Finland to improve anti-rape legislation

HELSINKI: Finland has begun work to bring the country’s sexual assault legislation into line with international standards, by defining rape as sex without consent, the country’s justice minister said.

Although considered one of the world’s most gender-equal societies, Finland has come under fire for its legal definition of rape, which requires a victim to prove violence was used, or that they were in a state of fear and helplessness.

“In January, I decided that the justice ministry will begin a total reform of rape legislation,” Justice Minister Antti Hakkanen said during an event hosted by the rights group Amnesty International.

“The laws will be clearer than they currently are, and brought up to date, in part, by strengthening the role of consent,” Hakkanen said.

The proposal for the new law comes some time during the coming four-year parliamentary term, the justice ministry said.

Anger at Finland’s record on tackling sexual crimes came to a head in 2017 when a court ruled that a 23-year-old man who had sex with a 10-year-old was not guilty of rape because the child had not opposed intercourse with the attacker and violence was not used.

The man was given a two-year sentence for the lesser crime of sexual abuse.

The sentence was subsequently upheld on appeal.