MADRID – The Spanish Congress of Deputies has approved a new law against sexual violence, known as the law of “only yes is yes”: a norm which, among other things, abolishes, for example, the difference in the penal code between ” sexual abuse “(which does not include violence or intimidation and is associated with lighter sentences) and” sexual assault “(with violence, associated with more severe penalties), leaving only the latter in effect.
“It is a decisive law to change the sexual culture in our country”, said the Minister of Equality, Irene Montero. “We want to leave the culture of sexual violence behind and build a true culture of consent,” he added.
To bring the objective illustrated by Montero closer, the rule specifies what is meant by “express consent”. “It will be considered that there is consent when it has been freely expressed with deeds which, given the circumstances of the case, clearly express the will of the interested party”, reads the text of the legislative provision.
The only groups that voted against the rule were the Popular Party (center-right) and Vox (extreme right): the result was 201 votes in favor, 140 against and 3 abstentions. For final approval, the law will be subjected to a passage in the Senate, where no surprises are expected.