By Ebi Kesiena
Member of the Ivorian parliament introduced a bill to legalise polygamy, claiming that the practice remains widespread across regions in the country and ought to be legally permitted.
Yacouba Sangaré, the MP who proposed the change, described the current matrimonial legislation in Ivory Coast as “a generalised hypocrisy”.
The elected member of the ruling The Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party filed a bill to amend a June 2019 law that stipulates that “no one may contract a new marriage before the first one is dissolved” and that sole state officials have the authority to legalise a union.
But the proposal has since sparked outrage among women’s rights organisations and feminist groups who have dubbed it a step back in the fight against gender inequality.
The bill has triggered strong reactions from human and women’s rights activists, who say polygamy creates inherent discrimination against women.
Following the bill’s introduction, the conversation around discrimination against women in polygamous marriages has resurfaced especially online where many are seemingly against it.
In Ivory Coast, women’s rights and legal protection for women and girls have strengthened in recent years. But in reality, inequalities still prevail, namely in parliament where only 12 percent of elected members are women.
Desiree Okobée, a legal expert on family law, believes that a majority of Ivorians oppose the legalisation of polygamy.
“I don’t believe that a majority of Ivorians or women support this bill. I think it’s the opposite [but] there are unfortunately no opinion polls or surveys that’s been done to know that for certain. Our society has changed and evolved. Optional polygamy is not the way to go. The focus should be made on educating boys and girls from a young age to avoid these practices.” She said.
But women’s rights activists have pledged to fight this bill with all the instruments at their disposal.
