Norway has tightened its rape laws by criminalizing sexual intercourse without explicit consent, joining a growing list of countries to expand the definition of sexual assault.
Until now, to secure a rape charge, prosecutors had to show that the assailant used force or threatened to use force, or had sexual intercourse with someone who was unable to resist.
Under the new law passed by parliament, anyone who has sexual intercourse with someone who has not consented to it by word or deed can be convicted of rape, even without violence.
Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have all introduced consent-based rape laws in recent years.
In 2018, Sweden changed the legal definition of rape to sex without consent — a change that officials said led to a 75 percent increase in rape convictions.
Denmark followed in 2020 by passing a law that expanded the circumstances that could constitute rape.
