Spain has taken an important step in the tightening of the legal situation in the field of sexual criminal law. In the future, all involved must give their explicit consent to sexual acts. The parliament in Madrid on Thursday passed a bill from the left-wing government with a clear majority.
The new paragraphs eliminate the distinction between abuse and aggression. Once it comes into effect, assault is considered rape – regardless of whether the victim resists or allows an act to take place out of fear. In that case, a maximum of 15 years in prison is available for rape and sexual violence. In addition, “intimidating” compliments and the distribution of sex videos are also punishable by law. To be passed, the law still needs to be approved by the Senate, but this is considered a formality.
Only the MPs of the conservative People’s Party (PP) and the right-wing populist Vox voted against the so-called yes only means yes law. Her main argument: the plan jeopardizes the principle of the presumption of innocence.
Equality Minister Irene Montero celebrated the House of Commons’ approval, saying it was “a crucial step in changing Spanish sexual culture” and ending “sexual terror” and “rape culture”. “The feminist movement is making history in Spain,” she said.
Outrage after gang rape in Pamplona
With its initiative, the left-wing government responded to some high-profile cases of gang rape in which the perpetrators got away with light sentences in recent years. A case from July 2016 in particular caused great outrage. A group of five young men dragged a young woman into a doorway during the San Fermín celebrations in Pamplona. The victim was raped several times and the acts were also filmed.
The competent court did not find rape punishable because, as stated in the 2018 verdict, there had been “neither assault nor threats” and the victim had remained passive. The verdict sparked protests across the country.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
