"Only yes means yes" law: Spain is tightening sex crimes

Enlarge image

Spain's Equality Minister Irene Montero (pictured April 30, 2021): "The feminist movement is making history in Spain"

Photo:

I.Infantes.;

Pool / dpa

Spain has taken an important step towards tightening sex crimes laws.

On Thursday, the parliament in Madrid approved with a clear majority a draft law by the left-wing government, according to which all persons involved must in future expressly consent to sexual acts.

Only the MPs of the conservative People's Party (PP) and the right-wing populist Vox voted against the so-called "Only Yes Means Yes" law.

Her main argument: the plan jeopardizes the principle of the presumption of innocence.

In order to be passed, the law still has to be approved by the Senate, but this is considered a formality.

The new set of paragraphs eliminates the distinction between abuse and aggression.

Sexual assault will be considered rape after the enactment, whether the victim resists or allows an act to happen out of fear.

Up to 15 years in prison will then be available for rape and sexual violence.

In addition, among other things, "intimidating" compliments and the distribution of sex videos are punishable.

»The feminist movement makes history in Spain«

Equality Minister Irene Montero celebrated the House of Commons endorsement, saying it was "a crucial step in changing Spain's sexual culture" and ending "sexual terror" and the "culture of rape."

The feminist movement is making history in Spain, she said.

With its initiative, the left-wing government reacted to several cases of gang rape in which the perpetrators had gotten away with light sentences in recent years.

A case from July 2016 in particular caused great outrage.

A group of five young men dragged a young woman into a doorway during the San Fermín celebrations in Pamplona.

They raped their victim multiple times and filmed the whole thing.

The competent court did not consider the rape to be a fact because, as the 2018 judgment said, there had been “neither beatings nor threats” and the victim had remained passive.

The verdict sparked protests across the country.

ngo/dpa