License to rape?

Dear friends and allies,

We are nine million European women who have suffered rape. Our silence conceals unspeakable pain, but it's not our fault: any sexual act without consent is rape.

Now, a historic opportunity stands before us – the European Union is on the verge of passing a law that could champion the principle of consent. This would be massive. In Sweden, rape convictions soared by 75% after adopting this definition!

Shockingly, France and Germany's resistance threatens to weaken the law in the crucial vote just weeks away. 

Let’s all join and raise our voices, exposing their excuses, and compelling key French and German decision-makers to stand on the right side of history and make sure rapists face justice. Sign the call now, and invite everyone to join:

I support the survivors: sex without consent is rape

There is not a single country in the EU where we are free from sexual violence.

A quarter of European people think that our clothes can justify violence. Or that if we didn't struggle, it wasn't rape. This devastating system of thought has destroyed entire generations.

It doesn’t have to be that way. We have a chance to change the paradigm, and move from a culture of rape to a culture of consent. A consent-based definition of rape, applicable across the entire European Union is a vital step, and will help protect and heal us all – women, children, and men.

Let’s make it happen – join the call and Avaaz will deliver it to the key blocking countries:

I support the survivors: sex without consent is rape

From championing an ambitious plan to promote the freedom, safety, and equality of India's women and girls, to helping win a ban on the use and sale of emergency contraception in Honduras, to funding cutting-edge educational programs aimed to cut the number of rapes in half, our Avaaz community has stood up for the rights and well-being of women and girls everywhere.  Now let us all stand together to end the terrible double suffering experienced survivors of sexual assault or rape, and ensure their rights to heal and receive the support they need.

With hope and determination,

Mélanie, Antonia, Huiting, Nate and the whole Avaaz team

PS: In this campaign, we have chosen to use the generic feminine because 90% of victims are women, but this law will also benefit children and male victims.

More information:

• Violence against women: sex without consent is rape, say MEPs (Europarl Press Release)
• EU countries reject making non-consensual sex a criminal offense across the bloc (Politico) 
• Jurists Open Letter on the Legal basis of the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence and the article on the offence of rape (European Women's lobby)
• 27% of Europeans Think Rape Can Be Justifiable (The Time)
• Rape conviction rates rise 75% in Sweden after change in the law (Reuters)