Bahamas Marital Rape

The strong outcry against Government's proposed Marital Rape Bill, which would have made spousal rape a crime, is further evidence of resistance to women's equality. 

Mr Ingraham lamented the fact that these initiatives were not overwhelmingly supported by Bahamian women, the very group the efforts were meant to protect. 

"It is unfortunate and a painful reality that when one seeks to equalise conditions that are glaringly offensive, the effort sometimes fails to attract support from those who would benefit most from it. This was most recently demonstrated by the public debate which arose around my government's initiative to extend protection in law to married women who may be abused by their husbands. 

"Indeed it appears that many in society, both male and female, are not yet convinced women are equal to men. 

"Instead they hold stubbornly to the view of long discredited 19th century social morals and laws which regarded women as chattels incapable of making their own decisions and unqualified to vote, gain property or defend themselves against the decisions of male relatives," Mr Ingraham told a crowd celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Bureau of Women's Affairs. 

"The success of Bahamian women in education and health and employment in business has not spurred and encouraged change of out-moded laws and practices. Instead it has produced a general disinterest or worse resistance to efforts to address areas where women have been, and continue to be, disadvantaged by custom and tradition and indeed by law and our own constitution."[June 24, 2011]

Reaction to the Bill had been contentious and varied, with strong opinions on both sides of the divide. Some clergymen and members of the public claimed it would lead to a breakdown in the institution of marriage and false accusations of rape, while others said it would provide long overdue protection for victims of domestic violence and strengthen the family unit. 

The Christian Council opposed the Bill, while the Catholic Archdiocese, the Anglican Church, the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church all expressed their support, as did several local advocacy groups and the US Embassy in Nassau. 

Yesterday Dr Sandra Dean Patterson, Director of the Crisis Centre, which counsels victims of domestic violence, expressed surprised at news the amendment is being dropped. She reiterated her view that it is a "travesty" that under current law those who rape their spouse are protected by legal impunity.[March 24, 2010]