The EU Has Passed An “Only Yes Means Yes” Resolution That Calls To Clearly Define Rape As Sex Without Consent

The EU has finally passed an “only yes means yes” resolution to clearly define rape as sex without consent.

At least 21 EU member states including as Spain and France, have updated their laws to define all sexual acts without consent as rape.

Under the new “only yes mean yes” laws, people accused of sexual assault or rape must now show proof that they took steps to get consent.

The “only yes means yes” law helps shift the burden of proof from the victim to the accused to prove they had consent.

However, there are still many countries like Italy, Hungary and Romania, where victims of sexual assault or rape have to show proof of resistance, violence, coercion or threats.

On Tuesday, April 28, 447 out of 720 European lawmakers voted to establish a common definition of rape based on the “only yes means yes” standard.

The new definition will also ensure that a coerced “yes” is not valid.

Having a common definition across the EU will force EU member states to update their laws according to the new standard.

French MP Manon Aubry told CNN that a lack of consent- based rape definition will continue to allow “perpetrators to have full impunity.”

The EU must now come up with a proposal for a law for a consent-based definition of rape across the EU.

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