German Lawmakers Approve 'No Means No' Rape Law

Commander Wallace · 07-07-16, 07:54 AM

German lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that will make it easier to file criminal complaints regarding sexual assaults if they rejected their attacker's advances with a clear "no."

The bill was in response to attacks in the city of Cologne over the course of New Year's celebrations.

Prosecutors in Cologne received more than 1,100 criminal complaints following the New Year's assaults, including about 500 allegations involving sexual crimes. The first trial for sexual assault — against two men from Algeria and Iraq — began Thursday in Cologne.

" Quote " German law previously required victims to show that they physically resisted attack before charges for rape and other sexual assaults could be brought. Women's rights campaigners argued that Germany's failure to recognize the principle of "no means no" was one of the main reasons for low reporting and conviction rates for rape in the country.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016...-law.html?_r=0

" Quote"

Under the new law, prosecutors and courts can take into account that a victim didn't resist assault because they were incapacitated, surprised or feared greater violence if they objected.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016...-law.html?_r=0

Hopefully other European countries will adopt a similar stance on protecting their populace if they haven't already. There is no doubt Germany got this legislation right but does it go far enough ?

07-07-16, 07:54 AM	#1
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,294 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	German Lawmakers Approve 'No Means No' Rape Law German lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that will make it easier to file criminal complaints regarding sexual assaults if they rejected their attacker's advances with a clear "no." The bill was in response to attacks in the city of Cologne over the course of New Year's celebrations. Prosecutors in Cologne received more than 1,100 criminal complaints following the New Year's assaults, including about 500 allegations involving sexual crimes. The first trial for sexual assault — against two men from Algeria and Iraq — began Thursday in Cologne. " Quote " German law previously required victims to show that they physically resisted attack before charges for rape and other sexual assaults could be brought. Women's rights campaigners argued that Germany's failure to recognize the principle of "no means no" was one of the main reasons for low reporting and conviction rates for rape in the country. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016...-law.html?_r=0 " Quote" Under the new law, prosecutors and courts can take into account that a victim didn't resist assault because they were incapacitated, surprised or feared greater violence if they objected. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016...-law.html?_r=0 Hopefully other European countries will adopt a similar stance on protecting their populace if they haven't already. There is no doubt Germany got this legislation right but does it go far enough ? Last edited by Commander Wallace; 07-07-16 at 08:13 AM.