A court in Madagascar has sentenced a man to surgical castration for raping a child, marking the first time the punishment has been applied in the country, a judicial official said on Thursday.

The case involved the rape and attempted murder of a six-year-old girl in Imerintsiatosika, about 30 km west of the capital, Antananarivo.

Didier Razafindralambo, attorney general at the Court of Appeal, confirmed the ruling in a video statement shared by the Ministry of Justice.

Tribune Online gathered that the sentence follows a 2024 law introduced in Madagascar targeting cases of child rape involving victims aged 10 and under.

Authorities said the law was introduced in response to a rise in such cases reported to the courts.

“The person prosecuted in this case was sentenced by the Court to life imprisonment with hard labour, accompanied by castration,

“Today’s decision is a strong and significant response from the justice system, intended also to serve as a warning to anyone with similar malicious intentions,” Razafindralambo added.

According to Reuters, surgical castration has previously been used in countries like the Czech Republic and Germany, but only with the defendant’s consent. In 2023, Louisiana became the first U.S. state to mandate the procedure for some sex offences involving minors.

Chemical castration, which involves ongoing drug treatment and is reversible, has been introduced in several U.S. states and countries such as Poland and South Korea.

The UK is currently considering its use, Reuters reports.

Human rights organisations have criticised both practices, arguing that they are unethical. They say efforts should instead focus on supporting survivors, ensuring their protection, and improving prevention.

______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ______________________________________________________________________ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. Bonus: Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.

How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com

Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626

________________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola _______________________________________________________________________ "You Don't Need To Be Rich, You Just Need To Start" — Victoria Ezeigwe, Esq Launches Investment Handbook For Nigerians Starting With ₦5,000
By Victoria-Ezeigwe-Esq

Get your copy today and take the first step toward financial growth:👉 https://selar.co/4f16676016

_______________________________________________________________________