OSLO, June 6 (Reuters) - Norway strengthened its rape laws on Friday by criminalising sex without explicit consent, joining a growing list of countries to widen the definition of sexual attacks. Up to now, prosecutors have had to show that an attacker used violence or threatening behaviour, or had sexual intercourse with someone who was unable to resist, to secure a conviction for rape.
Under the new law passed by parliament, anyone who has sex with someone who has not consented to it by word or deed could be convicted of rape, even without violence. Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have all introduced consent-based rape laws in recent years. Sweden changed the legal definition of rape in 2018 to sex without consent - a change that officials said resulted in a 75% rise in rape convictions. Denmark followed in 2020 by passing a law that widened the circumstances that could constitute rape.
Wait, what happened before when you had sex with someone without their consent?
Was there an intermediate thing, or… how did that work?
Also a very serious offence with a prison sentence, but with a different legal definition than “rape”. Something like sexual assault / coercion.
Right. Seems like… you know, less of a big deal than both supporters and detractors further down this thread are making it out to be, then.
Brock Turner knows