Sexual Offences Act

The Sexual Offences Act recognises marital rape as a crime. Section 3(3) of the Sexual Offences Act provides that marriage or any other relationship shall not be a defence against a charge under the Act. Section (5)(2) makes criminally liable "a person who induces another to submit to a sexual act through the use of his authority, status, power, privilege, or other undue influence, commits an offence." Other sections provide for compulsory HIV testing of perpetrators of sexual violence and penalize those who commit sexual violence while knowing that they are HIV positive.

Topics

• Sexual violence and rape
• Statutory rape or defilement

Geographical location

• Africa
• Lesotho

Keywords

• criminal law and procedure

Year

• 2003

External URL

• Sexual Offences Act

Type

• Legislation

Jurisdiction

• Lesotho