Challenges of Rape Law Reform

About the workshop:

The workshop aims to explore the changing landscape of rape law in Europe and the United States by offering a critical platform for discussion and analysis. The goal is to foster an understanding of how consent has been incorporated into the legal systems of different countries and to discuss best practices and strategies. We will focus on the following key topics:

• Incorporating consent into national laws and the diverse approaches taken;
• Underlying models of consent, such as attitudinal or affirmative consent, and “no means no” models;
• Addressing complex situations related to consent, including disability, intoxication, deception, and surprise;
• Using comparative analysis to determine best practices and areas for improvement.

Participants will exchange ideas and share their experiences. By engaging in critical discussions, we aim to identify areas in which legal frameworks may reveal shortcomings and to pin-point potential avenues for improvement.

Note: This workshop is exclusively organized for invited guests. It is not open to the public.

Contributions:

Stephen Schulhofer

There and Back Again: Sex Crime Law Reform and Counterreform in Spain
Patricia Faraldo-Cabana

Rape Law Reform in Slovenia: The Affirmative Consent Model and Accompanying Dilemmas
Matjaž Ambrož

Five Years after Rape Law Reform in Sweden: Was Consent a Quick Fix?
Linnea Wegerstad

A Typical Swiss Compromise: The “No means No-plus” Model
Nora Scheidegger