Law could spur change throughout Africa.
Written by Juliana Nnoko-Mewanu and Mashoka Maimona, Human Rights Watch
A new marriage law in Côte d’Ivoire could be a step toward women having the same rights as their husbands over marital property. It’s part of a larger government plan to make men and women equal in marriages and when it comes to inheritance.
The bill, which is on the verge of being passed, will represent a standard for other African countries to meet as it will provide equal rights to men and women when it comes to owning and managing property.
The bill is part of a legislative overhaul in Côte d’Ivoire that includes new measures to make sure widows don’t lose their inheritance rights in favor of their husband’s male relatives; provide additional protections against domestic violence; and set the minimum age for marriage at 18.
