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Spain on Thursday toughened its r ape laws, pushing through legislation requiring explicit consent for s ex in a move driven by its left-wing government following a notorious gang r ape that outraged the country.
Known as the 'Only yes means yes' law, the bill was given the green light by parliament with 205 votes in favour and 141 against after passing its first reading by lawmakers in May.
It involves a reform of Spain's criminal code that now defines r ape as s ex without clear consent.
Thousands of protesters take to the streets in Spain after five men dubbed 'the Wolf Pack' are cleared of r aping a teenager at the Pamplona bull run festival
Two of the men filmed the assault, during which the woman is shown silent and passive - a fact the judges interpreted as consent.
Defined by the absence of violence or intimidation, such an offence carried lighter penalties - but no longer exists in the reformed criminal code.
That initial verdict led to huge nationwide protests demanding reform.
In 2019, the Supreme Court overturned the verdict, convicting all five of r ape and increasing their sentences from nine years to 15 years each.
'At last our country legally recognises that consent is what needs to be at the centre of all our relationships,' said Equality Minister Irene Montero.
'No woman will ever have to prove that violence or intimidation was involved in order for it to be considered a s exual assault.'
Until now, r ape victims needed to prove that they had been subjected to violence or intimidation.
The new law also tightens the rules on street harassment, expands emotional and s exual education in schools and strengthens protection and compensation for victims of s exual violence.
Marisa Soleto, head of Fundacion Mujeres said it was the culmination of a 'long-awaited' demand of the feminist movement.
'We're hoping it will bring about a change in behaviour' both within Spain and beyond, she told AFP.
Spain is considered a pioneer in the fight against violence against women after in 2004 approving Europe's first law that specifically cracked down on domestic violence.
ETA sorry for the gaps in the trigger words .. if I don't do that, the forum auto censor will block them completely
Known as the 'Only yes means yes' law, the bill was given the green light by parliament with 205 votes in favour and 141 against after passing its first reading by lawmakers in May.
It involves a reform of Spain's criminal code that now defines r ape as s ex without clear consent.
Two of the men filmed the assault, during which the woman is shown silent and passive - a fact the judges interpreted as consent.
Defined by the absence of violence or intimidation, such an offence carried lighter penalties - but no longer exists in the reformed criminal code.
That initial verdict led to huge nationwide protests demanding reform.
In 2019, the Supreme Court overturned the verdict, convicting all five of r ape and increasing their sentences from nine years to 15 years each.
'At last our country legally recognises that consent is what needs to be at the centre of all our relationships,' said Equality Minister Irene Montero.
'No woman will ever have to prove that violence or intimidation was involved in order for it to be considered a s exual assault.'
Until now, r ape victims needed to prove that they had been subjected to violence or intimidation.
The new law also tightens the rules on street harassment, expands emotional and s exual education in schools and strengthens protection and compensation for victims of s exual violence.
Marisa Soleto, head of Fundacion Mujeres said it was the culmination of a 'long-awaited' demand of the feminist movement.
'We're hoping it will bring about a change in behaviour' both within Spain and beyond, she told AFP.
Spain is considered a pioneer in the fight against violence against women after in 2004 approving Europe's first law that specifically cracked down on domestic violence.
ETA sorry for the gaps in the trigger words .. if I don't do that, the forum auto censor will block them completely
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