Lower house supports changing definition of rape

The lower house of the Czech parliament has supported changing the definition of rape in Czech law to sex without consent rather than sex by force or physical coercion. The government proposal to redefine rape using a consent-based definition received support on Wednesday in the Chamber of Deputies in its preliminary reading. Another change proposed by the draft law is that all sexual activity with children under 12 years of age always be treated as rape or assault, rather than the less serious criminal offence of sexual abuse. The bill is now awaiting review by the Constitutional-Legal committee.