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Madagascar has passed a new law that allows chemical and in some cases, surgical castration of child rapists.
The law has been met with mixed reaction from rights groups and advocates, with some saying it's "inhumane". Chemical castration uses drugs to block hormones and decrease sexual desire. Surgical castration is permanent.
Prime Minister Andry Rajoelina’s government proposed the law and aims to address the sudden increase in child rape cases.
It has gathered both support and criticism from rights groups and advocates, with some saying it's "inhumane".
Chemical castration uses drugs to block hormones and decrease sexual desire while surgical castration is permanent.
Offenders who rape children under 10 years old Surgical castration will be enforced.
While cases involving children aged 10 to 13 may face surgical or chemical castration and is also prescribed for offenders who rape minors aged 14 to 17.
The law, intends to prioritize the protection of children, particularly younger victims and mandates harsher prison sentences.
Regardless of criticism from Amnesty International and concerns over the Malagasy criminal justice system’s transparency and medical capacity, some activists in Madagascar support the law as a obstruction against sexual violence in a country wrestling with a widespread of “rape culture.”
Madagascar had 600 cases of minor rapes in 2023, and 133 already in January 2024.
Seven US states including California and Florida allow for chemical castration for some sex offenders and other countries like South Korea, Nigeria , Pakistan etc.
The use of both is highly controversial but surgical castration as a punishment is much more rare.
