A July 11, 2005 Le Nouvelliste Article About The World Population Day Forum Mentions the Revisions

Several Nouvelliste articles briefly mentioned the 2005 revisions.  However, an in-depth explanation did not appear in the popular press until Mme Chancy's article in 2007. The article"Equality for the continuation of sustainable development," which was printed in Le Nouvelliste on July 11, 2005, covered World Population Day 2005, which was themed "Equal opportunities, equal rights." The purpose of the forum was to discuss and debate issues relating to gender inequality. "The use of violence against women as a weapon of war or terror, has already been the subject of much debate in the international forum." UNFPA executive director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid said, "The continuation of  inequality has high costs that result in broken bodies, broken dreams and crushed spirits. Today, ill health in the area of sexuality and reproduction is the leading cause of death and sickness for women in the developing world. Poverty and inequality contribute to the spread of HIV because women are not able to negotiate to ensure their personal safety."

The World Population Day forum could not have been held at a more appropriate time. Three days before the discussion began, the Penal Code was revised. This article quoted Adeline Magloire Chancy, the Minister for the Status of Women, who said, "The Decree of July 2005, amended the rules on sexual assault and eliminated discrimination in the matter against women in the penal code. This decree established under the rape and sexual assault increases penalties unlike the former, which cataloged them in the register of sexual offenses." 

It is interesting to note that the revised laws were not in effect at the time of this article's publication. The law was functionless until August 11, 2005, when they were printed by Le Moniteur. Despite the fact that the decree had been passed five days before this article was written, Mme Chancy's comment was the only mentioning of it.

Gary, Cypren L. " L'égalité, condition essentielle au développement durable." Le Nouvelliste. N.p., 11 Jul 2005. Web. 16 Nov 2010. <http://www.lenouvelliste.com/article.php?PubID=&ArticleID=45931>.