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Women in Seychelles

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Family life

Seychellois society is essentially matriarchal, which stems from the 'matrifocal' nature created through slavery. Mothers tend to be dominant in the household, controlling most current expenditures and looking after the interests of the children. Many couples remain unwed because the cultural standards for weddings require luxury and are extremely expensive. There is not much social stigma around remaining unwed, patricularly in low-income communities. Unwed mothers are the societal norm, and the law requires fathers to support their children. Men are important for their earning ability, but their domestic role is relatively peripheral. Women over 50 are considered elderly and are largely excluded from the labour market, leaving them with poor social standings. Elderly women must usually count on financial support from family members living at home or contributions from the earnings of grown children.

'Matrifocality' in Seychelles

Seychelles is largely considered to be a 'matrifocal' society, meaning that the central kinship lines, source of income, and relational contacts are traced through the mother's ancestry rather than the father's. It does not mirror patriarchal societies social hierarchies as women are not necessarily in better social positions than men. This dynamic is rooted in the socio-historical context of colonialism and slavery in Seychelles, which did not encourage marriage or family life, but required reproduction to sustain itself. Enslaved men were taken by their masters to habituate other colonies, leaving women behind to maintain the family and community. This process is what created the matrifocal social structure that persists in Seychelles today.

Violence against women

Domestic violence against women was a continuing problem. Police rarely intervened in domestic disputes unless it involved a weapon or major assault. The authorities often dismissed the few cases that reached a prosecutor, or the court gave the perpetrator a light sentence. There was growing societal concern about domestic violence and increased recognition of the need to address it. In 2013 the Minister for Social Affairs, Vincent Meriton, helped develop a plan of action with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to tackle gender-based violence through revised police training, awareness-raising, and a legal focus on prosecuting sex-trafficking and organized crime.

Rape, spousal rape, and domestic abuse are criminal offences punishable by a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment.The law prohibits sexual harassment but is rarely enforced. During 2007, the Family Tribunal registered 74 domestic violence complaints. The police registered 56 rape cases and four cases of attempted sexual assault. The Social Affairs Division of the Ministry of Health and Social Development and Women in Action and Solidarity Organization, a local NGO, provided counseling services to rape victims.

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