MADRID: The Spanish government on Tuesday approved the Act of Sexual Approval which aims to take action against sexual violence and harassment by codifying violations and adopting new punishment.
The bill supported at the cabinet meeting said, “Agreement is only recognized when someone has freely indicated through the action, in the context of the state of the case, clearly expresses the person’s will.” Legislation, known as the law “only mean yes”, now goes to parliament to debate and choose, maybe in September.
Government spokesman Maria Jesus Montero said the proposed law was “determining step forward” in women’s protection, which “made us, without doubt, better as a society.” “We have to change our sexual culture, put the approval of women in the middle of how we see something,” Montero said during a press conference.
The changes contained in the bill followed the construction in recent years on court decisions in the case of sex crimes.
In 2018, five people were sentenced to nine years in prison for lower sexual harassment crimes in cases that activists see as a rape of gangs during 2016 running the Bulls Festival in Pamplona.
“This is not abuse, rape!” The protesters shouted at that time.
The Spanish Supreme Court improves men’s sentences to 15 years after the prosecutor appeal.
Spanish law punishes non-consensual sex but is not clearly codified and depends on evidence of violence or intimidation to decide whether it is criminal acts and if so, the level of punishment.
The government hopes that the bill will eliminate the victim’s need to prove that they refuse or experience violence.
Any non-consensual sex will be considered as aggression under the proposal.
This sets a sentence that includes prison requirements of up to 15 years.
The bill also discusses for the first time sexual harassment on the road, identifies it as a mild violation that can be demanded on evidence of offended people.
Confidence will be punished by work and voluntary fine.
Legislation will also form a national crisis center for women who are open 24 hours a day throughout the year.
Women’s rights have become a political banner for the government of the Spanish socialist coalition, most of whom have a female cabinet.