European Parliament backs EU-wide consent-based definition of rape

BRUSSELS - European Parliament lawmakers voted on April 28 in favour of a consent-based definition of rape — known as “only yes means yes” - and urged the European Commission to propose legislation establishing EU-wide rules.

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The European Union adopted minimum standards to combat violence against women for the first time in 2024, but a proposed article to create a common definition of rape was dropped after opposition from several member states.

“Silence, lack of resistance, the absence of a ‘no’, previous consent, past sexual conduct, or any current or previous relationship must not be interpreted as consent,” the Parliament said in a statement after the vote on the report.