Criticism of the law

Rapists are castrated in Madagascar

Protest against sexual violence (archive photo)

(Bild: AP)

In Madagascar, a law was passed at the beginning of February that provides for the chemical and surgical castration of convicted rapists of minors. Criticism has now come from the human rights organization Amnesty International, among others.

The African country's Constitutional Court approved the law at the end of February. However, it only gave the green light for the surgical castration of rapists of minors. The judges rejected chemical castration, which would have been intended for rapists of minors aged 13 and over, because it could be reversed.

Only five years imprisonment
The sentence is in addition to the five years' imprisonment currently imposed for child abuse in Madagascar. According to Justice Minister Landy Mbolatiana Randriamanantenasoa, the law should lead to a reduction in child abuse.

Castration is cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

Amnesty International

Criticism came from the human rights organization Amnesty International, among others. Castration is "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" that contradicts the country's constitutional provisions against torture and other ill-treatment. Regional and international human rights standards were also not observed, it said.

EU envoy to be expelled
EU Ambassador Isabelle Delattre Burger also expressed her criticism and was subsequently summoned by the Malagasy Foreign Ministry. She had pointed out that the castration law violated "international treaties". "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar has expressed its dissatisfaction and demanded that the ambassador be replaced," said Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for the EU Commission. According to the ministry, a letter to this effect should have remained confidential.