Countries with legislation
against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-commonwealth countries
Countries with legislation
against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-commonwealth countries
Countries with legislation against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-Commonwealth countries
Long road to justice
- 1976 – 1986
Commonwealth countries with legislation against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-commonwealth countriesCommonwealth countries with legislation against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-Commonwealth countries
1976
State of South, Australia
Criminal Law Consolidation Act Amendment Act 1976
1981
State of New South Wales, Australia
Crimes (Sexual Assault) Amendment 1981
1983
Canada
An Act to Amend the Criminal Code in Relation to Sexual Offences and Other Offences Against the Person 1983
1985
State of Victoria, Australia
Crimes (Amendment) Act 1985
1985
State of Western, Australia
Acts Amendment (Sexual Assaults) Act 1985
1985
New Zealand
Crimes Amendment Act 1985
1976
State of South Australia, Australia
Criminal Law Consolidation Act Amendment Act 1976
1981
State of New South Wales, Australia
Crimes (Sexual Assault) Amendment 1981
1983
Canada
An Act to Amend the Criminal Code in Relation to Sexual Offences and Other Offences Against the Person 1983
1985
State of Victoria, Australia
Crimes (Amendment) Act 1985
1985
State of Western Australia, Australia
Acts Amendment (Sexual Assaults) Act 1985
1985
New Zealand
Crimes Amendment Act 1985
- 1987 – 1999
Commonwealth countries with legislation against marital rapeCommonwealth countriesNon-commonwealth countriesCommonwealth countries with legislation against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-Commonwealth countries
1987
State of Tasmania, Australia
Criminal Code Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act 1987
1989
State of Queensland, Australia
Criminal Code, Evidence Act and Other Acts Amendment Act 1989
1993
South Africa
Prevention of Family Violence Act 1993
1994
Northern Territory, Australia
Criminal Code Amendment Act No. 11.
1994
United Kingdom
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
1987
State of Tasmania, Australia
Criminal Code Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act 1987
1989
State of Queensland, Australia
Criminal Code, Evidence Act and Other Acts Amendment Act 1989
1993
South Africa
Prevention of Family Violence Act 1993
1994
Northern Territory, Australia
Criminal Code Amendment Act 1994
1994
United Kingdom
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
- 2000 – 2002
Commonwealth countries with legislation against marital rapeCommonwealth countriesNon-commonwealth countriesCommonwealth countries with legislation against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-Commonwealth countries
2000
Cyprus
The Violence in the Family (Prevention and Protection of Victims) 2000
2000
Trinidad and Tobago
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000
2000
Namibia
Combatting Rape Act 2000
2001
Zimbabwe
Sexual Offences Act 2001
2002
Papua New Guinea
Criminal Code (Sexual Offences and Crimes against Children) Act 2002
2000
Cyprus
The Violence in the Family (Prevention and Protection of Victims) 2000
2000
Trinidad and Tobago
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000
2000
Namibia
Combatting Rape Act 2000
2001
Zimbabwe
Sexual Offences Act 2001
2002
Papua New Guinea
Criminal Code (Sexual Offences and Crimes against Children) Act 2002
- 2003 – 2010
Commonwealth countries with legislation against marital rapeCommonwealth countriesNon-commonwealth countriesCommonwealth countries with legislation against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-Commonwealth countries
2003
Lesotho
Sexual Offences Act 2003
2007
Ghana
Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act No. 732).
2008
Rwanda
Prevention and Punishment of Gender-Based Violence 2008
2009
Fiji
Crimes Decree 2009
2010
Guyana
Sexual Offences Act 2010
2003
Lesotho
Sexual Offences Act 2003
2007
Ghana
Domestic Violence Act 2007
2008
Rwanda
Prevention and Punishment of Gender-Based Violence 2008
2009
Fiji
Crimes Decree 2009
2010
Guyana
Sexual Offences Act 2010
- 2011 – 2013
Commonwealth countries with legislation against marital rapeCommonwealth countriesNon-commonwealth countriesCommonwealth countries with legislation against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-Commonwealth countries
2011
Zambia
Anti-Gender Based Violence Act 2011
2012
Sierra Loene
Sexual Offences Act 2012
2012
Grenada
Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2012
2013
Tonga
Family Protection Act 2013
2013
Samoa
Crimes Act 2013
2011
Zambia
Anti-Gender Based Violence Act 2011
2012
Sierra Leone
Sexual Offences Act 2012
2012
Grenada
Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2012
2013
Tonga
Family Protection Act 2013
2013
Samoa
Crimes Act 2013
- 2014 – 2015
Commonwealth countries with legislation against marital rapeCommonwealth countriesNon-commonwealth countriesCommonwealth countries with legislation against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-Commonwealth countries
2014
Kiribati
Te Rau Te Mwenga Act (Family Peace Act) 2014
2014
Mozambique
Penal Code Amendment 2014
2015
Malawi
Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act 2015
2015
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Domestic Violence Act 2015
2015
Kenya
Protection Against Domestic Violence 2015
2014
Kiribati
Te Rau Te Mwenga Act (Family Peace Act) 2014
2014
Mozambique
Penal Code Amendment 2014
2015
Malawi
Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act 2015
2015
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Domestic Violence Act 2015
2015
Kenya
Protection Against Domestic Violence 2015
- 2016 – Present
Commonwealth countries with legislation against marital rapeCommonwealth countriesNon-commonwealth countriesCommonwealth countries with legislation against marital rape
Commonwealth countries
Non-Commonwealth countries
2016
Mauritius
Protection from Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act 2016
2016
Malta
Criminal Code 2016
2016
Dominica
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016
2016
Solomon Islands
Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016
2016
Nauru
Crimes Act 2016
2018
eSwatini
Sexual Offence and Domestic Violence Act 2018
2019
Singapore
Criminal Law Reform Act 2019
2016
Mauritius
Protection from Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act 2016
2016
Malta
Criminal Code 2016
2016
Dominica
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016
2016
Solomon Islands
Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016
2016
Nauru
Crimes Act 2016
2018
eSwatini
Sexual Offence and Domestic Violence Act 2018
2019
Singapore
Criminal Law Reform Act 2019
*Dates given are when legislation was passed which fully criminalised marital rape
*Dates given are when legislation was passed which fully criminalised marital rape
Improving implementation of domestic law
Government officials and other key stakeholders were briefed by Sisters For Change on the working conditions of domestic workers.
Disseminating information and ideas
Sisters For Change is briefing the CEDAW Secretariat and the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women on the Domestic Worker Survey Findings.
