A Madagascar court has sentenced a man to surgical castration and life imprisonment with hard labour for the rape and attempted murder of a six-year-old girl. The decision marks the first implementation of a controversial law passed in 2024 to combat rising cases of child sexual abuse on the island nation.
The crime occurred in Imerintsiatosika, a municipality located approximately 30 kilometers west of the capital Antananarivo. The severity of the assault and the victim’s young age led prosecutors to invoke the newly enacted legislation, which mandates surgical castration for those convicted of raping minors under the age of 10.
Didier Razafindralambo, the attorney general at the Court of Appeal, announced the sentence in a video statement distributed by the Ministry of Justice. “The person prosecuted in this case was sentenced by the Court to life imprisonment with hard labour, accompanied by castration,” he said. “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.”
The 2024 law was introduced in response to a surge in sexual violence against children. The Malagasy government argued that previous penalties were insufficient deterrents, and that harsher punishments were necessary to protect the most vulnerable.
While some countries have implemented chemical castration—a reversible procedure using medication—Madagascar joins a small group of nations, including the Czech Republic and Germany, that have permitted surgical castration, typically with the offender’s consent. In contrast, this recent ruling mandates the procedure without any indication of consent.
The move has ignited debate among human rights organisations, which have long criticized castration—both chemical and surgical as unethical and potentially inhumane. Critics argue that more focus should be placed on supporting survivors, strengthening investigative processes, and addressing societal causes of abuse.
Meanwhile, supporters of the ruling in Madagascar view it as a necessary step in confronting an escalating crisis. With the court’s ruling drawing both national and international attention, it remains to be seen how this precedent will influence future cases and legislation in the region.
