Bill to protect sexual freedom and end sexual violence

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would make any non-consensual sexual conduct a crime of sexual aggression, removing the current distinction between sexual aggression and sexual abuse. It would also create a crime of collective sexual aggression and punish street sexual harassment as a minor crime.
2. The bill would recognize everyone's right to sexual freedom, understood as the right to decide about one's own sexuality, and define sexual violence as any non-consensual sexual act, in any setting.
3. The bill would set up prevention and awareness plans in many areas: education, advertising, media, health care, work, the digital world and the military. Companies that prevent sexual harassment could receive a label and be exempt from liability if they meet certain conditions.
4. The bill would give victims rights to information, comprehensive social assistance, free legal aid and financial support. A report from social or health services would be enough to access them, with no need to go to court.
5. The bill would give victims labor rights: reducing or reorganizing their work hours, changing workplaces, suspending their contract with the right to return, or ending it, and justifying absences caused by the violence suffered.
6. The bill would guarantee victims' rights even if they are in an irregular administrative situation: they would not face sanction proceedings for being in Spain irregularly and could obtain residence and work authorization.
7. The bill would protect victims during the criminal process: avoiding eye contact with the aggressor, recording their statement so they do not repeat it at trial, banning irrelevant questions about their private life and protecting their personal data.
8. The bill would extend the jurisdiction of the courts on violence against women to sexual violence cases and create specialized courts and chambers. The Government would also have to evaluate the law after three years and collect detailed statistical data.

Who it affects

• Women victims of sexual violence: They would have rights to information, assistance, a free lawyer, financial aid, housing and labor rights.
• Workers: Companies would have to prevent sexual harassment, and victims could adjust their hours, change jobs or leave work with protection.
• Migrant women in an irregular situation: They would not be sanctioned for their administrative status and could get residence and work permits.
• Female public employees: They would have rights to reduced hours, transfer and leave due to sexual violence.
• Minors under 16: Sexual conduct against them would carry harsher penalties.

Words worth knowing

Agresión sexual (sexual aggression)

Under this bill, any act that violates a person's sexual freedom without their consent.

Revictimización (revictimization)

The extra harm a victim suffers when going through situations similar to the aggression again, such as testifying several times during the process.

Discriminación múltiple (multiple discrimination)

When a person faces discrimination for several reasons at once, such as sex, ethnic origin, disability or administrative status.

Asistencia jurídica gratuita (free legal aid)

Having a lawyer and court representative paid for by the State when you cannot afford the costs.

Excedencia (unpaid leave)

A situation where a worker temporarily stops working while keeping certain rights, with the possibility of returning to the job.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries