Madagascar’s parliament recently passed a new law authorizing surgical castration for individuals convicted of pedophilia. This legislative move aligns with a similar law enacted in Kazakhstan, targeting the most serious child sex offenders who will undergo surgical genital removal.
On February 2, the National Assembly of Madagascar approved the legislation, allowing the castration of those convicted of raping minors. The previous law imposed sentences ranging from five to 20 years of forced labor for such crimes.
The newly enacted law specifies that individuals found guilty of raping a child under ten will undergo surgical castration and receive a life sentence. For cases involving victims aged ten to 13, offenders will undergo chemical castration and face 15 to 20 years of forced labor. Minors convicted of such crimes will be exempt from castration.
Minister of Justice Landy Randriamanantenasoa expressed support for the bill advocating the surgical castration of pedophiles. In a statement to Le Quotidien, a French-language newspaper, Ms. Randriamanantenasoa emphasized, “Society must know what they did and who they are.”
The bill, proposed by Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina last month, was a significant aspect of his re-election campaign promises last year.
