The most comprehensive compilation of information on the status of
women in the world.

Latest items for PW-PRACTICE-2

Feb. 20, 2024, 6:27 p.m.
Countries: D R Congo
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"Polygamy remains prevalent in many communities, even though it is prohibited by law" (17).
Feb. 6, 2023, 12:07 p.m.
Countries: Kyrgyzstan
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2, PW-LAW-1

"The Committee [on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women]…recommends that the State Party…[e]ffectively enforce the prohibition of polygamy under article 179 of the Criminal Code, require civil registration for marriages to have any effect, and raise public awareness of the economic risks for women in polygamous and unregistered unions, including in case of dissolution" (16).
Dec. 9, 2022, 4 p.m.
Countries: Cote D'Ivoire
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"[MP Yacouba] Sangaré argu[es] for polygamy to become a legal option since the 1964 law that only recognizes monogamy has proven ineffective, he says. 'Across regions and regardless of religious background, polygamy is common in Ivory Coast. Men have multiple wives and communities accept that. So exclusive monogamy doesn’t fit with our realities, our customs. We can’t just copy-paste legislation that was put in place in Western countries. We have to give people the option,' he argues" (para 8-9).
April 29, 2022, 5:43 p.m.
Countries: Russia
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"However, the Committee notes with concern:... [r]eports of polygamy and the lack of legal and economic protection of women in polygamous unions" (14).
April 17, 2022, 12:06 a.m.
Countries: Sweden
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"The Committee notes that child and forced marriages and polygamy are illegal in the State party. However, the Committee is concerned about: […] Reports of polygamous marriages registered with the Swedish Tax Agency" (5).
Jan. 6, 2022, 12:09 p.m.
Countries: Somalia
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"There are no laws in place for secret marriages" (1).
Dec. 10, 2021, 5:27 p.m.
Countries: Russia
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"In some parts of the North Caucasus, women continued to face bride kidnapping, polygamy..." (56).
June 30, 2021, 4:16 p.m.
Countries: Turkey
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"In the nationwide debate, the most outspoken groups opposing the new law come from Diyarbakir, where the bar association and women's associations have been fighting long and hard against child marriage and child abuse. Despite their efforts, however, sexual abuse of underage girls, incest and forced marriages with minors, including taking young girls as second and third wives, remain common in the region" (para 5). "Echoing government officials who made similar remarks, Evsen said that giving the state-employed muftis the right to perform marriages would prevent religious weddings without civil validity as well as polygamous marriages" (para 13). Polygamous marriages needing to be "prevent[ed]" indicates that they are still happening...more
June 8, 2021, 10:37 p.m.
Countries: Vanuatu
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"The practice of polygamy also continued, an Expert noted, along with other customary provisions that discriminated against women in family relations... There was currently no legal requirement for the registration of customary marriages. The Government would look into this possibility. Polygamy would be a sensitive issue to legislate on" (para 38-39).
June 8, 2021, 10:20 p.m.
Countries: Vietnam
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"Polygamy is not uncommon in the province’s mountainous distant villages, which are mostly occupied by the Mông ethnic minority, the Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper reported. 'The more wives we have, the more productive we can be at our agricultural production' is the rationale that men like Chính give to having more than one wife. The Mông village of Chính’s Cư Kbang Commune houses about ten polygamous families. 'They met, they liked each other, they moved in together without registering with the authorities,' said the commune’s family planning official Hoàng Thị Châm. 'What’s strange is that the wives agree to live in harmony under the same roof with one another, and...more
May 24, 2021, 10:15 p.m.
Countries: South Korea
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2, PW-LAW-1

"The Seoul Administrative Court ruled Tuesday that the Ministry of Justice can revoke the South Korean citizenship granted to a foreign immigrant if it finds the person married to more than one spouse—whether by legal marriage or common law marriage—even after granting citizenship. A man obtained South Korean citizenship in 2014 after marrying a Korean national in 2004. But upon learning of the man’s common law marriage in his home country in 2009, the Justice Ministry canceled his Korean citizenship because the man had 'unlawfully' gained South Korean citizenship. Bigamy is illegal in South Korea. The man disagreed, saying he had not done anything illegal because his country recognizes polygamy,...more
March 9, 2021, 12:03 a.m.
Countries: Australia
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2, PW-LAW-1

"Hence, while polygamy is illegal, it is perfectly legal to be polyamorous and be in relationships with multiple people simultaneously, as long as you do not attempt to marry more than one of them. Since Australian law recognises both marriages and de facto relationships, you can establish de facto relationships with multiple partners. Individuals in de facto polyamorous relationships (also known as ‘multiple relationships) are typically entitled to the benefits and payments typically available to couples" (12-13).
Feb. 27, 2021, 11:27 p.m.
Countries: Belgium
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"In Flanders, there are 27 000 people who define themselves as 'polygamous', people who have a romantic relationship with more than one person at a time. Frederik Swennen, professor in family law at the University of Antwerp, argues for there to be a legal protection for these people. Polyamory, can take several forms, a couple that cohabits while having other relaltionships, a household composed of two women and one man, two men and one woman, or a bachelor with several relationships at the same time... However, the real question, is to find out if Belgium is ready to legally anchor these new relationship forms. 'The Belgian Minister of Justice, Koen...more
Feb. 18, 2021, 11:17 p.m.
Countries: Malta
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2, PW-LAW-1

"It is a criminal offence in Malta for a person to marry more than one person at the same time and it is irrelevant whether such marriage was contracted abroad. Bigamy is prohibited by Article 196 of the Maltese Criminal Code. Separation does not entitle a person to remarry, hence contacting marriage whilst separated also amounts to Bigamy. A person who is married can only remarry after obtaining a divorce or an annulment. It is a defence for a person accused of bigamy to argue that the first marriage was null. Hence pending criminal proceedings for bigamy one could institute legal proceedings to annul that marriage in order to have...more
Feb. 10, 2021, 10:42 p.m.
Countries: Senegal
Variables: AOM-DATA-1, AOM-DATA-2, PW-PRACTICE-2

"Muslim Senegal is constitutionally secular, but customary law is in widespread use. At least 10% of girls are married before 14, and men can have up to four wives" (para 13).
Dec. 20, 2020, 6:53 p.m.
Countries: Bahrain
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"Under Sharia law, women should not be forced to reside with their spouse's family, or in the case of a polygamous marriage, with other wives" (4).
Feb. 7, 2020, 10:39 a.m.
Countries: Ethiopia
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2, PW-LAW-1

"For example, although the Constitution prohibits bigamy, polygamous marriages are very common in the southern region" (para 19)
July 3, 2019, 12:27 p.m.
Countries: Tajikistan
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2, PW-PRACTICE-3

"The 2004 Council of Ulema fatwa prohibiting Hanafi Sunni women--constituting the vast majority of the female population--from praying in mosques remained in effect. Religious ceremonies also made polygyny possible, despite the illegality of the practice. NGOs estimated that up to 10 percent of men practiced polygyny. Many of these polygynous marriages involved underage brides. Unofficial second and third marriages were increasingly common, with neither the wives nor their children having legal standing or rights" (Pg 21-22).
Feb. 6, 2019, 7:33 p.m.
Countries: Lesotho
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2, PW-LAW-1

"Although the civil legal code does not recognize polygamy, a small minority practiced it under customary law" (Pg 19).
Feb. 6, 2019, 2:48 p.m.
Countries: Liberia
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2, PW-LAW-1

"While the law prohibits polygamy, traditional and religious customs permit men to have more than one wife" (Pg 17).
Feb. 6, 2019, 6:38 a.m.
Countries: Canada
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

Some muslims practice polygamy but they use to avoid the registration of the marriage, due to polygyny is illegal. Also, some imams help men to find another wife, and women to find men already married (JSM - Coder comment).
Jan. 25, 2019, 9:57 p.m.
Countries: Israel
Variables: MARR-PRACTICE-1, PW-PRACTICE-2

"Polygamous and forced marriages persist, in particular among the Arab and Bedouin communities, the State party’s efforts to eliminate those harmful practices notwithstanding" (pg. 8).
Jan. 8, 2019, 9:46 a.m.
Countries: Nigeria
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"Chief Akin Agbabiaka (pseudonym) died at the age of 65. He was survived by nine wives and 36 children" (Para 1). "For the four wives and 11 children left behind by Mr. Felix Ayinde (pseudonym)" (Para 4). "Among the six wives and 11 children left behind by Mazi Emeka Emeka (pseudonym), who hailed from the eastern Nigeria and lived all his adult life in Lagos, South-West Nigeria, where he became a successful businessman, before passing away at the age of 51, commotion has become the order of the day" (Para 6). "She said, 'When a man marries under the customary law, there is a potential that he may marry other...more
Sept. 5, 2018, 9:58 a.m.
Countries: Thailand
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"The Committee expresses further concern that harmful practices such as child and/or forced marriages and polygamy continue to take place, in particular in rural and remote areas" (14).
Sept. 4, 2018, 10:27 a.m.
Countries: Papua New Guinea
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"In areas where polygyny was customary…" (15). The text does not indicate if polygyn is legal or not, but does say that is practiced customarily in some areas (AA-CODER COMMENT)
April 3, 2018, 10:42 p.m.
Countries: Madagascar
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"The Committee reiterates its concern at the persistence of discriminatory stereotypes concerning the roles and responsibilities of women and men in society and in the family, such as the concept of 'the head of the household', which assigns this role to men, and the perpetuation of 'the father’s name and estate' through male heirs. The Committee notes efforts undertaken under the guidance of the Ministry of Justice with various stakeholders, the signing of road maps and the drafting of plans of action to address some harmful practices. The Committee is deeply concerned, however, about the persistence of harmful practices such as child and/or forced marriage, the sale of wives, girl...more
Jan. 26, 2018, 5:38 p.m.
Countries: Jordan
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"Early and/or child and forced marriages of refugee women and girls to Syrian and Jordanian men, often in polygamous marriages, for socioeconomic reasons or protection purposes" (Pg 3).
Dec. 7, 2017, 5:29 p.m.
Countries: Turkey
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"It is worth noting that polygamy is only mentioned twice in the report, as one of the negative effects of the media. Similarly, religious marriage — which is not legal in Turkey, yet quite common particularly for underage and polygamy settings — is mentioned only once" (para 7) (Coder comment: Though illegal, polygamy is practiced through religious marriages - ARR).
Dec. 2, 2017, 3:04 p.m.
Countries: Germany
Variables: PW-PRACTICE-2

"Germany will no longer allow migrants to have multiple wives or child brides, the justice minister has said. Heiko Maas told German newspaper Bild that no one has the 'right to place their cultural values or religious beliefs above our laws'" (para 1-2). "While polygamy is already banned in Germany, many officials 'turn a blind eye' to migrants who arrive in the country with more than one wife, the newspaper reports" (para 4).
Oct. 26, 2017, 11:20 a.m.
Countries: Russia
Variables: MARR-PRACTICE-4, MARR-DATA-2, PW-PRACTICE-2, PW-PRACTICE-3, PW-LAW-1, PW-DATA-1

"He [Chechnya’s dictator Ramzan Kadyrov] advocates polygamy as the solution when women run foul of traditional law, saying it is 'better to be a second or third wife than to be killed'. Though he officially bans under-age marriage and bridal abduction, cases of local security servicemen forcing very young girls into marriages, and as second or de facto temporary wives have been reported"(para 16)