The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net 

HUMAN Rights Bahamas has joined critics in condemning the Davis administration for refusing to pass legislation criminalising marital rape, expressing disappointment over recent comments by Attorney General Ryan Pinder while calling on voters to send a strong message at the polls and beyond.

In a statement yesterday, the local rights watchdog accused the government of bowing to pressure from church groups and a male-dominated society, saying it has failed Bahamian women.

“Once again, our leaders have chosen political convenience over moral responsibility,” said Joseph Darville, vice president of Human Rights Bahamas. “I am extremely disappointed — especially those with daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives. Shame on you for prioritising votes over the fundamental rights and dignity of half our population.”

Their comments follow Attorney General Ryan Pinder’s revelation last week that the Davis administration does not expect to introduce the legislation before the end of its term. When asked whether the decision was politically motivated, he suggested that every government dealing with this issue has faced similar concerns.

Attorney and women’s rights advocate Marion Bethel told The Tribune last week that she was incensed by Mr Pinder’s statement, arguing that it reflected a broader disregard for the safety and rights of women in The Bahamas.

Meanwhile, Alicia Wallace, director of Equality Bahamas, was blunt in her assessment, accusing the government of siding with rapists rather than protecting survivors.

Yesterday, HRB highlighted a 2024 gender-based violence study that revealed one in four women experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. The group questioned how these women must feel, “knowing that the Attorney General has so easily dismissed his government’s promise to implement marital rape” legislation.

The group also responded to arguments from some men and religious groups who claim that such laws would “weaponise” sex in marriage, saying that it strongly disagrees.

The group argued that a marital rape law does not weaken marriage but strengthens it by ensuring that respect, consent, and equality remain at its core.

“If we cultivate a culture of respect within our marriages, young men will learn to respect women in all aspects of their lives,” HRB added. “What message are we sending them now? That it is acceptable to hurt their mothers, sisters, and partners? That dominance over women is their right? The disturbing rise in gender-based violence shows us exactly where this mindset leads.”

“We know there are many supporters of this law within the government. We call on them to step up and demand action. If this law is once again pushed aside, we urge women to declare: ‘Enough is enough.’ Let your voices be heard — at the polls and beyond. The time to stand up for women is now.”

The debate over marital rape has long been contentious in The Bahamas, with religious groups exerting significant influence.

In September 2022, the Ministry of Social Services hosted a one-day symposium on the proposed legislation to redefine rape to include acts within marriage, but the event was dominated by religious leaders who voiced opposition to changing the law, according to Ms Wallace, who described the symposium as an attempt by the government to negotiate women’s rights without including women’s voices.

Despite repeated calls from activists and international human rights organisations, progress on advancing the legislation has stalled. Prime Minister Philip Davis has repeatedly said that efforts to criminalise marital rape are not a priority for his administration.