This is an important and representative figure since the adoption of a new law on sexual consent.
In July 2018, in Sweden, a consent law had been adopted. It consists in considering a person guilty of rape, even in the absence of threat or violence, as soon as he has performed a sexual act with another who has not participated in it "freely". This also includes the charge "negligent rape" which means "someone who should have been aware of the risk that the other person would not participate voluntarily. " Since the application of this law, Sweden has seen a 75% increase in rape convictions. Indeed, if in 2017 there were 190 convictions in the country, it was found in 2019 that 333 convictions for rape had taken place.
These figures come from a study by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention. Stina Holmberg, co-author of the study, told AFP: "It seems that, in most cases, this has filled a sexual abuse void." In 2019, 12 convictions for "negligent rape" were pronounced. But according to the researchers of this study, this law turns out not to be sufficient because it does not manage to make erase "the gray area" in many rape cases. Indeed, since these cases are often linked to a need and a lack of evidence, the law may not be entirely satisfactory in combating violence against women.
To strengthen the case law, researcher Stina Holmberg, believes that more and more cases should be brought to the highest level of justice in Sweden. If a clear evolution has been noted since this new law, many hope therefore more progress concerning the accompaniment of the victims and the conviction of the aggressors.