Madagascar to Castrate Child Rapists: 600 Cases Last Year

Madagascar has passed a bill allowing for the castration of child rapists, despite criticism from Amnesty International. The Justice Minister defended the measure, citing the need to address the high rates of child rape in the country.

The bill introduces surgical castration for perpetrators of rape on children under 10, and chemical or surgical castration for those who rape children aged between 10 and 13. It also allows for chemical castration for rapists of minors aged between 13 and 18.

The bill still needs to be approved by the High Constitutional Court before it can become law. Amnesty International has raised concerns about the legality and ethics of castration as a punishment, calling it inconsistent with human rights standards.

However, some activists in Madagascar support the bill, believing it could act as a deterrent to a culture of rape on the island. Amnesty highlighted the under-reporting of rape cases in Madagascar and the barriers victims face in seeking justice.

They also criticized the law for not focusing enough on supporting victims. The debate around the bill has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of castration as a punishment and the potential harm it could cause.

Source: Seychelles News Agency