New Report: Arab League Countries Failing Rape Survivors, Urgent Legal Reform Needed

CAIRO, Egypt, September 18, 2025 – A new report by Equality Now reveals that rape survivors across the Arab League face systemic legal failures, with discriminatory laws and weak enforcement leaving women and girls without effective protection. The organization is calling on governments to urgently reform sexual violence laws, criminalize marital rape, and adopt consent‑based definitions of rape in line with international human rights standards.

Widespread Gaps in Legal Protection

The report, In Search of Justice: Rape Laws in the Arab States, examines legislation across all 22 Member States of the League of Arab States (LAS). It finds that:

• Force‑based definitions dominate: Most countries define rape only in terms of physical force, failing to recognize sex without free and informed consent as rape.
• Marital rape is not criminalized: No LAS country explicitly outlaws rape within marriage. In some states, penal codes even codify a husband’s “right” to sexual access.
• “Marry your rapist” loopholes persist: In Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria, rapists can escape prosecution by marrying their victims, despite recent advocacy leading to partial reforms.
• Child marriage enables abuse: Many countries set the legal marriage age below 18, or allow exceptions, leaving girls vulnerable to sexual violence under the guise of marriage.
• Narrow definitions of rape: Several penal codes only recognize vaginal penetration by a penis as rape, treating other forms of sexual assault as lesser crimes with lighter penalties.

Survivors Face Barriers to Justice

Equality Now’s analysis highlights how survivors are routinely re‑victimized by the justice system:

• Excessive evidence requirements, including proof of physical resistance or visible injuries.
• Short reporting deadlines (sometimes within 72 hours).
• Invasive medical examinations that deter survivors from coming forward.
• Weak enforcement due to inadequate training of police, prosecutors, and judges.

“Access to justice is hindered by excessive evidence requirements based on narrow legal interpretations of rape,” said Dima Dabbous, Equality Now’s Representative in the Middle East and North Africa. “No Arab League country has explicitly criminalized marital rape, and in some, rapists can still avoid prosecution by marrying their victims. We urge governments to act now to reform laws in line with consent, survivor dignity, and effective enforcement.”

Discrimination Embedded in Law

The report underscores how many penal codes treat rape as a crime against “honour” or “public decency” rather than a violation of individual rights. This framing reinforces harmful stereotypes, fuels stigma, and silences survivors. Gender discrimination in family laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and custody further traps women in abusive relationships and limits their access to justice.

Call for Reform

Equality Now urges LAS governments to use the report as a blueprint for action. Key recommendations include:

• Adopt a comprehensive consent‑based definition of rape.
• Explicitly criminalize marital rape and repeal provisions allowing impunity through marriage.
• Raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 without exceptions.
• Ensure all forms of non‑consensual sexual acts are treated equally and seriously.
• Remove burdensome evidentiary requirements that obstruct justice.
• Invest in survivor‑centered healthcare, psychosocial services, and legal aid.
• Train justice sector personnel in gender‑sensitive, rights‑based approaches.

Regional and Global Context

While most LAS countries have ratified international treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), implementation remains weak. Armed conflict, displacement, and conservative social norms further exacerbate risks for women and girls, leaving survivors without meaningful recourse.

Conclusion

Equality Now stresses that reforming rape laws is not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative. Governments must act decisively to dismantle discriminatory frameworks, protect survivors, and ensure justice systems uphold the rights and dignity of women and girls.

For the full report, visit: https://EqualityNow.org