The criminal prosecution of violence against women in Mozambique is still a major challenge that the partner organisations of terre des hommes schweiz have to deal with. A good example of this is the recently "revised" penal code of Mozambique.
On 20 March, Mozambican NGOs called for a demonstration against the adoption of amendments to the Criminal Code. The law dates back to the 19th century. Parts of it have recently been revised. However, those paragraphs that refer to the punishment of rape have not been revised.
Rape as a prelude to marriage?
The Penal Code contains an article that provides for the exoneration of a rapist if the offender marries the victim and does not divorce for five years. As one of the 400 demonstrators put it: "This law is unconstitutional, it is a serious violation of human rights and women's rights."
The commitment to effective criminal prosecution of violence against women remains an important challenge in the projects of terre des hommes schweiz in Mozambique.
