Men, Women Divided Over Sex Bill
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A powerful human rights group has thrown its weight behind the government's plan to outlaw marital rape in the Bahamas.
Amnesty International has vowed to back the proposed amendment of the Sexual Offences Act in order to protect the rights of every Bahamian woman.
The amendment, introduced to the House of Assembly by Minister of State for Social Development Loretta Butler-Turner last month, has sparked a heated national debate on the issue.
In Parliament last month, Mrs Butler-Turner noted that the current law is outdated adding that spousal rape had long been outlawed in many other countries.
American law recognized marital rape as a crime in 1976 but it is still a sensitive issue as many states have lesser penalties for persons convicted of the offense, compared to acquaintance rape or that of a stranger.
The present law in the Bahamas defines rape as an act of any person not under 14 years of age having sex with another person who is not his spouse without the consent of that other person; without consent that had been extorted by threats or fear of bodily harm; with consent obtained by impersonating the spouse of the other person; or with consent obtained by false and fraudulent representations as to the nature and quality of the act.
The proposed amendment would omit the words "who is not his spouse" in essence making it illegal for any person to have sex with another without consent -- regardless if they are married or not.
Under the current law, rape can only occur in a marriage if the couple is legally separated.
Some local religious leaders have argued that a man cannot rape his wife claiming the Bible dictates that a wife must physically submit to her husband.
Amnesty International has vowed to back the proposed amendment of the Sexual Offences Act in order to protect the rights of every Bahamian woman.
The amendment, introduced to the House of Assembly by Minister of State for Social Development Loretta Butler-Turner last month, has sparked a heated national debate on the issue.
In Parliament last month, Mrs Butler-Turner noted that the current law is outdated adding that spousal rape had long been outlawed in many other countries.
American law recognized marital rape as a crime in 1976 but it is still a sensitive issue as many states have lesser penalties for persons convicted of the offense, compared to acquaintance rape or that of a stranger.
The present law in the Bahamas defines rape as an act of any person not under 14 years of age having sex with another person who is not his spouse without the consent of that other person; without consent that had been extorted by threats or fear of bodily harm; with consent obtained by impersonating the spouse of the other person; or with consent obtained by false and fraudulent representations as to the nature and quality of the act.
The proposed amendment would omit the words "who is not his spouse" in essence making it illegal for any person to have sex with another without consent -- regardless if they are married or not.
Under the current law, rape can only occur in a marriage if the couple is legally separated.
Some local religious leaders have argued that a man cannot rape his wife claiming the Bible dictates that a wife must physically submit to her husband.
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