ADULTERY should not be punished as a crime,
the UN's human rights body says, insisting that women's rights especially are
violated when countries allow punishments ranging from fines to death for
infidelity. "Adultery must not be classified as a criminal offence at
all," said Kamala Chandrakirana, who heads the UN expert body charged with
identifying ways to eliminate laws that discriminate against women.
"The criminalisation of sexual relations between consenting adults
is a violation of their right to privacy," she said in a statement,
insisting adultery "must not be punishable by fine, imprisonment,
flogging, or death by stoning or hanging". Women are especially impacted
by laws criminalising marital infidelity, and often receive harsher punishments
than men, while in some countries their testimony carries only half the weight
of a man's, the statement said. Chandrakirana called on "all governments
which retain criminalisation of adultery" and which allow punishments,
including flogging and death, "to repeal any such provisions".
News.com.au
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