Norway exacerbates rape law: Only yes means!

Norway exacerbates rape law: Only yes means!

Vienna, Österreich - Norway recently tightened his law against rape. The country is thus involved in a growing group of states that expand the definition of sexual assault. In the future, sex will be punished without express consent. According to a report by vienna.at , the new law can also be sent by words or acts, regardless of the use of violence.

The changes that were decided by Parliament on Friday replace the previous system in which violence or threats had to be demonstrated in order to achieve a conviction. Similar laws have already been introduced in other Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. In Sweden, this reform led to a remarkable increase in convictions due to rape by 75 percent, which indicates the need for a clear legal basis for combating sexual violence.

global problem of sexual violence

The tightening of the Norwegian law comes at a time when human rights violations worldwide, especially women and girls, have risen sharply. According to the Frauennotruf Hamburg , sexual violence is one of the greatest health risks for women worldwide, as the World Health Organization (WHO) determines. Studies show that every third woman experiences violence in the course of her life, which illustrates the urgency of changes in the law.

In Europe, a FRA study from 2014 showed that every third woman has experienced sexualized or physical violence for over 15 years. In Germany, the numbers are also alarming: Representative studies from 2004 and 2012 show that 13 percent of women and girls between the ages of 16 and 85 experienced sexual violence. In addition, 58 percent reported sexual harassment and 40 percent of physical or sexualized violence.

numbers and trends in Germany

In 2020, over 450 advice from the women in Hamburg were advised in the women, with 244 women and girls who were looking for help. These figures illustrate the persistent need for effective measures to combat sexual violence. The new legal provisions in Norway and other countries can potentially help to raise awareness and to improve the legal framework for those affected.

Overall, the situation shows that combating sexual violence is not just a national, but a global challenge that requires urgent attention.