European Parliament votes to define rape based on lack of consent

On Tuesday, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a standardized definition of rape across the European Union based on the absence of consent. The measure was approved with 447 votes in favor, 160 against, and 43 abstentions. MEPs have requested that the European Commission propose legislation to align member states' national laws with international standards, moving away from definitions strictly based on physical force or coercion. The report clarifies that silence, lack of resistance, or prior sexual history must not be interpreted as consent. It emphasizes that consent must be evaluated within specific contexts, including vulnerability due to disability, intoxication, sleep, or fear. Furthermore, the resolution highlights that trauma-induced reactions, such as freezing or resignation, must be recognized in legal practice. Additionally, the Parliament renewed its call to include gender-based violence in the official list of EU-wide criminal offenses.