Criminal Code Amendment 2021: Only Yes Means Yes

Brief Description

Slovenia adopted the Act Amending the Criminal Code (KZ-1I) on 4 June 2021, introducing the affirmative consent model (“only yes means yes”) for rape and sexual violence offences in Slovenian criminal law. The model defining rape on the basis of consent replaced the obsolete coercion-based model that required a victim being forced into sexual intercourse by threat, coercion, or violence. These circumstances are now acknowledged as (a) qualified form(s) of rape. The relevant provisions of Slovenian Criminal Code are thus aligned with article 36 of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). The adopted amendment entered into force on 30 June 2021.