By M10News Crime Desk | 12 July 2025
A man convicted of raping and attempting to murder a six-year-old girl has been sentenced to surgical castration in Madagascar—the first known case under a controversial law introduced last year.
The ruling was confirmed by the island nation’s court of appeal, which upheld both the castration sentence and life imprisonment with hard labour for the crime committed in Imerintsiatosika, a town about 30 kilometres west of the capital, Antananarivo.
Attorney General Didier Razafindralambo described the punishment as a “strong and significant response from the justice system,” emphasising that it was intended to send a message of deterrence.
“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 said in a statement.
The assault reportedly took place in a residential area in early 2025, shocking the local community and drawing national outrage. The child, who survived the attack, was hospitalised with severe injuries.
In 2024, Madagascar passed a law allowing surgical castration for individuals found guilty of raping children under the age of 10. The legislation was met with mixed reactions both locally and internationally, with proponents praising its tough stance and critics warning of potential human rights violations.
The use of surgical castration as a legal punishment remains rare globally. However, some countries such as Germany and Czechia permit the procedure in cases where the offender consents. In June, Louisiana became the first U.S. state to allow judges to order surgical castration for certain sexual offences, according to MailOnline.
Other nations, including Poland, Russia and South Korea, have implemented chemical castration measures. These typically involve the ongoing administration of medication intended to suppress libido and reduce the risk of reoffending.
In the UK, the debate around chemical castration has gained renewed attention. In May, Defence Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an expansion of a pilot programme trialling chemical castration in 20 prisons across south-west England.
While some lawmakers argue such interventions are necessary to protect children and prevent repeat offences, human rights organisations remain sceptical. Several groups have expressed ethical concerns about forced medical procedures, urging governments to focus on strengthening support systems for abuse survivors and improving reporting mechanisms.
“We must ensure justice, but we must also be careful not to abandon human rights in the process,” a spokesperson for Human Rights Africa said in response to Madagascar’s sentence.
The Madagascar government has yet to release further details about the implementation of the ruling, including whether the procedure has already been carried out.
Editing by M10News Crime Desk | Contact: crime@m10news.com
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