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.
Common sense. Don’t know why that’s not the law already everywhere but better late than never.
Because enough ruling dudes literally, publicly said it was going too far because now a drunk girl could claim she didn’t remember most of the previous night and was raped.
And a bunch of other dudes said they had sex with a drunk girl who later said she never wanted it. All these dudes knew they wouldn’t be having sex if the girls had to be conscious and aware.
And so now a bunch of dudes were afraid their continued sex with a drunk girl was going to get them arrested. So they stopped the harder rape laws.
True story.
I’m just going off (English language) reporting, not the text itself. But I don’t see anything about the new law invalidating drunken consent.
Hmm. Consent during an altered mind state can definitely be a form of coercion. It is very tricky.
This will have to be decided on a case-by-case basis. They will see if it does what it is supposed to do or not. If it doesn’t work the law will probably change.