Madagascar should abolish a new law which allows for the chemical and surgical castration of people convicted of r@ping minors as it was “cruel, inhuman and degrading”, rights group Amnesty International has said.
Last month, President Andry Rajoelina proposed the amendments to the penal code – that include chemical and surgical castration as punishment for individuals found guilty of rape against minors.
These changes have since been agreed by MPs.
In a statement, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s regional director for east and southern Africa, said:
“In Madagascar, rape cases remain under-reported, and perpetrators often go free due to the victims’ and their families’ fear of retaliation, stigmatisation, and a lack of trust in the judicial system.
“Implementing chemical and surgical castration, which constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as a punishment for those found guilty of r@ping minors will not solve this and is inconsistent with Malagasy constitutional provisions against torture and other ill-treatment, as well as regional and international human rights standards.”
Implementing chemical and surgical castration, which constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as a punishment for those found guilty of r@ping minors will not solve this and is inconsistent with Malagasy constitutional provisions against torture and other ill-treatment, as well as regional and international human rights standards.”
SOURCE : BBC
