Somalia Sexual Offences Bill Passes 132 to 3
Somalia's lower house passed a long-delayed rape and sexual offences bill by 132 votes to 3 on Wednesday 14 October, after years of stalled drafts. The post Somalia Sexual Offences Bill Passes 132 to 3 appeared first on The Rio Times .
Mogadishu lawmakers have voted in favor of the Somalia sexual offences bill, with 132 MPs supporting it, while three opposed and five abstained. Sonna, the state news agency, reported the outcome of the 132 in favor, three against, and five abstentions out of the 140 MPs present. The bill's significance extends beyond Somalia, as UN officials have long criticized earlier drafts for not meeting international standards on rape.
American donors, aid groups, and the Somali diaspora are closely watching the final text to determine the authenticity of the reform. However, the bill has not yet become law, and the adopted text has not been published. It must still pass through additional legislative stages before it can take effect. The vote took place at the 24th sitting of the eighth session of the House of the People, with Speaker Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur presiding.
The bill, which is still unnamed, has been described as the Sexual Offences and Misconduct Bill by Sonna and as a rape and misconduct offences bill by Hiiraan Online. The Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, welcomed the vote as a significant milestone in legal protection, accountability, and survivors' access to justice.
She emphasized the importance of the law in safeguarding women, children, and other vulnerable individuals.
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