(Campaign Actions are suggestions we make every fortnight for steps you can take – in addition to spreading the No To Rape message online – to help the effort for change. Previous Campaign Actions: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] and [6].)
This fortnight’s Campaign Action is: Write to the Ministry of Law (MinLaw).
The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) is responsible for reviewing legal policy to ensure Singapore’s legal system is modern and relevant, that justice is accessible, and that the rule of law is upheld. Send an email or letter to Minister for Law Mr K Shanmugan (who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs) and tell him that you think marital immunity for rape should be completely abolished.
Email: k_shanmugan@mlaw.gov.sg
Post: Ministry of Law, 100 High Street, #08-02 The Treasury, Singapore 179434
Here are some points you can make – you can write in your own words, or copy and paste:
- Marital immunity for rape is based on archaic ideas and serves to deny women the protection of the law against violence.
- The current law is arbitrary and inconsistent. The offence of “sexual penetration” under Section 376 criminalises non-consensual anal and oral penetration within marriage, as well as penetration of the vagina with the hand, without any immunity. This shows that the law and its officers are able and willing to adjudicate on the issue of non-consent to sexual activity within marriage. Why should the position be different for penile-vaginal acts?
- There is no evidence that abolition of marital immunity for rape in other jurisdictions has led to an “opening of the floodgates” for false allegations. The position we seek is the status quo in Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and elsewhere. None of these countries is considering reinstating marital immunity because of abuses by wives.
Please let us know of any responses you receive. Thank you again for taking a stand against violence against women.
