Awang Long Law Review
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Awang Long Law Review

ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN MARRIAGE (MARITAL RAPE): A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CRIMINAL LAWS IN INDONESIA AND SINGAPORE

Wahdah, Azzhara Nikita (Unknown)
Harefa, Beniharmoni (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
03 Nov 2025

Abstract

Marital rape is a form of sexual violence that is often not explicitly recognized in legal systems, especially in countries with strong patriarchal cultures. This article provides a comparative analysis of the regulation and enforcement of marital rape as a criminal offense in Indonesia and Singapore. In Indonesia, the recognition of marital rape as a criminal offense has been strengthened through the new Criminal Code (Law No. 1 of 2023), the PKDRT Law, and the TPKS Law, although its implementation still faces challenges in the form of complaint offenses, social stigma, and a lack of understanding of gender issues among officials. Meanwhile, Singapore has removed legal immunity for husbands since the enactment of the Criminal Law Reform Act 2019, and provides civil protection through Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) and an integrated reporting system. This study uses a normative legal and comparative law approach to examine the differences in the legal systems, regulations, and cultures of the two countries. The results of the study show that Singapore is more progressive in handling cases of marital rape, both in terms of regulations and victim protection mechanisms. This article recommends that Indonesia strengthen inter-agency synergy, reform the reporting system, and improve public legal literacy as strategic steps in combating domestic sexual violence. With a comprehensive approach, it is hoped that the Indonesian legal system can be more responsive to the needs of victims and ensure gender sensitive justice.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

awl

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

Awang Long Law Review known as the ALLRev launched on November 1, 2018 and inaugurated formally by Chairman of the Awang Long School of Law. Besides "The Juris" Journal of Legal Sciences, Awang Long Law Review (ALLRev) is the official journal of the Awang Long School of Law published biannually (May ...