Brussels, (Unib Rashid) — The European Parliament has adopted a clear, consent-based definition of sexual relations across Europe, stating that any act without freely given consent constitutes rape.

According to the newly approved definition, sexual activity is only considered lawful when consent is given freely, is informed, and can be withdrawn at any time—regardless of the nature of the relationship. In the absence of such consent, any act is deemed sexual violence.

During a session held in Strasbourg, 447 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in favor of the proposal, 160 opposed it, and 43 abstained.

MEPs urged member states that still rely on force-based definitions of rape to align their laws with international standards, including the Istanbul Convention, which was ratified by the European Union in 2023.

The Parliament also called for stronger support and protection mechanisms for victims and survivors across the EU. It emphasized that silence, lack of resistance, absence of a “no,” prior consent, past sexual behavior, or existing or previous relationships must not be interpreted as consent.

MEPs stressed that consent must be assessed within context, including situations involving violence, threats, abuse of power, intimidation, fear, unconsciousness, intoxication, drugging, sleep, illness, disability, or vulnerability.

They further argued that trauma responses—such as “freeze” or “fawn” reactions—must be recognized in legislation and judicial processes, reiterating their call to classify gender-based violence as an EU-level crime.

Evin Incir, representing the Civil Liberties Committee, stated: “It is morally and legally unacceptable that women in the EU are not protected by a ‘only yes means yes’ law.”

Similarly, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus from the Women’s Rights Committee highlighted that one in three women in the EU has experienced gender-based violence, and one in twenty has been raped.

She added that, inspired by survivors like Gisèle Pelicot, calls for action are growing, but more needs to be done to ensure justice and equal protection for all women across the European Union.