Spain's lower house of parliament has approved a bill defining rape as any sexual act without consent, following the outrage caused in the country[/B] six years ago by a gang rape case.[/B]
The Government's proposed Sexual Freedom Safeguards legislation, known as "Only yes means yes", provides that victims will no longer have to prove that they were subjected to violence or intimidation or that they resisted in order to show that they were sexually assaulted. Any sexual act without consent will be considered sexual assault.
"The slogans only yes means yes and sister, I believe in you are finally becoming law," said Spanish Equality Minister Irene Montero, addressing deputies in Congress. "From now on Spain is a freer and safer country for all women."
The bill has been in the pipeline for more than two years and was approved with 201 votes in favour, 140 against and three abstentions.[/B] It must now be adopted by the Upper House before it can come into force.
Addressing gender-based violence has been high on the priorities of Prime Minister Pedro Sandez's government since the "wolf pack" affair. In it five men who called themselves that were convicted only of the offence of sexual assault in 2018, despite having gang-raped a young woman during the 2016 Pamplona bullfighting festival. The court had sentenced them to nine years in prison and acquitted them of the rape charge because they did not use violence on the victim.
The massive outrage demonstrations that followed the announcement of the court's decision in the case drew international attention and led the Spanish authorities to appeal in 2019, with the Supreme Court convicting the five men of rape and imposing a 15-year sentence.
Moreover, the cases of two minors who allegedly raped an 18-year-old woman as well as a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old girl have recently shocked the Spanish public.
If the perpetrators are minors, under the new legislation they willhave to attend sex education courses.
In 2021 there were 2,143 rape complaints in Spain, 14% more than in 2020 and the highest number ever recorded.
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