COPENHAGEN – Denmark strengthened rape laws on Thursday by criminalizing sex without explicit consent.
The new law passed by parliament extended the circumstances that could constitute rape – under the old law, prosecutors had to show that the rapist used violence or attacked someone who could not resist.
“It will now be clear that if both sides do not consent to sex, then it is rape,” Justice Minister Nick Haekkerup said in a statement.
A similar law introduced in neighboring Sweden in 2018 led to a 75% increase in rape convictions.
About 11,400 women a year are raped or attempted rape in Denmark, according to ministry figures.
Amnesty International has said that Denmark has become the 12th country in Europe to recognize non-consensual sex as rape.
“This is a wonderful day for women in Denmark, as it conveys outdated and dangerous rape laws in the trash of history and helps eliminate pervasive stigma and endemic impunity for this crime,” said Anna Blus, a researcher in the campaign group for women’s rights.
The law will come into force on January 1.