Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation repealing New York’s 1907 adultery law, decriminalizing behavior long considered outdated and controversial. Critics of the century-old statute argued it unfairly punished private matters and disproportionately impacted women.
With this move, New York joins states such as Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Utah, along with the District of Columbia, in removing adultery as a criminal offense. Advocates, including the United Nations Human Rights Commission, have long opposed criminal penalties for adultery, noting global concerns where such charges often target women and, in some countries, carry severe punishments like the death penalty.
The change reflects a broader trend toward modernizing laws to better align with contemporary views on personal rights and equality.
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