Greece’s definition of rape may change so that it is no longer focused on consent and may thus potentially ease punishments for those convicted of rape.
Amnesty International has already expressed concern over the proposed changes to the legal definition of rape in the Greek penal code. The organisation states that they “are focused on resistance and violence rather than lack of freely given consent.”
A report by Amnesty International states that the proposed change to the legal definition of rape in Greece would be a “significant step backwards” as rape as a product of blackmailing or other non-violent threats may go unpunished.
READ MORE: Amnesty wants to change definition of rape in Greece
The Greek legal definition of rape currently states that it takes place when there is “corporal violence or with threat of great and imminent danger coerces another to intercourse or to tolerance or action of another indecent act, is punished with incarceration.”
Should the proposed change take place, rape will be defined as an act where “corporal violence or threat of great and imminent danger to a person’s life or bodily integrity coerces another to attempt or tolerate a sex act is punished with incarceration.”
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A “sex act” would be defined as “intercourse and acts of equal gravity to this.”
Bloomberg reports that the bill would pass in Parliament on Thursday.