Rape conviction rates rise 75% in Sweden after change in law

File picture: IANS

File picture: IANS

Published Jun 23, 2020

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London - Rape

conviction rates in Sweden have risen 75% in two years following

a major change in the law, spurring calls on Monday for other

countries to revamp their legislation.

Sweden changed the legal definition of rape in 2018 to sex

without consent. Unlike in many countries, prosecutors do not

have to prove the use or threat of violence or coercion.

The National Council on Crime Prevention (Bra) said the rise

in convictions - up from 190 in 2017 to 333 in 2019 - showed the

change had had a greater impact than expected.

"We were surprised there was such an increase," Bra senior

researcher Stina Holmberg said on Monday.

"It's a good sign. This has led to greater justice for

victims of rape," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation,

adding that she hoped the law would encourage discussions on the

issue of consent in schools and homes.

Women's rights campaigners called on other nations to follow

Sweden's example.

"This shows an urgent need for other countries to follow

suit," said Katarina Bergehed, senior policy adviser on women's

rights at Amnesty International in Sweden.

"Sexual activity must be consensual. Anything else is rape."

Britain, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Iceland,

Ireland and Luxembourg already define rape as sex without

consent, while Denmark, Finland, Spain and Portugal have

promised similar reforms.

'SHOCKINGLY LOW'

Bergehed said most people still thought of rape as an attack

by a stranger, but a review of court cases in Sweden showed

almost all victims knew their assailant.

"These stereotypes are not helping victims to step forward -

it makes them unsure of whether they really experienced rape or

not," she added.

Bergehed said many women also blamed themselves for what

happened, particularly if they had frozen and not fought back.

Police and courts often query a victim's story if she did

not retaliate, but there is growing evidence that many victims

experience temporary paralysis when raped.

Bergehed said a study by a Swedish emergency clinic for rape

victims showed 70% had experienced a "frozen fright" reaction.

While Bergehed welcomed the rise in convictions, she said

the overall number remained "shockingly low".

Reports of rapes rose to 5,930 in 2019 from 4,895 in 2017,

but Bergehed said this was the tip of the iceberg. She said

sexual crimes were not prioritised and investigations often

flawed, meaning few cases went to trial.

Police said last year they would recruit new staff to focus

on sexual crimes and domestic violence.

Sweden's 2018 rape law also introduced a new offence of

negligent rape for cases where courts found consent had not been

established, but that the perpetrator had not intended to commit

rape.

The Bra review showed 12 people had been convicted of this

offence.

Holmberg said senior judges needed to provide clearer

guidance to courts on the offence. 

Thomson Reuters Foundation

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