European Parliament calls for EU-wide consent-based rape definition

10 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Apr 28

A report urging a standardised "only yes means yes" definition passed with 447 out of 720 MEPs in Strasbourg, highlighting gaps in eight EU countries including Italy and Hungary.
The move aims to align all member states with international standards, following high-profile cases like Gisle Pelicot's in France and recent legal reforms in Finland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
Despite strong parliamentary support, the European Commission faces pressure to act after previous government opposition; currently, only 0.5% of rapes in Europe lead to conviction, underscoring the need for reform.

Could the EU's new 'only yes means yes' rape law endanger the presumption of innocence?

Is the EU overstepping its authority by defining rape for 27 sovereign member states?

What happens if EU nations like Hungary and Bulgaria reject the new consent-based rape law?

Will a unified EU law actually protect victims who are drugged into silence?

With conviction rates at 0.5%, will this new law truly bring more rapists to justice?

Beyond changing laws, how will Europe combat the victim's 'freeze response' in courtrooms?