- 45 percent of Swiss residents consider the consent principle “Only yes means yes” to be the best solution for protecting those affected from sexualised violence.
- This is the result of a representative survey by the research institute GFS Bern on behalf of Amnesty International Switzerland on the reform of sexual criminal law.
- Support for the reform is particularly high among women, boys and queer people, who are also objectively most affected by sexualised violence.
the Survey by JRC Bern shows: When it comes to protection against sexualized violence, the currently applicable coercion principle fails for a large proportion of those surveyed. The same applies to the rejection solution (“No means no”), which is being discussed as an alternative to the consent solution. “Only a small minority of 13 percent is in favor of maintaining the status quo in sexual criminal law,” Cloé Jans of JRC Berne was quoted as saying in a statement.
If you look at the answers by age and gender, you can see that half of the 18 to 39 year olds rate the consent solution as the best option for protecting those affected. For those over 65, it is 40 percent. Support for the yes-means-yes principle is particularly strong among women: 47 percent are in favor of it. For men it is 44 percent.
Questioning also indicates problematic behavior
According to the results of GFS Bern, the vast majority of those questioned stated that they behave considerately when it comes to relationships and sexuality. It is actively ensured that the other party agrees to sexual acts. “However, the study repeatedly reveals groups whose answers indicate problematic behavior and attitudes,” Cloé Jans is quoted as saying.
If the other person has consented to sex at some point in the past, around one in five people, for example, would rate this as at least consent. And: “Around every tenth person thinks that having sex with your partner is okay under certain circumstances, even if the other person has not currently consented to it.” Such problematic views are “significantly more widespread among men than among women,” writes the research institute in its statement.
Amnesty appeals to Parliament to take responsibility
As the survey also shows, a majority of those surveyed believe that Parliament is particularly called upon to combat sexualised violence in this country.
Amnesty International Switzerland, which commissioned the survey at JRC Bern, appeals to the Federal Councilors to assume their responsibilities. “A new sexual criminal law should be based on the realities and needs of the people who are most affected by sexualised violence and who now need improvement,” says Alexandra Karle, Managing Director of Amnesty Switzerland.
According to the announcement, Amnesty is actively committed to a consent solution in Swiss sexual criminal law and a redefinition of the offense of rape. The Council of States will discuss the reform in the summer session.