The great silence surrounding marital rape in Senegal

October 1, 2025

The article addresses the urgent issue of marital rape in Africa, highlighting how many religious and cultural authorities still prioritize "conjugal duty" over women's consent. It details how women are using online forums as safe spaces to share their experiences of sexual violence within marriages. The article examines the varied legal landscape across African countries, where some explicitly criminalize marital rape while others exempt spouses from prosecution or remain silent on the issue.

Who is affected

Women across Africa, particularly married women
Victims of marital rape who share testimonies anonymously in online forums
Women in countries where marital rape is not explicitly criminalized
33 percent of women in Africa who have experienced sexual violence
44 percent of women in sub-Saharan Africa who have experienced sexual violence
40 percent of women in the Akwaba Mousso NGO shelter in Côte d'Ivoire who report suffering marital rape

What action is being taken

Women are forming digital support networks and discussion groups as a form of "digital sisterhood"
Activists and legal experts are mobilizing on social media platforms like TikTok to challenge statements that normalize marital rape
The Xam Sa Droit page is publishing educational videos about existing rape legislation
Lawyers and activists like Nabou Diop Lo are using platforms like X to clarify that Senegalese law makes no distinction between marital and non-marital rape
Organizations like Equality Now are documenting and reporting on the legal status of marital rape across African countries

Why it matters

The normalization of marital rape entrenches absolute control over women's bodies
The dissonance between law, public discourse, and women's lived experiences highlights the need for legal reform
Religious authorities like Oustaz Modou Fall use their influence to legitimize sexual violence in marriage
In many legal systems, the implicit presumption of spousal consent prevents marital rape from being effectively recognized as a crime
Despite the Maputo Protocol committing African states to guaranteeing women's rights, including reproductive consent, implementation remains inadequate
Women's testimony about marital rape is often dismissed or minimized when raised by feminist activists

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices