Rapists can currently avoid jail time under one claim
Lawmakers in Ireland are planning to have certain sexual consent laws reformed to further protect people at risk of assault while in vulnerable positions according to the Irish Examiner.
The changes will be put forward to the Government by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to ensure that “people accused of rape will be far less likely to avoid jail due to claims that their victim “consented” while drunk.”
According to the report, a large number of sexual assault victims do not come forward to press charges because they were too drunk, asleep or unconscious at the time.
Although many still go to court, judges in Ireland currently have no legal definition of consent under these situations.
Ms. Fitzgerald said to the Examiner that the amendment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 will address the gap and a new legal definition of consent specifically addressing these issues will be drawn up.
The request also states that in the future no one can be considered to have consented to a sexual act if they are drunk, otherwise intoxicated, asleep, or unconscious.
Read more here
Related articles:
Court Rules Removal of Condom without Consent is Rape
Gang Raped British Woman Arrested for Extramarital Sex in Dubai
{ 0 comments… add one now }