European nations urged to scrap ‘outdated’ rape laws
25 November, 2018
European countries must overhaul “outdated” laws that let rapists off the hook and perpetuate a culture of victim-blaming, rights groups said on Saturday.
Only eight out of 31 countries surveyed by Amnesty International define rape as sex without consent, according to research published on the eve of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The rest have legal definitions of rape based on force, threat of force, coercion or the victim’s inability to defend themselves.
“Time and again, surveys show that many people still believe it’s not rape when the victim is drunk, wearing revealing clothes or not physically fighting back,” said lead researcher Anna Blus.
“Sex without consent is rape, full stop. Until governments bring their legislations in line with this simple fact, the perpetrators of rape will continue to get away with their crimes.”
The survey covered the 28 EU countries plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
Research by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights suggests one in 20 women has been raped.
But rights groups say rape remains hugely underreported in Europe, despite movements like #MeToo which have spurred women to speak out about sexual violence.
The countries which define rape as sex without consent are Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden and Britain.
Women in Denmark are planning protests this weekend calling for similar reforms.
Blus said rape survivors across Europe were often failed by “outdated and harmful” laws.
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