Dear JOhn,

Marital rape is not a crime in India. It needs to be.

Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code explicitly allows a man to rape his adult wife:

“Sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife... is not rape.”

Laws which permit marital rape treat women as the property of their husbands.

Ensuring that marital rape is criminalised would make justice more accessible for all women, irrespective of marital status. It could also send a powerful signal that a woman always has the right to choose whether and with whom she has sexual relations.

Men in India are currently able to rape their wives with impunity. This has to end.

Later this month a petition seeking to criminalise marital rape will come before the Delhi High Court. Ahead of the hearing, tell Prime Minister Modi to amend the law without delay.

Marital rape is rape

Join our call for the Indian government to ensure justice for all rape victims and remove the marital rape exception.

Thank you for your continued support of women and girls.

In solidarity

Divya Srinivasan

South Asia Team, Equality Now