The study objectives are to determine whether the ten PEPFAR-DREAMS countries have laws and regulations relating to gender-based violence (GBV) in the context of GBV impacting adolescent girls and young women as a key population to achieve a HIV/AIDS free generation. The study highlights differences in the legal landscape across the jurisdictions compared to evidence-based elements.

1. Gender-Based Violence Laws
in Sub-Saharan African Countries
Mariko Kageyama
CDC Public Health Law Program legal extern Summer 2017
Division of Global HIV & TB
Economics & Health Services Research Branch
JD Candidate, University of Washington School of Law

2. Acknowledgments
OSTLTS
• Public Health Law Program
• Matthew Penn, JD, MLIS
• Montrece Ransom, JD, MPH
• Anthony Johnson, MBA, HSM
DGHT
• Economics & Health Services Research Branch
• Alicia Hunter Warner, JD, MSW
• Andre Verani, JD, MPH
• HIV Prevention Branch
• Janet Saul, PhD
• Pragna Patel, MD, MPH
• Jennifer Hegle, MPH, CPH
• Meghan Duffy, MPH

3. Director
Science Integrity Branch
Deputy Director for Management &
Global Operations
Strategy, Policy &
Communication
Branch International
Laboratory
Branch
HIV Prevention
Branch
HIV Care &
Treatment
Branch
Maternal &
Child Health
Branch
Epidemiology
&
Surveillance
Branch
Economics &
Health Services
Research Branch
Health
Informatics, Data
Management &
Statistics Branch
Program Budget
& Extramural
Management
Branch
Division of Global HIV and TB
Management &
Operations
Branch
Special
Initiatives
Branch
Special Advisor to the
Director
Principal Deputy Director
Associate Director for Program
Associate Director for Data Integration & Analysis
Monitoring,
Evaluation &
Data Analytics
Branch
Global TB
Prevention &
Control Branch
Overseas Strategy and
Management Branch

4. Gender-Based Violence Laws in DREAMS countries
Outline
• Background / Objectives
• Legal research methods
• Findings
• Discussion
• Summary / Next steps

5. PEPFAR: DREAMS
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief:
Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free,
Mentored, & Safe Women

6. Why DREAMS?
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

7. Objectives
• to determine whether the ten DREAMS
countries have laws and regulations relating
to GBV and to highlight differences across
the 10 jurisdictions compared to evidence-
based elements in the legal landscape and
context of GBV impacting AGYW as a key
population to achieve a HIV/AIDS free
generation.

8. Research Methods: Legal Elements
• GBV definition
• Legal age
• Age of consent for marriage
• Age of consensual sexual acts, etc.
• Marriage
• Child marriage, etc.
• Domestic violence
• Sexual violence
• Rape
• Marital rape, etc.
• Reporting
• Response
• Access to Justice
• Enforcement
• Constitution
• National HIV Strategic Plans

9. Legal Sources
• Criminal / Penal code – “Offences against morality” chapter
• Marriage – Civil, common law, religious, customary
• Children’s
• Sexual offences
• Domestic violence
• HIV prevention & control
• Age of majority
• Criminal procedure
• Gender equality / anti-discrimination
• Constitution – Bill of rights, domestication of treaties (e.g., CEDAW, CRC)
• Bills
• Regulations
• Cases
• Policy documents – National strategies, etc.

11. Findings
Child Marriage
§Age of Consent for Marriage
§Marriageable Age with Parental
(Third-Party) Consent
§Age of Consent for Sexual Activities

12. Age of Consent for Marriage &
Marriageable Age with Third-Party Consent
Consent Age Marriageable Age with 3rd-Party Consent
Kenya 18 18 16 16 with guardian consent until 2014
Malawi 18 18 <15, 15 <15 “discouraged” until 2017
Zimbabwe 18 18 16(f) 18(m) Gender difference unconstitutional 2016
Uganda 18 Inconsistent Discrepancy among 6 marriage laws
Tanzania 18 14, 15(f) 18(m) Special circumstances, “unconstitutional”
South Africa 18 <15, 15(f) 18(m) <15 OK if Minister sees desirable
Mozambique 18 16 Recognized public and family interest
Zambia 21 <16, 16 <16 OK with High Court Judge permission
Lesotho 21 <16, 16(f) 18(m) <16 OK if Minister sees desirable
Swaziland 21 <16, 16(f) 18(m) <16/18 OK with Minister; Custom-Puberty
§Third-Party Consent exception: parent(s), guardian, judge, minister
§Mature Minor exception: Widow(er), Divorced
×
×
×
×

13. Age of Consent & Child Marriage (<18)
Consent Age Marriageable Age Child Marriage Permitted (<18)?
Kenya 18 18 16 NO Since 2014
Malawi 18 18 <15, 15 NO Since 2017
Zimbabwe 18 18 16(f) 18(m) NO Since 2016; Amend. Bill draft
Uganda 18 Inconsistent NO Amend. Bill draft
Tanzania 18 14, 15(f) 18(m) YES Amend. Bill in consideration
South Africa 18 <15, 15(f) 18(m) YES CM Prohibition Bill draft
Mozambique 18 16 YES National Strategy (2016) only
Zambia 21 <16, 16 YES National Strategy (2017) only
Lesotho 21 <16, 16(f) 18(m) YES
Swaziland 21 <16, 16(f) 18(m) YES
§Third-Party Consent exception: parent(s), guardian, judge, minister
§Emancipated Minor exception: Widow(er), Divorced
×
×
×

14. Age of Consent for Sexual Acts
Child Marriage Marriageable Consent for Sexual Acts
Kenya NO 18 16 18
Malawi NO 18 <15, 15 16(f) 14(m)
Zimbabwe NO 18 16(f) 18(m) 16
Uganda NO Inconsistent 18
Tanzania YES 14, 15(f) 18(m) 18(f) 15(m)
South Africa YES <15, 15(f) 18(m) 16
Mozambique YES 16 16
Zambia YES <16, 16 16
Lesotho YES <16, 16(f) 18(m) 18
Swaziland YES <16, 16(f) 18(m) 16(f) NA(m)
§“Belief” defense: A reasonable cause to believe the child was of or above the age
§12–16 consensual between minors or age difference < 2 years

15. Findings
Where GBV Laws are Found
§Penal Code – “Offences Against Morality”
§Sexual Offences Act
§Domestic Violence Act
& variation

16. Penal Code Sexual Offences Act Domestic Violence Act
Kenya 2006, Amend. Bill 2016 2015
Malawi 1930 amends. ~2011
incl. SO chapter
Harassment & harmful practice:
Gender Equality Act 2013
2006
Zimbabwe 1st ver. 2004 incl. SO
chapter, amends. 2016
2001, repealed by PC 2004 2006
Uganda 1950 amends. ~ 2007 Bill 2016 2010
Tanzania 1945 amends. 1998 incl.
SO chapter, 2009
Spousal Corporal Punishment only
Marriage Act 1971 amends. ~2009
South Africa 2007, amends. 2015 1998, Harassment Act 2011
Mozambique 1886, rev. 2014 incl. DV
chapter
2009
weakened by 2014 PC
Zambia 1931 amends. ~ 2012
not fully integrated
2011 Anti-GBV Act
Lesotho 1st ver. 2010, incl. one
DV provision only
2003 Bill in draft
Swaziland Common law
Not codified or updated
Crim. Statute 1889 / Women Protection Act 1920
Sexual Offences & Domestic Violence Bill (but stalled 2013–)
Where GBV laws are found

17. Findings
Marital Rape

18. Rape & Marital Rape
Rape Marital Rape Criminalized Explicitly?
Kenya SOA No under SOA
Malawi PC No “sexual abuse” under DVA
Zimbabwe PC Yes under PC
Uganda PC No but Yes “marital sexual assault” under SOA Bill
Tanzania PC No under PC
South Africa SOA Yes under SOA
Mozambique PC No under PC (2014) but Yes under DVA (2009)
Zambia PC No “sexual abuse” under GBVA
Lesotho PC Yes “unlawful sexual act” under SOA/PC
Swaziland Common L. No MR impossible, but Yes under SOA+DVA Bill
§Marriage as a defense against the general rape offence
§Non-consensual sex by a spouse criminalized
§Marriage as NO defense under the general offence of rape
SOA: Sexual Offences Act; PC: Penal Code;
DVA: Domestic Violence Act; GBVA: Anti-GBV Act

19. Discussion
• Eliminate legal loopholes and barriers: Exceptions/ Defenses
• Identify and eliminate gaps by legislation and rulemaking
• Eliminate discrepancies between old and new, Constitution
• Enact standalone Sexual Offences + DV statutes
• Consolidate piecemeal amendments into a cohesive law
• Eliminate discriminatory provisions: gender, marital status,
HIV status
• Use positive explicit terms
• Broaden and articulate definitions to cover all acts of GBV

20. Discussion (cont.)
• Rule of law: Strengthen implementation and enforcement
• Continue creating the enabling environment for survivors
• Continue rights-based empowerment approaches
• Continue dialogs on harmful customary practices
• Domesticate and enforce international human right treaties
• Use constitutionally protected fundamental rights and
principles to drive legal reforms

21. Summary
• Evidence that all ten DREAMS countries have actively
engaged in legal reform to combat GBV and to reduce
HIV/AIDS risk among AGYW
• Cross-sectoral monitoring and evaluation of the outcomes of
ongoing law reform is desirable to inform policymaking and
capacity building
• Next: Translate GBV laws to evidence-based GBV prevention
strategies to help AGYW achieve DREAMS goals

22. Questions?
Asante! Obrigado! Dankie!
Mariko Kageyama
kageyama@uw.edu