Madagascar castrates child rapists, draws criticism, but also support – Winnipeg Free Press

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — Madagascar's parliament has passed a law allowing chemical and, in some cases, surgical castration of those convicted of raping a minor, drawing criticism from international rights groups but also support from activists. it's a country that considers “rape culture” to be an appropriate deterrent.

The parliament of the Indian Ocean island nation of 28 million people passed the law on February 2, and the upper house, the Senate, approved it last week. Now it has to be ratified by the Supreme Constitutional Court and signed into law by President Andriy Rajoelina, who raised it for the first time in December. His government has proposed changes to the law.

Justice Minister Landi Mbolatiana Randriamantenasoa said it was a necessary step given the increasing number of child abuse cases. According to him, in 2023, 600 cases of rape of a minor girl were registered, and in January this year, 133 cases were registered.

“Madagascar is a sovereign country that has the right to change its laws depending on the situation and in the general interest of the people,” Randriamanantesoa said. “The current criminal code is not enough to deter those who commit these crimes.”

According to the law, surgical castration is “always declared” for rape of a child under 10 years of age. Cases of rape of children between the ages of 10 and 13 are punishable by surgical or chemical castration. Rapists of minors between the ages of 14 and 17 are punished by chemical castration.

Now criminals face severe punishment such as life imprisonment and castration.

“We wanted to protect children more. The younger the child, the higher the punishment,” said Randriamantenenasoa.

Chemical castration is the use of drugs that suppress hormones and reduce sexual desire. This is usually reversible by stopping the medication. Surgical castration is a permanent procedure.

Some countries and some US states, including California and Florida, allow chemical castration for some sex offenders. Surgical castration as a punishment is much less common. Using both is very controversial.

Madagascar's new law has been criticized by Amnesty International as an “inhuman and degrading treatment” that violates the country's constitutional laws. The law should focus more on protecting victims, says Nico wa Ntsiko, Amnesty's Madagascar adviser.

“Complaints and lawsuits are not conducted in secret on the island,” he said. “Malagasy's criminal justice system is plagued by mistrust and corruption. Repressions against rape victims are frequent. However, the law does not deal with these factors.”

He added that surgical castration is a problematic criminal penalty if anyone who commits it is later acquitted of a crime on appeal. He also questioned the ability of medical authorities to carry out the procedures.