At the time of writing (Spring 2009), President Hamid Kharzai of Afghanistan is considering the implementation of a law that, among other reversals of women’s civil rights, will permit rape in marriage. Whether the law goes ahead or not will depend on possible intervention and pressure from UN countries, but that it is even being considered demonstrates the power of patriarchy in the country. However, it was only as recent as 1991 that Britain made rape in marriage a criminal offence and its record on successful prosecutions of rape in general remains poor.
In a 2007 report by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) (‘Without consent: A report on the joint review of the investigation and prosecution of rape offences’), it states:
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