Major legal overhaul proposed: Equal polygamy liability for men and women
Summary
The Nepalese government has proposed a major legal amendment to ensure equal polygamy liability for men and women, alongside revisions to laws on marriage age, abortion, and sexual offenses.
Key Points
- The government proposes amending the National Penal Code to make polygamy provisions gender-neutral, applying equally to men, women, and sexual and gender minorities.
- The minimum legal age of marriage remains at 20 years, with penalties for underage marriages and an option to avoid punishment if couples aged 18-20 consent and live separately until legal age.
- The bill introduces harsher punishments for incestuous marriages and includes a 'Romeo-Juliet' provision for consensual teen relationships with limited age difference.
- The amendment revises abortion laws, marital rape provisions, and adds protections and penalties concerning sexual offenses against sexual and gender minorities.
