The Combating Rape Act

The Combating of Rape Act (the “Act”) seeks to prevent rape and provides minimum imprisonment sentences for rape. It also abolishes the previous law, which presumed that a boy under the age of 14 was incapable of rape and sexual intercourse. This Act also regulates the granting of bail to perpetrators to further protect the rights of the victim, and provides protection to victims of rape and sexual abuse. Finally, it abolishes the customary rule, common among rural areas, that marriage is a justification for, or a defense to, rape.  

Topics

• Harmful traditional practices
• Sexual violence and rape
• Statutory rape or defilement

Geographical location

• Africa
• Namibia

Keywords

• criminal law and procedure
• customary law
• marital rape
• juvenile offender

Year

• 2000

External URL

• The Combating Rape Act

Type

• Legislation

Jurisdiction

• Namibia