This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42604496
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Somaliland passes first law against rape | Somaliland passes first law against rape |
(35 minutes later) | |
For the first time in its history, the self-declared republic of Somaliland has passed a law against rape. | |
In the past, a victim's family could force them to marry their rapist to avoid being shamed. | |
Rapists now stand to face at least 30 years in prison. | Rapists now stand to face at least 30 years in prison. |
Somaliland declared itself independent from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognised as a country. There is still no law against rape in Somalia. | |
Somaliland's speaker of parliament, Bashe Mohamed Farah, told the BBC that rape cases have risen and he hoped the new law would help stop that trend. | Somaliland's speaker of parliament, Bashe Mohamed Farah, told the BBC that rape cases have risen and he hoped the new law would help stop that trend. |
"Nowadays we have seen even people carrying out gang rapes," he said. | "Nowadays we have seen even people carrying out gang rapes," he said. |
"The main emphasis of the new act is to completely stop rape." | |
The new law has come in after years of lobbying by children and women's rights advocates. | The new law has come in after years of lobbying by children and women's rights advocates. |
Faisa Ali Yusuf of the Women's Agenda Forum told the BBC they have been waiting for such legislation for a very long time. | |
The BBC's Anne Soy explains that the new law comes within the context of the self-declared republic being keen to be seen internationally as a viable democracy with functioning institutions. | |