Italian MPs vote to expand definition of sexual violence on Wednesday

On Wednesday, the Italian parliament, with the participation of members of the far-right Brothers of Italy party and the center-left Democratic Party, supported an initiative to expand the definition of sexual violence. The decision will facilitate reporting procedures for sexual crimes by removing the obligation for victims to prove physical force during attacks. The proposal does not change the penalties for rape, which remain at the level of imprisonment for a certain period of time.

Source  Eurointegration 

This reform was a response to public outrage caused by several controversial court decisions in rape cases. One recent appellate court decision overturned the acquittal of a man accused of rape because the victim allegedly should have recognized the risk. These cases, in particular, have emphasized the need to change the law to better protect victims. After being passed in the lower house, the draft now awaits a vote in the upper house of parliament, where it will decide whether it will become law.