Men Can Be Raped By Women. Women Can Be Raped By Other Women. The Law Has To Change.

Petition: Change the definition of rape to cover forceful envelopment of a penis or digit

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 defines rape as the penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth of another person with a penis. By this definition, a woman cannot rape a man or another woman. The law should be changed to include the forceful envelopment of a penis or digit

For British citizens only.

Rape laws in the UK are sexist. As defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003:

Section 1 makes it an offence for a person (A) intentionally to penetrate with his penis the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) without that person’s consent if A does not reasonably believe that B consents. Subsection (2) provides that whether a belief in consent is reasonable is to be determined having regard to all the circumstances, including any steps A has taken to ascertain whether B consents. This and the offence in section 5 are the only offences that can only be committed by a male, because they relate to penile penetration. Subsection (3) provides that sections 75 and 76 apply to this offence. Sections 75 and 76 deal with evidential and conclusive presumptions about consent.

The Crown Prosecution Service describes rape as:

The elements of rape are:

(A) intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis; (B) does not consent to the penetration, and (A) does not reasonably believe that (B) consents

Penetration of the mouth is included.

This petition seeks to change this sexist and outdated definition of rape. 

It closes on the 22nd of August 2017, so please sign it if you can, or share it so British followers can sign it!

Men can be raped by women. Women can be raped by other women. The law has to change.