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Danish Parties Push for Mandatory Consent Law Education in Schools
🇩🇰 Denmark /Culture & Society

Danish Parties Push for Mandatory Consent Law Education in Schools

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Several Danish parties want to make consent law education mandatory in public schools.
  • A study shows many young men struggle to understand consent without verbal cues.
  • Some parties advocate for revising the law, not just increasing education, citing difficulties with the concept of

Danish political parties are pushing for mandatory education on the country's consent law in public schools, aiming to improve understanding among young people.

Of course, we must acknowledge that when many find it difficult, it requires more information.

— Karina LorentzenSF's legal spokesperson on the need for more education about the consent law.

The call comes as a study by the Danish Council on Crime Prevention revealed that four in ten men under 20 find it difficult to interpret non-verbal consent. This highlights a perceived gap in education and awareness regarding sexual consent.

Parties like the Socialist People's Party (SF), the Social Liberals, the Red-Green Alliance, and The Alternative support integrating consent law into the curriculum. SF's legal spokesperson, Karina Lorentzen, acknowledged that "many find it difficult, so it requires more information." Similarly, Maria Georgi Sloth of the Social Liberals stated, "If there is doubt among youth about consent, then the consent law is not the problem; it is education, upbringing, and prevention that we must address."

If there is doubt among youth about consent, then the consent law is not the problem; it is education, upbringing, and prevention that we must address.

— Maria Georgi SlothThe Social Liberals' legal and equality spokesperson on the importance of education.

However, the Danish People's Party and the National Association of Defense Attorneys believe the law itself needs revision rather than just more education. Anders Vistisen, the Danish People's Party's legal spokesperson, argued, "Unlike SF, we do not believe the legislation is ideal as it is now." The defense attorneys' association has previously suggested that the concept of "voluntariness" is easier to grasp than "consent."

Unlike SF, we do not believe the legislation is ideal as it is now.

— Anders VistisenThe Danish People's Party's legal spokesperson on the need for legislative revision.

The consent law, enacted in December 2020, criminalizes sexual intercourse without consent. Previously, cases were decided based on evidence of violence, coercion, threats, or a victim's defenseless state. The new law shifts focus to the accused's behavior, assessing whether consent was secured for the sexual act.

Our position is that the concept of 'voluntariness' is a bit easier to understand than 'consent.'

— Kåre PihlmannThe chairman of the National Association of Defense Attorneys on the complexity of the consent law.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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