The debate post expresses the writer’s opinions.
(iFinnmark): In Norway today there is almost impunity for rape. It is overtime that we look at the rule of law’s handling of rape cases.
In Norway, it seems that rape is treated as a trivial matter. Not only does the law not require that no means no, but in court rape is assessed based on the rape victim’s choice on the same day, not the rapist’s intentions to rape.
If I want to go out on the town with friends, feel nice, flirt with people, and drink alcohol, then I damn well have to be allowed to! But, in today’s society there is no room for that.
In Norway, I and many others have to risk assess whether we are going out on the town, what we are going to wear, whether we are going to flirt with the person in the corner, how much we can drink – whether we might be raped tonight or not.
Also read: It’s not about sex
In today’s legal system, it often takes a struggle to achieve justice in rape cases. There must have been physical resistance to the abuse in order to have a chance of obtaining a conviction in the Norwegian rule of law.
Such an approach to what rape is undermines the fact that sex without consent is rape. As a result, the victims, mainly women, are often forced to undergo intrusive questions in the courtroom. Essentially questions that delve into their attire, alcohol intake and other irrelevant factors.
We need a consent act
It is not only a problem that rape victims are invaded by irrelevant and derogatory questions, but it is very problematic that this means that women do not report rapes.
In Norway, 1 in 5 women experience rape, but only 2 in 10 choose to report it, and over 60 percent of the cases are dropped. We need a consent act that gives victims the strength and clarity to report the abuse they experience.
Read also: We need to talk about sex and the body
A consent act will establish a clear and legally defined standard for what consent means. By requiring clear consent before any form of sexual activity, a consent law will reduce the risk of inaccuracies.
This is not only about establishing that no means no legally, but also about promoting a cultural change where consent is the norm, and any form of action without consent is considered unacceptable.
A consent law will send powerful signals to society about the commitment to culture change! We must change attitudes and perceptions around sex and consent.
Respect, boundary setting, voluntariness and the word “no” must be embedded in all forms of sexual activity. If Norway as a society is to combat sexual harassment and assault, we must have a law that states that no means no! It will not only give the victims the justice they deserve, but will also be a powerful response to the wretched sex culture we have.
It is time for Norway to take a forward-looking step and introduce a consent act. If Norway is to move away from the trivialized, misleading and destructive sex culture, we must do something now. If I want to go to a party, without having to risk assessing whether a rape will happen; then we must have a consent act now!
