection Act removed the "marital exemption" from Palau National Code.[law 105]
Palestine | Explicitly excluded[338][339] | Article 292(1) of the Criminal Code of 1960 explicitly excludes marital rape from the law on rape.[law 106]
Panama | Explicitly criminalised[340] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape, with prison terms of five to ten years.[341] In 2013, Ley No. 82[law 107] amended the Código Penal to explicitly criminalise marital rape (arts. 91 & 174).[law 108]
Papua New Guinea | Yes[342] | Rape, including spousal rape, is a crime punishable by imprisonment ranging from 15 years to life. The legal system allows village chiefs to negotiate the payment of compensation in lieu of trials for rapists.[343] In 2002, The Criminal Code (Sexual Offences and Crimes against Children) Act removed the rape "marital exemption" from the Criminal Code[344] (sec 347).[law 109]
Paraguay | Yes[345] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape, and provides penalties of up to 10 years in prison for rape or sexual assault.[346] Marital rape is not explicitly criminalised by the Código Penal (art. 128).[law 110]
Peru | Explicitly criminalised[347] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape, with penalties of six to eight years in prison.[348] Marital rape has been explicitly criminalised since 2007 by art. 170 of the Código Penal.[law 111]
Philippines | Explicitly criminalised[349] |

See also: Rape in the Philippines § Marital rape

Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal, with penalties ranging from 12 to 40 years' imprisonment.[350] An anti-rape law covering marital rape was passed in 1997.[351][47][law 112] Marital rape was explicitly criminalised by the Anti- Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (Sec. 3(B)(a),(b)).[law 113] The legality of the marital rape laws was upheld by the Supreme Court in People vs Jumawan G.R. No. 187495 (2014).[352]

Poland | Yes[353] | Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal and punishable by up to 12 years in prison.[354] The "marital exemption" clause was dropped when the 1932 Criminal Code was introduced.[355] The Penal Code does not explicitly criminalise marital rape (art. 197).[law 114]
Portugal | Explicitly criminalised[356] | The law makes rape, including spousal rape, illegal, with a penalty of three to ten years' imprisonment.[357] The "marital exemption" was removed from the law in 1982.[358] In 2007, amendments[law 115] to the Penal Code arts. 152 & 164), explicitly criminalised marital rape.[law 116]

## Q

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Qatar | Yes[359] | Article 279 of the Penal Code criminalises rape.[law 117] Spousal rape is not explicitly criminalised, but a woman may file a complaint. The penalty for rape is life imprisonment, regardless of the age or sex of the victim.[360]

## R

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Romania | Explicitly criminalised[361] | Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal. The law provides for three to ten years' imprisonment for rape and two to seven years' imprisonment for sexual assault.[362] In 2003, marital rape was criminalised by article 4(d) of the Law on Preventing and Fighting Against Domestic Violence.[law 118]
Russia | Yes[363] | Rape is illegal, and the law provides the same punishment for a relative, including the spouse, who commits rape as for a nonrelative.[law 119][364] The Soviet Union, in which Russia was the dominant republic, removed "marital exemption" from its rape laws in 1922.[365]
Rwanda | Explicitly criminalised[122][179][366] | The law criminalises rape of men and women and spousal rape, and the government handled rape cases as a judicial priority. Penalties for conviction of spousal rape range from two months' to life imprisonment with fines of 100,000 to 300,000 Rwandan francs.[367] Spousal rape was first criminalised in 2009,[368] when the Law on prevention and punishment of gender- based violence came into effect.[law 120]

## S

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Saint Kitts and Nevis | Yes[369] | Marital rape is neither explicitly included or excluded from article 46 of the Offences against the Person Act which criminalises rape.[law 121]
Saint Lucia[17] | Explicitly excluded[370] | Section 123(3) of the Criminal Code[law 122] explicitly excludes marital rape except when a couple is divorced or separated or when there is a protection order from the Family Court.[371]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Yes[372] | Rape, including spousal rape (although not explicitly),[372] is illegal, and the government generally enforced the law when victims came forward. Sentences for rape begin at 10 years' imprisonment.[373]
Samoa | Explicitly criminalised[374] | The 2013 Crimes Act removed the "marital exemption" from the Crimes Ordinance 1961,[375] and section 49(4) explicitly criminalised marital rape.[law 123]
San Marino | Explicitly criminalised[376] | Rape, including spousal rape, is a criminal offense, and the government effectively prosecuted persons accused of such crimes. The penalty for rape is two to six years in prison.[377] Article 10 of the 2008 Prevention and Repression of Violence against Women and Gender-Based Violence Law made rape by a spouse an aggravating factor.[law 124]
Sao Tome and Principe[75] | Explicitly criminalised[179] | Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal and punishable by 2 to 12 years' imprisonment.[378] Marital rape was explicitly criminalised by Law No. 11/2008, Art. 15[379]
Saudi Arabia | No[380] | Rape is a criminal offense under sharia with a wide range of penalties from flogging to execution. The law does not recognize spousal rape as a crime.[381]
Senegal | Yes[382] | The law prohibits rape, which is punishable by five to ten years' imprisonment. Nevertheless, the government rarely enforced the law, and rape was widespread. The law does not address spousal rape,[383] but does not exclude it from the definition of rape in article 320 of the Criminal Code.[law 125]
Serbia | Explicitly criminalised[384] | Rape, including spousal rape, is punishable by up to 40 years in prison. The government did not enforce the law effectively.[385] The "marital exemption" was dropped in 2002,[386] and marital rape explicitly criminalised by the 2016 Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence (arts. 3 & 4(2)).[law 126]
Seychelles | Yes[14][387] | Rape is a criminal offense under Sec. 130 of the Penal Code, for which conviction is punishable by a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment. Marital rape is not explicitly criminalised.[law 127] Nevertheless, rape was a problem, and the government did not enforce the law effectively.[388]
Sierra Leone[50] | Explicitly criminalised[179][389] | The law has specifically prohibited spousal rape[390] since 2012[391][392] by Secs. 5 and 6 of the Sexual Offences Act.[law 128]
Singapore | Explicitly criminalised[law 129] | Prior to 2020, spousal rape was explicitly excluded from rape laws except in very narrow circumstances (Sec. 375 of the Penal Code),[law 129] but husbands who force their wives to have intercourse may be prosecuted for other offenses, such as assault. Spousal rape is a criminal offense when the couple is separated, subject to an interim divorce order that has not become final, or subject to a written separation agreement, as well as when a court has issued a protection order against the husband.[393] This exemption was lifted on 1 January 2020, with all kinds of spousal rape criminalised.[394]
Slovakia | Explicitly criminalised[395] | The explicit exclusion of marital rape was removed from Czechoslovak penal code in 1950. Since then it is punishable as other cases of rape.[117] The current Slovak criminal code explicitly includes spousal rape under the crime of rape and sexual violence in Sections 199 (if also Sections 127(5) and 139 (1c) are applied) and provides a penalty of 7 to 15 years in prison.[law 130]
Slovenia | Explicitly criminalised[396] | Marital rape is explicitly criminalised by article 170 of the Criminal Code.[law 131] As a republic with Yugoslavia, marital rape was first criminalised by Slovenia in 1977.[397]
Solomon Islands | Explicitly criminalised[398] | Marital rape is explicitly criminalised by section 5(136F)(2)of the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016.[law 132] Rape carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.[399]
Somalia[400] | Yes/No[401] | There are no federal laws against spousal violence, including rape, although in May 2016, the Council of Ministers approved a national gender policy that gives the government the right to sue anyone convicted of committing gender-based violence, such as the killing or rape of a woman.[401]
South Africa[402] | Explicitly criminalised[62][179] | Spousal rape was criminalised in 1993[403] by article 5 of the Prevention of Family Violence Act,[law 133] although the first prosecution was not until 2012.[404]
South Korea | Court decision[405] | Although no specific statute defines spousal rape as illegal, the South Korean Supreme Court acknowledged marital rape as illegal in 2013.[405] The penalty for rape ranges from a minimum of three years to life imprisonment depending on the specific circumstances.[406][407]
South Sudan[408][409] | Explicitly excluded[138][410] | Article 247(3) of the 2008 Penal Code is explicit that marital rape is not an offence.[122][law 134]
Spain | Court decision[411] | The law prohibits rape, including spousal rape, and the government generally enforced the law effectively. The penalty for rape is 6 to 12 years in prison.[412] The Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that sex within marriage must be consensual.[411]
Sri Lanka[413] | Explicitly excluded[414] | Marital rape is excluded from the definition of rape in article 363 of the Penal Code[law 135] except if the spouses are legally separated.[415]
Sudan | Yes[416] | In February 2015, an amendment to Article 149 of the Criminal Code changed the definition of rape. Under the new definition of rape, rape victims could no longer be prosecuted for adultery.[417] Although there is no specific prohibition of marital rape, the amendment makes it possible to prosecute marital rape.[416]
Suriname | Explicitly criminalised[418] | The law criminalises rape of women, including spousal rape, and prescribes penalties for rape or forcible sexual assault of between 12 and 15 years' imprisonment, and fines up to 100,000 Surinamese dollars.[419] Spousal rape was criminalised in 2009 by an amendment to the Moral Law.[420][law 136]
Sweden | Explicitly criminalised[421] | Rape, including spousal rape and domestic violence (Ch. 4, Sec. 4a of the Penal Code),[law 137] are illegal, and the government enforced the law effectively. Penalties range from two to ten years in prison.[422] Marital rape was first criminalised in 1965.[423]
Switzerland | Yes[424] | Rape, including spousal rape (although not explicitly so),[424] and domestic violence, are statutory offenses for which penalties range from one to ten years in prison (Swiss Criminal Code, art 190).[law 138] The government effectively prosecuted individuals accused of such crimes.[425] The "marital exemption" was removed from law in 1992.[426]
Syria | Explicitly excluded[427] | Rape is a felony, subject to punishment by at least 15 years in prison, but the government did not enforce the law. The law further stipulates that if the rapist marries the victim, the rapist receives no punishment. The victim's family sometimes agreed to this arrangement to avoid the social stigma attached to rape.[428] Marital rape is explicitly excluded from the rape laws by art 489(1) of the Criminal Code.[law 139]

## T

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Taiwan | Explicitly criminalised[429] | The law criminalises rape, including spousal rape, and domestic violence.[430] (Criminal Code of the Republic of China, Arts.221 and 229–1)[law 140]
Tajikistan | No[431] | Marital rape is not recognised as a criminal offence.[432]
Tanzania[433] | Explicitly excluded[138][434] | Section 5 of the 1998 Sexual Offences (Special Provisions) Act explicitly excludes marital rape[law 141] on the grounds "husbands, by virtue of paying bride price, have legal right to have unlimited sexual access to their wives".[434]
Thailand | Explicitly criminalised[435] | Rape is illegal,[436] although the government did not always enforce the law effectively. The law permits authorities to prosecute spousal rape, and prosecutions occurred. The law specifies penalties for conviction of rape or forcible sexual assault ranging from four years' imprisonment to the death penalty as well as fines.[437] Marital rape was criminalised in 2007 amid strong controversy,[438][439] by Sec. 3(276) of the Penal Code Amendment Act (No. 19).[law 142]
Togo | Explicitly criminalised[440] | Marital rape is explicitly criminalised by Arts. 211-212 of Loi No. 2015-010 Portant Nouveau Code Pénal[law 143] and is punishable by up to 720 hours of community service and a fine of 200,000 to 1,000,000 CFA francs.[441]
Tonga | Yes[442] | The law recognizes spousal rape.[443] (Criminal Offences Act, Sec. 118(2)[law 144] & Family Protection Act, Sec. 29)[law 145]
Trinidad and Tobago | Explicitly criminalised[444] | Marital rape was explicitly criminalised by section 4(4)(5) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2000.[law 146] Rape is punishable by up to life imprisonment, but the courts often imposed considerably shorter sentences.[445]
Tunisia | Explicitly criminalised[446] | Prior to June 2017, marital rape was not considered a crime. Although Article 227 of the Penal Code does not exclude marital rape from its provisions, Article 23 of the Personal Status Code mandated partners in marriage to "fulfil their conjugal duties according to practice and customs,"[447] On 27 June 2017, the Tunisian Parliament unanimously passed a comprehensive law addressing all forms of gender-based violence, including physical, economic, and social violence.[448] The provisions of this law include marital rape.[449]
Turkey | Explicitly criminalised[450] | The law prohibits sexual assault, including rape and spousal rape (Art. 102, Criminal Code),[law 147] with penalties of two to ten years' imprisonment for conviction of attempted sexual violation and at least 12 years' imprisonment for conviction of rape or sexual violation.[451] Marital rape was criminalised in 2005.[452]
Turkmenistan | Yes  | Marital rape is illegal and punishable by sentences ranging from 3 to 25 years imprisonment.[453][454]
Tuvalu | No[455] | Rape is a crime punishable by a minimum sentence of five years' imprisonment, but spousal rape is not included in the legal definition of this offense.[456]

## U

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Uganda | Customary law[457] | Rape is defined as "unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or a girl without her consent"[458] in Section 123 of the Penal Code, there is no marital exemption.[459][better source needed] However, in customary law, there is a presupposition that a woman implicitly consents to sexual intercourse with her spouse during marriage.[459][460] As of late 2018,[461] the Sexual Offences Bill, which would explicitly criminalise marital rape, is before the Parliament of Uganda. Similar bills were defeated in 1970, 2003 and 2009.[462]
Ukraine | Yes[463] | The law prohibits rape of men or women but does not explicitly address spousal rape or domestic violence. The courts may use a law against "forced sex with a materially dependent person" as grounds to prosecute spousal rape.[464][465]
United Arab Emirates | No[466][467] | The penal code does not address spousal rape. In October the Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced a policeman to six months in jail for raping his fiancée. The defendant argued that he considered the two married at the time of the offense.[468]
United Kingdom[469] | Explicitly criminalised[470] | The law criminalises rape, spousal rape, and domestic violence. The maximum legal penalty for rape is life imprisonment. The law also provides for injunctive relief, personal protection orders, and protective exclusion orders (similar to restraining orders) for female victims of violence.[471] In Scotland in 1989, The High Court of Justiciary held in the case of Stallard v HM Advocate[472] that a husband is "not immune from prosecution for raping his wife",[472] rejecting the premise that she has "surrendered her person to him"[472] & concluding that "consent to the acts"[472] was the only question to be answered.[472] In the United Kingdom, the notion of a common law marital exemption was rejected by the House of Lords in the case of R v R in 1991, the judgement affirming that "in modern times the supposed marital exemption in rape forms no part of the law of England."[473] The Sexual Offences Act 2003 also provides that relationship status is not a defence against a charge brought under the Act.[474]
United States | Yes[475] |

Main article: Marital rape in the United States

Marital rape has been illegal in all 50 US states since 1993. In 1975 it was made illegal in Nebraska, while North Carolina and Oklahoma were the last states to prosecute it. Legislation varies from state to state and there are still states, like South Carolina, where marital and non-marital rape are treated quite differently under the law.
Uruguay[476] | Yes[477] | The law criminalises rape of men or women, including spousal rape, although not explicitly (Código Penal, Art. 272).[law 148] The law allows for sentences of 2 to 12 years' imprisonment for a person found guilty of rape, and authorities effectively enforced the law.[478]
Uzbekistan | Explicitly criminalised[479] | Marital rape is explicitly criminalised by Art. 118 and Chapter Eight* of the Criminal Code,[law 149][480] however the courts did not try any rape cases as of 2017, according to human rights activists.[481]

## V

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Vanuatu | Yes[482] | The Penal Code, Sec. 90,[law 150] defines rape but does not explicitly include marital rape. Police are frequently reluctant to intervene in what they considered domestic matters.[483]
Venezuela | Explicitly criminalised[484] | Articles 15(7) & 43 of the Ley Orgánica Sobre el Derecho de las Mujeres a una Vida Libre de Violencia (Organic Law on the Right of Women to a Life Free of Violence) explicitly criminalised marital rape in 2007.[law 151]
Vietnam | Explicitly criminalised[485] | In 2002, marital rape was explicitly criminalised by article 2(1)(e) of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control.[law 152]

## Y

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Yemen[144][486] | Explicitly excluded  | The law criminalises rape, but it does not criminalise spousal rape because the law states a woman may not refuse sexual relations with her husband.[487]

## Z

[edit]

Country  | Criminalised  | Notes

|
|

Zambia | Explicitly criminalised[488] | The 2010 Anti-Gender-based Violence Act criminalises spousal rape.[488][law 153]
Zimbabwe[489] | Explicitly criminalised[62][179] | Marital rape was criminalised in 2004 by section 68 of the "Criminal Law (Codification And Reform) Act". However Article 68 (a) states "no prosecution shall be instituted against any husband for raping or indecently assaulting his wife ... unless the Attorney-General has authorised such a prosecution".[law 154] Spousal rape receives less attention than physical violence against women.[490]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Randall, Melanie; Koshan, Jennifer; Nyaundi, Patricia (2017). The Right to Say No: Marital Rape and Law Reform in Canada, Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 57\. ISBN 9781782258612. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
2. ^ a b c Walby, Sylvia (2015). Stopping rape: Towards a comprehensive policy. Bristol: Policy Press. p. 123\. ISBN 9781447351566. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
3. ^ Raguin, Virginia Chieffo; Stanbury, Sarah (2005). Women's Space: Patronage, Place, and Gender in the Medieval Church. New York: SUNY Press. p. 58\. ISBN 9780791463659. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
4. ^ "Marital rape will remain non-crime, law minister announces". 10 June 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
5. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Afghanistan.
6. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Afghanistan.
7. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Albania.
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10. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Algeria.
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15. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Angola.
16. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Antigua and Barbuda.
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18. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Argentina.
19. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Argentina.
20. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Armenia.
21. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Armenia.
22. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Australia.
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24. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Australia.
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26. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Austria.
27. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Austria.
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29. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Azerbaijan.
30. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Azerbaijan.
31. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, The Bahamas.
32. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, The Bahamas.
33. ^ "Musawah Thematic Report on Article 16: Bahrain" (PDF). Musawah. February 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
34. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Bahrain.
35. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Bangladesh.
36. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Bangladesh.
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38. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Barbados.
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41. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Belarus.
42. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Belarus.
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44. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Belgium.
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48. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Belize.
49. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Belize.
50. ^ a b c d e f g h i The State of African Women 2018, p. 146.
51. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Benin.
52. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Benin.
53. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Bhutan.
54. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Bhutan.
55. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Bolivia.
56. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Bolivia.
57. ^ Wright, Emily (26 June 2017). "Bolivia: Home to Latin America's Highest Rates of Sexual Violence". Women and Girls. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
58. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
59. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
60. ^ a b c The State of African Women 2018, p. 157.
61. ^ a b "In the sexual offences legislation of Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, and South Africa, rape within marriage is illegal." Stefiszyn, Karen (12 May 2008), A Brief Overview of Recent Developments in Sexual Offences Legislation in Southern Africa (PDF), UN. Expert Group Meeting on good practices in legislation on violence against women., p. 4
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63. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Botswana.
64. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Brazil.
65. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Brazil.
66. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Brunei Darussalam.
67. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Brunei.
68. ^ Brunei Darussalam: Amnesty International submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine," Sixth session of the UPR Working Group, November–December 2009.
69. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Bulgaria.
70. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Bulgaria.
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72. ^ "Burkina Faso: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices". 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
73. ^ a b Women, Business and the Law 2018, Burundi.
74. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Burundi.
75. ^ a b c d e f The State of African Women 2018, p. 152.
76. ^ a b "Cameroon: Situation of women who are victims of rape; recourses available to these women". Refworld. Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 29 May 2003. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
77. ^ a b "Country Sheet - Cameroon" (PDF). The Country of Return Information Project. November 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
78. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Cameroon.
79. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Canada.
80. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Canada.
81. ^ "Legislative Influences". Statcan.gc.ca. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
82. ^ "Selected Changes in Justice Legislation" (PDF). 17 May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
83. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Cambodia.
84. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Cambodia.
85. ^ 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.
86. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Cabo Verde.
87. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Cabo Verde.
88. ^ a b c d e f g h i Claire Provost (6 July 2011). "UN Women justice report: get the data". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
89. ^ "Gender Equality in Central African Republic - Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI)". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
90. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Central African Republic.
91. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Chad.
92. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Chile.
93. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Chile.
94. ^ "Concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Chile" (PDF). Un.org. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
95. ^ Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre (ARROW). "China: MDG 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Woman". Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2011. "China has no legal provisions for marital rape and the main reason for this is in deference to a prevailing cultural perception that wives are supposed to submit to their husband's wishes in matters of sexual relations and hence, there is no such concept of 'rape' within marriage or 'rape' being considered a form of violence within the marriage."
96. ^ Westmarland & Gangoli 2012, p. 69
97. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau).
98. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Colombia.
99. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Colombia.
100. ^ "Violence Against Women in Colombia" (PDF). Omct.org. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
101. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Comoros.
102. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Comoros.
103. ^ Peterman, Amber; Tia Palermo; Caryn Bredenkamp (June 2011). "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. PMC 3093289. PMID 21566049.
104. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Democratic Republic of Congo.
105. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Congo, Republic of the.
106. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Costa Rica.
107. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Costa Rica.
108. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Croatia.
109. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Croatia.
110. ^ Cuba Business and Investment Opportunities Yearbook Volume 1 Strategic, Practical Information and Opportunities. IBP, Inc. 2016. p. 55\. ISBN 9781438776552.
111. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Cuba.
112. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Cyprus.
113. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Cyprus.
114. ^ "Intercultural Dialogue on Violence against Women" (PDF). Retepariopportunita.it. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
115. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Cyprus - the Area Administered by Turkish Cypriots.
116. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Czech Republic.
117. ^ a b "Chapter 7, Section 2, § 238. Znásilnění". Trestní zákon. Ministry of Interior. 18 July 1950. pp. 248–249. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
118. ^ "Czech Republic 2017 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices". U.S. Department of State. Bureau Of Democracy, Human Rights, And Labor. 20 April 2018. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
119. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Czech Republic.
120. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Denmark.
121. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Denmark.
122. ^ a b c d e f g h The State of African Women 2018, p. 149.
123. ^ "Djibouti". SIHA Network. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
124. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Djibouti.
125. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Dominica.
126. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Dominican Republic.
127. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Dominican Republic.
128. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Timor-Leste.
129. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Timor-Leste.
130. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Ecuador.
131. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Ecuador.
132. ^ "B. The State's Response to Sexual Violence - Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights". Egyptian Initiative of Personal Rights. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
133. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Egypt.
134. ^ Warrick, Catherine. (2009). Law in the service of legitimacy: Gender and politics in Jordan. Farnham, Surrey, England; Burlington, Vt.: Ashgate Pub. ISBN 978-0-7546-7587-7.
135. ^ "Egypt". National Sexual Rights Law and Policy Database. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
136. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, El Salvador.
137. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, El Salvador.
138. ^ a b c d e Godia, Jane (10 November 2016). "Despite laws, marital rape remains shrouded in a cloud of exemptions". Kenyan Woman. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
139. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Eritrea.
140. ^ a b "Swaziland Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, 2018" (PDF). International Labour Office. p. 89. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
141. ^ a b "First arrest puts marital rape in spotlight in Eswatini". Business Standard India. Business Standard. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
142. ^ "Swaziland Country Summary" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. January 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
143. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Ethiopia.
144. ^ a b 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.
145. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Estonia.
146. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Estonia.
147. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Fiji.
148. ^ a b c "Fiji". sexualrightsdatabase.org. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
149. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Fiji.
150. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Finland.
151. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Finland.
152. ^ "Ministry of Justice, Finland - Entry page". 17 February 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013.
153. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, France.
154. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, France.
155. ^ a b Simon, Rita James (May 2001). A comparative perspective on major social problems. Lexington Books. p. 20\. ISBN 978-0-7391-0248-0.
156. ^ Bensussan, P. (2009). "Marital rape according to French law: Desire, need and consent". Sexologies. 18 (3): 182–185\. doi:10.1016/j.sexol.2009.04.001. ISSN 1158-1360.
157. ^ Rachel Hagan (23 January 2025). "French woman wins ECHR case over refusal of sex in divorce ruling". BBC. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
158. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Gabon.
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160. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Gabon.
161. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Gambia, the.
162. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Gambia, the.
163. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Georgia.
164. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Germany.
165. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Germany.
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167. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Ghana.
168. ^ Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Its Causes and Consequences, Yakin Ertürk : addendum: mission to Ghana, 2008.
169. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Greece.
170. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Greece.
171. ^ "The Secretary General's database on violence against women". Sgdatabase.unwomen.org. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
172. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Grenada.
173. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Grenada.
174. ^ "Grenada – Report on the Implementation of the Recommendations from the CEVI Second Round" (PDF). www.oas.org. OAS - Organization of American States: Democracy for peace, security, and development. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
175. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Guatemala.
176. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Guatemala.
177. ^ "Guinea-Conakry" (PDF). www.africa4womensrights.org. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
178. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Guinea.
179. ^ a b c d e f g "Commitment to Combat Gender-Based Violence" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
180. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Guinea-Bissau.
181. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Guinea-Bissau.
182. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Guyana.
183. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Guyana.
184. ^ "In May 2010, the Sexual Offenses Act was signed into law, which makes rape gender-neutral and expands its definition to include spousal rape and coercion and child abuse." Freedom House (23 November 2011). Freedom in the World 2011: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 285\. ISBN 978-1-4422-0994-7.
185. ^ Klasing, Amanda (24 January 2012). "A chance for Congress to help Haitian women". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 10 May 2012. "The penal code includes penalties for rape but does not address marital rape."
186. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Haiti.
187. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Honduras.
188. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Honduras.
189. ^ OECD (22 February 2010). Atlas of Gender and Development: How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries. OECD Publishing. p. 119\. ISBN 978-92-64-07747-8.
190. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Hong Kong.
191. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Hungary.
192. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Hungary.
193. ^ Simon, Rita James (May 2001). A comparative perspective on major social problems. Lexington Books. p. 25\. ISBN 978-0-7391-0248-0.
194. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Iceland.
195. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, India.
196. ^ a b G, Ananthakrishnan (3 October 2024). "Centre argues against labeling marital rape as 'rape,' says it is 'disproportionate' and 'harsh". The Indian Express. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
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198. ^ "Marital rape an injustice, must be criminalised: Gujarat High Court". 3 April 2018.
199. ^ "'Marital Rape a Form of Cruelty, Is Ground to Claim Divorce': Kerala HC". The Wire.
200. ^ "Rape is rape, even if man is husband: Karnataka HC". 24 March 2022.
201. ^ Sarda, Kanu (23 October 2024). "Supreme Court defers marital rape hearing by 4 weeks, new bench to hear case". India Today. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
202. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Indonesia.
203. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Indonesia.
204. ^ Westmarland & Gangoli 2012.
205. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Iran.
206. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Iran.
207. ^ a b c "Iraqi Penal Code, 2010". Refworld.org. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
208. ^ a b Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Iraq.
209. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Ireland.
210. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Ireland.
211. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Israel.
212. ^ a b David Kauzlarich, Introduction to Criminology, 2008, p. 79.
213. ^ a b Geis, Gilbert (1977). "Rape-in-marriage: Law and law reform in England, the United States, and Sweden". Adelaide Law Review. 6: 284.
214. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Israel.
215. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Italy.
216. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Italy.
217. ^ "Quality in Gender+ Equality Policies : European Commission Sixth Framework Programme Integrated Project" (PDF). Quing.eu. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
218. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Côte d'Ivoire.
219. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Cote d'Ivoire.
220. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Jamaica.
221. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Jamaica.
222. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Japan.
223. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Jordan.
224. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Jordan.
225. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Kazakhstan.
226. ^ a b Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Kazakhstan.
227. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Kiribati.
228. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Kiribati.
229. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Kosovo.
230. ^ Krol, Paula (10 June 2017). "Mapping support services for victims of violence against women in Kosovo". Council of Europe. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
231. ^ "World Report 2018: Rights Trends in Kuwait". Human Rights Watch. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
232. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Kuwait.
233. ^ "Kuwait's National Assembly passes domestic violence bill". The National. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
234. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Kyrgyz Republic.
235. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Kyrgyz Republic.
236. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Lao PDR.
237. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Laos.
238. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Latvia.
239. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Latvia.
240. ^ a b "Lebanon: Reform Rape Laws". Human Rights Watch. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
241. ^ Chaban, Stephanie (23 December 2017). "Now Is the time to criminalise marital rape in the Arab Region". Ahram Online. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
242. ^ "Concluding observations on the combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Lebanon". OHCR. November 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
243. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Lebanon.
244. ^ "Comments of The National Coalition for Legislating the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence on the changes below introduced by a parliamentary subcommittee" (PDF). www.kafa.org. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
245. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Lesotho.
246. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Lesotho.
247. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Liberia.
248. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Liberia.
249. ^ O'Reilly, Devon. "Women's Transformations during Conflict". Perspectives on Global Issues; NYU Center for Global Affairs. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
250. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Libya.
251. ^ "Country Policy and Information Note - Libya: Women" (PDF). UK Home Office. January 2018. p. 7.3.2. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
252. ^ "Universal Periodic Review–22nd Session–Libya Women's Rights". MRA/Mobilising for Rights Associates. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
253. ^ a b "Questionnaire for governments on implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (1995) and the outcome of the twenty–third Special Session of the General Assembly (2000)" (PDF). UN. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
254. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Liechtenstein.
255. ^ "The Secretary General's database on violence against women". Sgdatabase.unwomen.org. 13 December 2000. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
256. ^ a b Women, Business and the Law 2018, Lithuania.
257. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Lithuania.
258. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Luxembourg.
259. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Luxembourg.
260. ^ "China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau) - Macau". United States Department of State. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
261. ^ a b Women, Business and the Law 2018, Macedonia, FYR.
262. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Macedonia.
263. ^ Social Change, Gender and Violence: Post-Communist and War Affected Societies at Google Books
264. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Madagascar.
265. ^ "Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women considers the report of Madagascar". www.ohchr.org. OHCHR. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
266. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Malawi.
267. ^ a b "Malawi". Sexual Rights Database. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
268. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Malawi.
269. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Malaysia.
270. ^ "AWAM : All Women's Action Society Malaysia". Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
271. ^ "Marital rape will remain non-crime, law minister announces". Retrieved 22 August 2015.
272. ^ "Remove exception to marital rape in the law". 12 June 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
273. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Maldives.
274. ^ "Maldives". sexualrightsdatabase.org. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
275. ^ "Cleric apologises for marital rape comment". Maldives Times. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
276. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Mali.
277. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Mali.
278. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Malta.
279. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Marshall Islands.
280. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Marshall Islands.
281. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Mauritania.
282. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Mauritania.
283. ^ "Human Rights Committee considers report of Mauritania". newsarchive.ohchr.org. OHCHR. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
284. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Mauritius.
285. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Mauritius.
286. ^ 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.
287. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Mexico.
288. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Mexico.
289. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Micronesia, Fed. Sts..
290. ^ "Women in the Public Service". OHCHR. October 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
291. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Moldova.
292. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Moldova.
293. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Monaco.
294. ^ "GREVIO Baseline Evaluation Report Monaco". Secretariat of the monitoring mechanism of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
295. ^ a b Women, Business and the Law 2018, Mongolia.
296. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Mongolia.
297. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Montenegro.
298. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Montenegro.
299. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Morocco.
300. ^ a b Raynal, Matthias (12 March 2020). "Un Marocain a été condamné pour viol conjugal mais la loi ne bouge pas". Slate.fr (in French). Retrieved 14 December 2023.
301. ^ "Morocco bans forced marriage and harassment". BBC News. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
302. ^ "Marital Rape Is Still Legal in Morocco Despite Brand New Domestic Violence Law". Global Citizen. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
303. ^ Oumaima Latrech (5 May 2022). "Moroccan Court Rules Against Husband Suing Wife for Refusing Sex". Morocco World News. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
304. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Mozambique.
305. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Mozambique.
306. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Myanmar.
307. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Burma.
308. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Namibia.
309. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Namibia.
310. ^ "Refworld | Namibia: Domestic violence, including state protection, services and recourse available to victims". Unhcr.org. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
311. ^ "Nauru legalizes homosexuality, criminalises marital rape and slavery". Reuters. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
312. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Nauru.
313. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Nepal.
314. ^ "New law sets five-year jail term for marital rape". The Himalayan Times. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
315. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Netherlands.
316. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Netherlands.
317. ^ "Nothing But The Legal Truth" (DOC). Legalresearchnetwork.eu. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
318. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, New Zealand.
319. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, New Zealand.
320. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Nicaragua.
321. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Nicaragua.
322. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Niger.
323. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Niger.
324. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Nigeria.
325. ^ "Section 357 of the Criminal Code and Section 282 of the Penal Code". Global Database on Violence against Women. UN Women. 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
326. ^ "World Report 2018: Rights Trends in North Korea". Human Rights Watch. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
327. ^ "Concluding observations on the combined second to fourth periodic reports of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
328. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Norway.
329. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Norway.
330. ^ Kotanen, R. (12 November 2019), Heinskou, M. B.; Skilbrei, M.-L.; Stefansen, K. (eds.), From the Protection of Marriage to the Defence of Equality – The Finnish Debate Over the Sexual Autonomy of Wives, Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 83–100, ISBN 978-1-138-60651-7, retrieved 2 June 2024
331. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Oman.
332. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Oman.
333. ^ a b Khan, Myra (20 February 2015). "Rape Laws in Pakistan". The Legal Brief. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
334. ^ Rao, Hamza (31 August 2017). "Marital rape: Is it criminalised in Pakistan?". Daily Pakistan Global. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
335. ^ https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/07/pakistani-court-sentences-man-to-life-imprisonment-for-raping-his-wife/
336. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Palau.
337. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Palau.
338. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, West Bank and Gaza.
339. ^ "Are the Rights of Palestinian Women Protected by the PA?". The Cutting Edge News. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
340. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Panama.
341. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Panama.
342. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Papua New Guinea.
343. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Papua New Guinea.
344. ^ "Papua New Guinea - Criminal Code (Sexual Offences and Crimes Against Children) Act 2002 (No. 27 of 2002)". www.ilo.org. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
345. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Paraguay.
346. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Paraguay.
347. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Peru.
348. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Peru.
349. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Philippines.
350. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Philippines.
351. ^ Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) (2011). Reclaiming & Redefining Rights: Thematic Studies Series 1: Sexuality & Rights in Asia (PDF). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: ARROW. pp. 22–23.
352. ^ "G.R. No. 187495". www.lawphil.net. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
353. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Poland.
354. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Poland.
355. ^ Michalska-Warias, Aneta (2016). "Marital Rape in Poland from the Legal and Criminological Perspectives" (PDF). iws.gov.pl. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
356. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Portugal.
357. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Portugal.
358. ^ "Quality in Gender+ Equality Policies : European Commission Sixth Framework Programme Integrated Project" (PDF). Quing.eu. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
359. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Qatar.
360. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Qatar.
361. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Romania.
362. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Romania.
363. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Russian Federation.
364. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Russia.
365. ^ Rule, Wilma (1996). Russian women in politics and society. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-313-29363-4.
366. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Rwanda.
367. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Rwanda.
368. ^ "Rwanda: Final steps towards the adoption of a law to combat gender violence". Africa4womensrights.org. 13 February 2009. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
369. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, St. Kitts and Nevis.
370. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Saint Lucia.
371. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Saint Lucia.
372. ^ a b Women, Business and the Law 2018, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
373. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
374. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Samoa.
375. ^ "It's now illegal for your husband to rape you in Samoa". Sefulu Ono Aso Storm Campaign. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
376. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, San Marino.
377. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, San Marino.
378. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Sao Tome and Principe.
379. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, São Tomé and Príncipe.
380. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Saudi Arabia.
381. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Saudi Arabia.
382. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Senegal.
383. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Senegal.
384. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Serbia.
385. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Serbia.
386. ^ "The War At Home : Gender Based Violence Indicators Project". Stopvaw.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
387. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Seychelles.
388. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Seychelles.
389. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Sierra Leone.
390. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Sierra Leone.
391. ^ "Marital Rape: OK or not ok?". Deccan Chronicle. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
392. ^ "The Secretary General's database on violence against women". Sgdatabase.unwomen.org. 28 August 2012. Archived from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
393. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Singapore.
394. ^ "Penal Code changes to protect vulnerable victims, minors to kick in on Jan 1, 2020". Channel News Asia. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
395. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Slovak Republic.
396. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Slovenia.
397. ^ With the new 1974 Yugoslav Constitution each republic adopted their own Criminal Act, with Socialist Republic of Slovenia introducing rape of wife in its 1977 Criminal Act; (any) rape is not gender specific since 1995 Criminal Code (Art. 180), current Criminal Code is from 2008 (Art. 170)
398. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Solomon Islands.
399. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Solomon Islands.
400. ^ "Provisional Constitution" (PDF). Federal Government of Somalia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
401. ^ a b Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Somalia.
402. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, South Africa.
403. ^ "Marital Rape in South Africa – Enough is Enough | Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa". OSISA. 25 October 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
404. ^ Chelemu, Khethiwe. "Wife's seven-year wait for justice". Times. Johannesburg. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
405. ^ a b "Top court recognizes marital rape as crime for first time - YONHAP NEWS". 15 May 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
406. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, South Korea.
407. ^ "Marital Rape – Ruling Seen as Move to Protect Spousal Right to Sex – Korea « womensphere". Womensphere.wordpress.com. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
408. ^ "Government of the Republic of South Sudan - Official Portal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
409. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, South Sudan.
410. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, South Sudan.
411. ^ a b Spain. Tribunal, Supremo (May 1992). "[Judgment of 24 April 1992]". Actual Jurid Aranzadi (54): 1, 7. PMID 12293730.
412. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Spain.
413. ^ "Rapes surge in Sri Lanka amid weak laws". Retrieved 14 July 2016.
414. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Sri Lanka.
415. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Sri Lanka.
416. ^ a b "Sudan's new law on rape and sexual harassment One step forward, two steps back?" (PDF). African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
417. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Sudan.
418. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Suriname.
419. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Suriname.
420. ^ "The Secretary General's database on violence against women". Sgdatabase.unwomen.org. 25 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
421. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Sweden.
422. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Sweden.
423. ^ Elman, R Amy (1996). Sexual subordination and state intervention: comparing Sweden and the United States. Berghahn Books. p. 90\. ISBN 978-1-57181-071-7.
424. ^ a b Women, Business and the Law 2018, Switzerland.
425. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Switzerland.
426. ^ "Rape: Still a forgotten issue" (PDF). Archived from the original on 21 August 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2004.
427. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Syrian Arab Republic.
428. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Syria.
429. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Taiwan, China.
430. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Taiwan.
431. ^ OECD (22 February 2010). Atlas of Gender and Development: How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries. OECD Publishing. p. 85\. ISBN 978-92-64-07747-8.
432. ^ "Human Rights Council adopts outcomes of Universal Periodic Review of Papua New Guinea, Tajikistan and Tanzania". www.ohchr.org. OHCHR. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
433. ^ "No Way Out". Human Rights Watch. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
434. ^ a b "Tanzanian Legal System & Sexual Violence » Case Studies in Domestic Violence". stanford.edu. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
435. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Thailand.
436. ^ "Thailand outlaws marital rape," AFP, June 22, 2007.
437. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Thailand.
438. ^ "Thailand outlaws marital rape". The China Post. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
439. ^ "Asia-Pacific | Thailand passes marital rape bill". BBC News. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
440. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Togo.
441. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Togo.
442. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Tonga.
443. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Tonga.
444. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Trinidad and Tobago.
445. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Trinidad and Tobago.
446. ^ Chaban, Stephanie (23 December 2017). "Now Is the time to criminalise marital rape in the Arab Region - Opinion - Ahram Online". english.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
447. ^ Khouili, Ramy; Levine-Spound, Daniel (29 September 2017). "Anti-violence law is another victory for Tunisian women". Middle East Eye.
448. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Tunisia.
449. ^ McCormick-Cavanagh, Conor (28 July 2017). "New Tunisian law takes long stride toward gender equality". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
450. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Turkey.
451. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Turkey.
452. ^ Anti-Discrimination Committee Takes Up Situation of Women in Turkey, UN Information Service, 21 January 2005.
453. ^ "Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal in Turkmenistan and punishable by sentences ranging from 3 to 25 years in prison, depending on the extent of the violence. The government generally applies this law." OECD (22 February 2010). Atlas of Gender and Development: How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries. OECD Publishing. p. 87\. ISBN 978-92-64-07747-8.
454. ^ "Women's property and use rights in personal laws". www.fao.org. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
455. ^ "Tuvalu". UN Women Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
456. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Tuvalu.
457. ^ The State of African Women 2018.
458. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, [1].
459. ^ a b Benjamin, Kaddu J (2015). Marital Rape In Uganda; Is It A Crime Or A Conjugal Right? (Bachelor's). Uganda Christian University. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
460. ^ Akumu, Patience (26 May 2010). "The phenomenon of marital rape". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
461. ^ Wafula, Phillip (24 September 2018). "CSOs propose changes to Sexual Offences Bill". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
462. ^ Watera, Winnie Brenda (29 November 2016). "Uganda: Marital Rape Controversy". The Independent (Kampala). Retrieved 22 October 2018.
463. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Ukraine.
464. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Ukraine.
465. ^ OECD (22 February 2010). Atlas of Gender and Development: How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries. OECD Publishing. p. 89\. ISBN 978-92-64-07747-8.
466. ^ "Factbox: Women's rights in the Arab world". Reuters. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
467. ^ "World Report 2018: Rights Trends in United Arab Emirates". Human Rights Watch. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
468. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, United Arab Emirates.
469. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, United Kingdom.
470. ^ "Sexual Offences Act 2003", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2003 c. 42
471. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, United Kingdom.
472. ^ a b c d e Scotland. High Court of Justiciary (1989). "Johnson Davis Stallard v. H.M. Advocate [15 March 1989]". Annual Review of Population Law. 16: 123. ISSN 0364-3417. PMID 12344079.
473. ^ "R. v R [1991] UKHL 12 (23 October 1991)".
474. ^ "Sexual Offences Act". Legal Information Institute. Cornell Law School. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
475. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, United States.
476. ^ "Extinction of Certain Crimes By Marriage of the Offender with Offender". Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
477. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Uruguay.
478. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Uruguay.
479. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Uzbekistan.
480. ^ "Rape is punishable by law in Uzbekistan and spousal rape is specifically prohibited, but no man has ever been convicted for raping his wife." OECD (22 February 2010). Atlas of Gender and Development: How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries. OECD Publishing. p. 91\. ISBN 978-92-64-07747-8.
481. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Uzbekistan.
482. ^ "Vanuatu HIV and Human Rights Legislative Compliance Review" (PDF). Joint project of UNDP Pacific Centre, Regional Rights Resource Team SPC and UNAIDS. March 2009. p. 19. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
483. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Vanuatu.
484. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Venezuela.
485. ^ Women, Business and the Law 2018, Vietnam.
486. ^ "Yemen". www.genderindex.org. The OECD Development Centre's Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI). Retrieved 16 October 2018.
487. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Yemen.
488. ^ a b Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Zambia.
489. ^ "Pambazuka - Southern Africa: Justice for survivors of marital rape, how far has SADC come ?". Retrieved 22 August 2015.
490. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2017, Zimbabwe.

### Relevant legislation

[edit]

1. ^ Afghanistan: Law on Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) (2009)
2. ^ Afghanistan: Shia Personal Status Law (2008)
3. ^ Albania: Criminal Code (1995, as amended 2015.)
4. ^ Algeria Code Penal (2009) (in French)
5. ^ Andorra Code Pénal (2005) (in French)
6. ^ Angola Código Penal (in Portuguese)
7. ^ Antigua and Barbuda: The Sexual Offences Act (1995)
8. ^ Argentina; Law of Comprehensive Protection of Women (2009) (in Spanish)
9. ^ Armenia: Criminal Code (2003)
10. ^ Austria: Criminal Code (1974, as amended 2015) (in German)
11. ^ Azerbaijan Criminal Code (2003)
12. ^ The Bahamas: Sexual Offences Act 2010)
13. ^ a b Bahrain: Penal Code (1976) (in Arabic)
14. ^ Bangladesh: Penal Code (1860, amended to 2008)
15. ^ Barbados: Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016
16. ^ Belarus: Criminal Code (1999, amended to 2017) (in Russian)
17. ^ Belgium: Code Pénal (1876, amended to 2018) (in French)
18. ^ Belize: Criminal Code
19. ^ Benin: Portant prévention et répression des violences faites aux femmes (2011) (in French)
20. ^ Bhutan: Penal Code
21. ^ Bolivia: Ley Integral Para Garantizar A Las Mujeres Una Vida Libre De Violencia (2013) (in Spanish)
22. ^ Bosnia and Herzegovina: Penal Code Archived 15 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine (2003)
23. ^ Brazil: LAW No. 11,106, OF MARCH 28, 2005 (in Portuguese)
24. ^ Brazil: Criminal Code (1984, amended to 2018) (in Portuguese)
25. ^ Brunei: Penal Code (2016)
26. ^ Bulgaria: Criminal Code (1968, amended to 2018) (in Bulgarian)
27. ^ Burundi: Loi N° 1/13 du 22 septembre 2016 portant prévention, protection des victimes et répression des Violences Basées sur le Genre (in French)
28. ^ Canada: Criminal Code (1985, amended to 2018)
29. ^ Cambodia: Criminal Code
30. ^ Cape Verde: Act No. 84/VII/2011 on Gender Based Violence (2011) (in Portuguese)
31. ^ Chile: Código Penal (1874, amended to 2018) (in Spanish)
32. ^ Colombia: Ley 599 de 2000 (2000, amended to 2014)
33. ^ Costa Rica: Ley de Penalización de la Violencia contra las Mujeres No. 8589 (2007) (in Spanish)
34. ^ Croatia: Criminal Code (in Croatian)
35. ^ Cyprus: The Family Violence (Prevention and Protection of Victims) Law (2000, updated to 2017) (in Greek)
36. ^ Czech Republic: Penal Code (2009) (in Czech)
37. ^ Denmark: Criminal Code (2011) (in Danish)
38. ^ Dominica: Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act (2016)
39. ^ Dominican Republic: Ley 24-97 (Sobre Violencia Intrafamiliar, de Genero y Sexual) (1997) (in Spanish)
40. ^ Dominican Republic Código Penal (2007) (in Spanish)
41. ^ East Timor: Lei Contra a Violência Doméstica (2010) (in Portuguese)
42. ^ East Timor: Código Penal (2009) (in Portuguese)
43. ^ Ecuador: Código Orgánico Integral Penal (1895, amended to 2014) (in Spanish)
44. ^ Eritrea: Penal Code (2015)
45. ^ Ethiopia: Criminal Code (2005)
46. ^ Estonia: Criminal Code (2001, amended to 2014)
47. ^ Fiji: Crimes Decree (2009)
48. ^ France: Code pénal (2016) (in French)
49. ^ Georgia: Criminal Code (1999, updated to 2016)
50. ^ Greece: For combating domestic violence (2006) (in Greek)
51. ^ Guatemala: Law against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (2009) (in Spanish)
52. ^ Guyana: Sexual Offenses Act (2010, amended to 2013)
53. ^ Honduras: Código Penal (1983, amended to 2017) (in Spanish)
54. ^ Hong Kong: Crimes Ordinance (1971, amended to 2017)
55. ^ Hungary: Criminal Code (2012)
56. ^ Iceland: Almenn hegningarlög (1940, amended to 2017) (in Icelandic)
57. ^ https://prsindia.org/files/bills_acts/bills_parliament/2023/Bharatiya_Nyaya_Sanhita,_2023.pdf
58. ^ Indonesia: Penal Code Archived 13 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine
59. ^ Indonesia: Law Regarding the Elimination of Violence in the Household (2004)
60. ^ Iran: Penal Code {2012}
61. ^ Ireland: Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act (1990)
62. ^ Italy: Criminal Code (amended to 2017) (in Italian)
63. ^ Ivory Coast: Penal Code (in French)
64. ^ Jamaica: Sexual Offences Act (2011)
65. ^ Jordan: Jordan (1960, amended to 2011) (in Arabic)
66. ^ Kazakhstan: Criminal Code (amended to 2018) (in Russian)
67. ^ Kenya: Sexual Offences Act (2006)
68. ^ Kenya: Protection Against Domestic Violence Act (2015)
69. ^ Kiribati: Penal Code (1977)
70. ^ Kosovo: Criminal Code Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (1982)
71. ^ Kyrgyzstan: Penal Code (1997, amended to 2018) (in Russian)
72. ^ Laos: Law on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Children (2014)
73. ^ Latvia: Criminal Law (1998, amended to 2013)
74. ^ a b Lebanon: Penal Code (in Arabic)
75. ^ Lesotho: Penal Code Act (2010, amended to 2012)
76. ^ Liberia: Rape Amendment Act (2006)
77. ^ Lithuania: Criminal Code (1968, amended to 2018) (in Lithuanian)
78. ^ Luxembourg: Code Pénal (1879, amended to 2016) (in French)
79. ^ Macedonia: Criminal Code (1996)
80. ^ Malawi: Penal Code Archived 8 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine
81. ^ Malawi: Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act (2015)
82. ^ Malaysia: Penal Code Archived 3 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine (1936, amended to 2015)
83. ^ Mali: Code Pénal (1979, amended to 2002) (in French)
84. ^ Malta: Law To Make Special Provisions For Domestic Violence (2005)
85. ^ Malta: Criminal Code (1854, amended to 2018)
86. ^ Malta: ACT No. XIII (2018)
87. ^ Marshall Islands: Criminal Code (2011, amended to 2014)
88. ^ Mauritania: Code Pénal
89. ^ Mauritius: Protection from Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act (2016)
90. ^ Mexico: Código Penal Federal Archived 23 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine (1931, amended to 2018) (in Spanish)
91. ^ Moldova: Criminal Code (2002, amended to 2018) (in Romanian)
92. ^ Montenegro: Criminal Code (2003, amended to 2017) (in Bosnian)
93. ^ Mozambique: Law N.29/2009 on Domestic Violence Perpetrated Against Women (2009) (in Portuguese)
94. ^ Mozambique: Criminal Code Law (2014) (in Portuguese)
95. ^ Myanmar: Penal Code
96. ^ Namibia: Combating of Rape Act Archived 19 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine (2000)
97. ^ Nauru: Crimes Act (2016)
98. ^ New Zealand: Crimes Act (1961, amended to 2017)
99. ^ Nicaragua: Ley No. 779 (2012) (in Spanish)
100. ^ Nicaragua: Código Penal Archived 16 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
101. ^ Niger Code Pénal (2003, amended to 2008) (in French)
102. ^ Norway: Criminal Code (in Nynorsk)
103. ^ Oman: Penal Code (in Arabic)
104. ^ Pakistan: Penal Code
105. ^ Palau: Family Protection Act (2012)
106. ^ Palestine: Penal Code Archived 21 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine (1960) (in Arabic)
107. ^ Panama: Ley No. 82 (2013) (in Spanish)
108. ^ Panama: Código Penal (in Spanish)
109. ^ Papua New Guinea: Criminal Code Act (1974, amended to 2002)
110. ^ Paraguay: Código Penal (1997, amended to 2008) (in Spanish)
111. ^ Peru: Código Penal (1997, amended to 2007) (in Spanish)
112. ^ Philippines: Anti-rape law (1997)
113. ^ Philippines: Anti- Violence Against Women and Their Children Act Archived 30 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine (2004)
114. ^ Poland: Penal Code (in Polish)
115. ^ Portugal: 23 Amendment to the Penal Code (2207) (in Portuguese)
116. ^ Portugal: Penal Code (1982, amended to 2018) (in Portuguese)
117. ^ Qatar: Penal Code (2004) (in Arabic)
118. ^ Romania: Law on Preventing and Fighting Against Domestic Violence (2003) (in Romanian)
119. ^ Russia: Russia (1996, amended to 2018) (in Russian)
120. ^ Rwanda: Law on prevention and punishment of gender- based violence (2008)
121. ^ Saint Kitts and Nevis: Offences against the Person Act (1873, amended to 2002)
122. ^ Saint Lucia: Criminal Code (2005)
123. ^ Samoa: Crimes Act (2013)
124. ^ San Marino: Prevention and Repression of Violence against Women and Gender-Based Violence (2008) (in Italian)
125. ^ Senegal: Penal Code (1965, amended) (in French)
126. ^ Serbia: Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence (2016) (in Serbian)
127. ^ Seychelles: Penal Code (1955, amended to 2012)
128. ^ Sierra Leone: Sexual Offences Act (2012)
129. ^ a b Singapore: Penal Code (1871, amended to 2020)
130. ^ Slovakia: Criminal Code (2005, amended to 2018) (in Slovak)
131. ^ Slovenia: Criminal Code (in Slovene)
132. ^ Solomon Islands: Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act (2016)
133. ^ South Africa: Prevention of Family Violence Act (1993)
134. ^ South Sudan: Penal Code Act (2008)
135. ^ Sri Lanka: Penal Code (1885, as amended)
136. ^ Suriname: Moral Law Amendment (2009) (in Dutch)
137. ^ Sweden: Penal Code (1962, amended to 2018) (in Swedish)
138. ^ Switzerland: Criminal Code (1937, amended to 2018)
139. ^ Syria: Penal Code (in Arabic)
140. ^ Taiwan: Criminal Code of the Republic of China (in Chinese)
141. ^ Tanzania: Sexual Offences (Special Provisions) Act (1998)
142. ^ Thailand: Penal Code Amendment Act (No. 19) (2007)
143. ^ Togo: Loi No. 2015-010 Portant Nouveau Code Pénal (2015) (in French)
144. ^ Tonga: Criminal Offences Act (2016)
145. ^ Tonga: Family Protection Act (2013)
146. ^ Trinidad and Tobago: Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act (2000)
147. ^ Turkey: Criminal Code Archived 30 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine (amended to 2016)
148. ^ Uruguay: Código Penal (amended to 2014) (in Spanish)
149. ^ Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan Archived 15 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine (1994, amended to 2012)
150. ^ Vanuatu: Penal Code (1981, amended to 2006)
151. ^ Venezuela: Ley Orgánica Sobre el Derecho de las Mujeres a una Vida Libre de Violencia (2007) (in Spanish)
152. ^ Vietnam: Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control (2005)
153. ^ Zambia: Anti-Gender-based Violence Act (2011)
154. ^ Zimbabwe: Criminal Law (Codification And Reform) Act (2004)

### Sources

[edit]

* Morna, Colleen Lowe; Glenwright, Danny, eds. (2018). SADC Gender Protocol 2018 Barometer. Gender Links. ISBN 9780620806626.
* Temkin, Jennifer (2002). "Defining and redefining rape". In Temkin, Jennifer (ed.). Rape and the legal process (2nd ed.). Oxford New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198763543.
* Westmarland, Nicole; Gangoli, Geetanjali (April 2012). International Approaches to Rape. The Policy Press. ISBN 978-1-84742-621-5. "In China, it is difficult to punish an offender for marital rape because the law does not define this behaviour as a crime. … there are no explicit articles in Chinese law that relate to marital rape."
* "2017 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices". U.S. Department of State. Bureau Of Democracy, Human Rights, And Labor. 20 April 2018.[dead link] This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
* "The State of African Women" (PDF). State of African Women Project. August 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
* "Women, Business and the Law 2018" (PDF). World Bank Group. 29 March 2018. "Women, Business and the Law 2018, the fifth edition in a series, examines laws affecting women's economic inclusion in 189 economies worldwide."