Marital rape promoted as a crime

MANILA, Philippines – A lawmaker wants to add marital rape to the list of sexually violent acts covered by the Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Act, seeking to overturn the “outdated and harmful” notion that married women must always consent to sexual intercourse with their husbands.

By filing Bill No. 10796 in the House of Representatives, Calamba City Rep. Charisse Ann Hernandez seeks to amend the provisions of Republic Act No. 9262, also known as the Anti-VAWC Act of 2004, to correct the “glaring failure” to identify marital rape as a form of sexual violence.

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“Marital rape, the act of one spouse forcing sexual intercourse on the other spouse without their consent, remains a widespread problem. This crime is rooted in the outdated and harmful notion that marriage implies ongoing consent to sexual relations,” she said.