Majority backs new rape law

Focus of the new legislation will shift from saying ‘No’ to saying ‘Yes’

Kaukab Tahir Shairani

Sep 2, 2020

A parliamentary majority has backed the new law on rape presented on Tuesday, DR reports.

The minister of justice, Nick Hækkerup, presented the legislation along with support parties Radikale, Socialistisk Folkeparti and Enhedslisten.

Onus on ‘Yes’, not ‘No’
The minister said that the law, if passed, will be a “huge step towards equality”.

He added that if a participant in sexual intercourse does not obtain consent prior to intercourse, they shall be convicted of rape.

In addition, the law will shift the focus from saying ‘No’ to saying ‘Yes’.

Support from left
Enhedslisten’s legal spokesperson, Rosa Lund, reiterated the minister’s point of view. She said the new law focuses on instances when there is doubt about consent.

Kristian Hegaard, the spokesperson for Radikale, deemed the new law “legal history”, claiming that about 6,000 to 24,000 cases of sexual abuse happen every year, but only 1,000 are reported.

What is consent?
The legislation further states that consent can be firmly established by asking, or established indirectly by means of behaviour.

“Kisses, touches, pleasing sounds and relevant movements can be expressions of consent,” the proposal reads.

However, kissing does not qualify as consent on its own – for example, were it to occur hours before sexual intercourse takes place.

TOP STORIES

Tunø: An island running out of time

The island of Tunø harbors a community of 74 adults and one child. There are no cars and only one connection to the rest of the world. Now, climate change threatens it
Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

The number of relocations across the Øresund Region is rising. As highlighted by 2023 numbers, Sweden benefits from a growing interest, especially among younger generations.
In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

He’s tickled our funny bone with countless wisecracks and clever wordplay, and in the process, made Denmark feel a little more personable to many expats. An international import himself, funny man Conrad Molden has successfully carved out a niche for himself on the Danish stand-up scene, but it’s taken a solid 13 years, much trial and error, and heaps of Danglish
Here Comes The Sun…

I escaped from Denmark this winter to the south of France, where I was convinced that the sunshine would inspire me to write this year’s Crazy Christmas comedy show.
Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rhymes with integrating

On Wednesday, April 30, from 17:00 to 20:00, Studenterhuset will host Volunteer Night 2025, a free event organized by the organization International House Copenhagen, which goal is to ease the relocation process for newcomers in Denmark
The international who shaped Copenhagen

Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Career

Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

With half of its staff being international, the BioInnovation Institute reflects Denmark’s broader transformation into a global innovation hub. But can the country—and Europe—keep up the pace? “If reforms are made now, we can close the gap in ten years,” explains BII’s CEO
International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

Many internationals come to Denmark to work as designers, but the field appears to be one of the hardest to break into. The Copenhagen Post spoke with two internationals struggling to find their way into the industry.
This rural town in Denmark has a 17 percent international workforce — Here’s how

With a low unemployment rate and aging population, the municipality is actively recruiting workers from abroad to fill essential roles and support long-term growth