There have recently been several demonstrations in Poland demanding a tightening of sexual criminal law – triggered by rape cases. Now a law has cleared an important hurdle that contains a key change.
In Poland, the House of Representatives voted by a clear majority to tighten the sexual criminal law. The members of the Sejm passed a law with 335 votes in favor and 44 against, according to which any sexual act without consent will be considered rape in Polish criminal law. The bill now has to be passed in the second parliamentary chamber, the Senate, and confirmed by the conservative President Andrzej Duda.
The law also provides for changes to the sentence for rape. In an initial version of the bill, it was proposed to increase the minimum sentence to three years. After changes, it will now be two years, reports the Polish broadcaster TVP. The upper limit for the sentence will be increased from twelve to 15 years.
Consent not yet mentioned in the law
The law was voted against by MPs from right-wing extremist parties and some MPs from the right-wing populist former ruling party Law and Justice (PiS). Representatives of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s governing coalition spoke of an important step for sexual self-determination in Poland.
The bill was introduced by the Left Party, which governs with Tusk’s Civic Platform (KO) and the conservative Third Way party. KO MP Monika Rosa had stated before the bill was passed that the amendment to the law would make it clear that “sexual acts without consent are simply rape.”
Until now, the Polish Criminal Code did not mention the consent of the partners and defined rape only as a sexual act that is forced by means of threats, deception or violence.
In Poland, there have been several demonstrations in recent months demanding a tougher criminal law. The triggers were cases of rape – such as that of a 14-year-old with a mental disability who became pregnant after being raped by her uncle, or the case of 25-year-old Liza, who died after being raped.