Madagascar’s parliament has approved a groundbreaking law allowing for the surgical castration of paedophiles convicted of raping children.
“Society must know what they did and who they are,” asserted Minister of Justice Landy Randriamanantenasoa, emphasizing the need for awareness about offenders and their crimes.
The legislation specifies that those found guilty of raping a child under ten years old will face surgical castration and a life sentence, while perpetrators of crimes against children aged between ten and 13 will undergo chemical castration and serve 15 to 20 years of forced labor. However, minors found guilty of rape will be exempt from castration.
The move follows President Andry Rajoelina’s campaign promise and proposal last month, aimed at combating child sexual abuse.
Despite international criticism, including from Amnesty International, which labeled the punishment as cruel and degrading, 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 raping 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.”
Randriamanantenasoa has rebuked similar criticism about respect for human rights by saying Madagascar is a sovereign country.
The approval of the law by Madagascar’s National Assembly on February 2nd coincides with Kazakhstan’s announcement of a similar measure, where the most serious child sex offenders will undergo surgical genital removal.
The tightening of the law follows the death of Erkezhan Nurmakhan, five, who was lured to a paedophile’s house after he offered her money for an ice cream.
Saidolim Gayibnazarov, 48, who had previous convictions, was sentenced to life in jail and chemical castration.
Deputy Interior Minister of Kazakhstan, Igor Lepikha, said surgical castration was ‘controversial’.
“In terms of ethics and the human side of the issue, it is very complicated indeed.
“Moreover, we speak about these criminals being locked up for life – so there is no point in [castration] then.”
| Sahara Reporters
