Sexual Violence, Contraceptives Use, and the Principle of Self-Defense in Marriage

Abstract

With the assumption that women should have rights over their bodies this essay argues that women who are sexually assaulted should recourse to emergency contraception as a form of self-defense. Sexual assault can result from domestic violence or during large scale conflicts (wars). This essay focuses in most part on domestic sexual violence which often occurs within the home among family members resulting into rape and at times incest. The most traumatizing cases are incidences of spousal rape that occur between HIV/AIDS discordant couples. The women who are usually the victims in African set-up can request their husband to use a condom as a form of self-defense.