LONG ROAD TO JUSTICE

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

*Dates given are when legislation passed

1976 – 1986

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

1976
State of South, Australia
Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1976.

1981
State of New South Wales, Australia
Crimes (Sexual Assault) Amendment 1981

1982
Canada
Criminal Law Amendment Act 1982 C-125. Reformed in Criminal Code 1985.

1985
State of Victoria, Australia
Crimes (Amendment) Act 1985.

1985
State of Western, Australia
Criminal Code Amendment Act No.3 1976.

1985
New Zealand
Crimes Amendment Act No. 3 1985. Reformed in Crimes (Amendment) Act No. 39 of 2003.

1976
State of South Australia, Australia
Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1976

1981
State of New South Wales, Australia
Crimes (Sexual Assault) Amendment 1981

1982
Canada
Criminal Law Amendment Act 1982 C-125. Reformed in Criminal Code 1985

1985
State of Victoria, Australia
Crimes (Amendment) Act 1985

1985
State of Western Australia, Australia
Criminal Code Amendment Act No.3 1976

1985
New Zealand
Crimes Amendment Act No. 3 1985. Reformed in Crimes (Amendment) Act No. 39 of 2003
1987 – 1999

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

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 No. 133 of 1993, Domestic Relations Act No. 166 of 1998.

1994
Northern Territory, Australia
Criminal Code Amendment Act No. 11.

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 No. 133 of 1993, Domestic Relations Act No. 166 of 1998

1994
Northern Territory, Australia
Criminal Code Amendment Act No. 11
2000 – 2002

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

2000
Republic of Cyprus
The Violence in the Family (Prevention and Protection of Victims). Law 119(I) of 2000 and 212(I) of 2004 (Consolidated legislation – L.119(I)/2000 and Law 212(I)/2004).

2000
Trinidad and Tobago
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act No. 31 of 2000.

2000
Namibia
Combating Rape Act No. 8 of 2000.

2001
Zimbabwe
Sexual Offences Act No. 8 of 2001.

2002
Papua New Guinea
Criminal Code (Sexual Offences and Crimes against Children) Act No. 27 of 2002.

2000
Republic of Cyprus
The Violence in the Family (Prevention and Protection of Victims). Law 119(I) of 2000 and 212(I) of 2004 (Consolidated legislation – L.119(I)/2000 and Law 212(I)/2004)

2000
Trinidad and Tobago
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act No. 31 of 2000

2000
Namibia
Combating Rape Act No. 8 of 2000

2001
Zimbabwe
Sexual Offences Act No. 8 of 2001

2002
Papua New Guinea
Criminal Code (Sexual Offences and Crimes against Children) Act No. 27 of 2002
2003 – 2010

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

2003
United Kingdom
Sexual Offences Act 2003.

2003
Lesotho
Sexual Offences Act No. 29 of 2003.

2007
Ghana
Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act No. 732).

2008
Rwanda
Criminal Code Amendment Act No.3 1976.

2009
Fiji
Crimes Decree No. 44 of 2009.

2010
Guyana
Sexual Offences Act No. 7 of 2010.

2003
United Kingdom
Sexual Offences Act 2003

2003
Lesotho
Sexual Offences Act No. 29 of 2003

2007
Ghana
Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act No. 732)

2008
Rwanda
Law No. 59/2008 on the Prevention and Punishment of Gender-Based Violence

2009
Fiji
Crimes Decree No. 44 of 2009

2010
Guyana
Sexual Offences Act No. 7 of 2010
2011 – 2013

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

2011
Zambia
Anti Gender-Based Violence Act No. 1 of 2011.

2012
Sierra Loene
Sexual Offences Act No. 12 of 2012.

2012
Grenada
Criminal Code (Amendment) Act No. 29 of 2012.

2013
Tonga
Family Protection Act No. 19 2013.

2013
Samoa
Crimes Act 2013.

2011
Zambia
Anti Gender-Based Violence Act No. 1 of 2011

2012
Sierra Leone
Sexual Offences Act No. 12 of 2012

2012
Grenada
Criminal Code (Amendment) Act No. 29 of 2012

2012
Tonga
Family Protection Act No. 19 2013

2013
Samoa
Crimes Act 2013
2014 – 2015

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

2014
Kiribati
Te Rau N Te Mwenga Act (Family Peace Act) No. 1 of 2014.

2014
Mozambique
Lei No. 35/2014 (Penal Code Amendment).

2015
Malawi
Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act 2015.

2015
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Domestic Violence Act No. 7 of 2015.

2015
Kenya
Protection Against Domestic Violence Act No.2 2015.

2014
Kiribati
Te Rau N Te Mwenga Act (Family Peace Act) No. 1 of 2014

2014
Mozambique
Lei No. 35/2014 (Penal Code Amendment)

2015
Malawi
Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act 2015

2015
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Domestic Violence Act No. 7 of 2015

2015
Kenya
Protection Against Domestic Violence Act No.2 2015
2016 – Present

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

2016
Mauritius
Protection from Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act No. 10 of 2016.

2016
Malta
The Laws of Malta Chapter 9: Criminal Code 2016 and Chapter 581: Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Act 2018.

2016
Dominica
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act No.9 of 2016.

2016
Solomon Islands
Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act No.3 of 2016.

2016
Nauru
Crimes Act No. 18 2016.

2018
eSwatini
Sexual Offence and Domestic Violence Act No.15 of 2018.

2016
Mauritius
Protection from Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act No. 10 of 2016

2016
Malta
The Laws of Malta Chapter 9: Criminal Code 2016 and Chapter 581: Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Act 2018

2016
Dominica
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act No.9 of 2016

2016
Solomon Islands
Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act No.3 of 2016

2016
Nauru
Crimes Act No. 18 2016

2018
eSwatini
Sexual Offence and Domestic Violence Act No.15 of 2018