The Riigikogu Legal Affairs Committee decided to amend the consent law bill. The bill stipulates that sexual relations without consent constitute rape. The committee supplemented the bill with a clause explaining the meaning of consent.
The committee chairman Madis Timpson said the bill still needs further amendments. He emphasized that sexual relations without consent are rape. Hopefully, this will give victims the courage to report the crime and initiate criminal proceedings.
The committee decided that consent must have four characteristics. Consent must be informed, voluntary, expressed, and maintained throughout the act. Consent must be clearly expressed before sexual intercourse or other acts of a sexual nature.
In addition, the committee initiated an amendment to define acts of a sexual nature. Acts of a sexual nature include sexual intercourse and other activities with sexual meaning. These acts harm another person's sexual self-determination.
A third amendment postpones the entry into force of the law. The law will enter into force on January 1, 2027.
The committee decided to send the bill for a second reading on June 3. When the second reading is completed, the committee will conduct a final vote on June 10.