UN human rights chief welcomes rape law reform in Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan

22 August 2017 – Today, the top United Nations human rights official welcomed the repeal of laws in Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan that allow rapists to avoid criminal prosecution by marrying their victims.

&#8220To punish a rape victim by making her marry the perpetrator of a horrible crime against her &#8211 there is no place in today’s world for such hideous laws,&#8221 said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein in press statement.

He warmly welcomed the stand that lawmakers in Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan have taken towards eliminating violence against women and ensuring that perpetrators of such violence are held to account.

According to the High Commissioner’s Office (OHCHR), on 16 August, Lebanon voted to repeal article 522 of its penal code, a law that exempted from criminal prosecution a person accused of rape who agreed to marry the victim. Two weeks earlier, on 1 August, Jordanian lawmakers also voted to abolish a similar provision &#8211 article 308 of its penal code.

In Tunisia, on 26 July, the Parliament adopted a law on eliminating violence against women and eliminating impunity for perpetrators, recognizing that violence against women includes economic, sexual, political and psychological violence. The law will come into effect next year. Tunisia has also established two human rights institutions this year dealing with human trafficking and improving the enjoyment of individual liberties and equality.

&#8220These are hard-won victories, thanks to the tireless campaigns over the years by human rights defenders &#8211 in particular women human rights defenders &#8211 in Tunisia, Lebanon and Jordan,&#8221 underscored High Commissioner Zeid.

He noted however that in Lebanon, article 505 of the Penal Code continues to allow those accused of having sex with a minor to go free if they marry their victims, while article 508 allows for marital rape, and called for the article to be repealed and for marital rape to be criminalized.

&#8220I call on the Governments and people of these countries &#8211 and other countries in the region &#8211 to build on this positive momentum, and to work towards the swift repeal of other legislation that condones sexual violence against women and girls and perpetuates discrimination against them in clear violation of international human rights law,&#8221 concluded Mr. Zeid.