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14 March 2006
The Government has launched a hard-hitting campaign focusing on the issue of consent in rape cases.
The advertising campaign, which will run until the end of April, will make clear the consequences of not ensuring you have the other person's consent before having sex.
Following the Sexual Offences Act 2003, there is now a much clearer definition of consent. A defendant in a rape case needs to show that they have reasonable grounds to believe that the other person has given their consent. Consent is an active yes, and not an assumption of agreement.
The campaign is primarily aimed at men aged 18 -24 and will run in lads' magazines, pub restrooms and on the radio. The radio adverts will run in early evenings and weekends, to reach their target audience as they get ready to go out.
Launching the campaign, Fiona Mactaggart, Home Office minister, commented, 'For a long time, work to raise awareness of sexual violence has focused on the need for women to take responsibility for their personal safety. That is still important, but I believe that we need to start putting the onus onto men and make them aware of their responsibilities.
'I want young men to see these adverts and realise that they should not be having sex unless they have secured the consent of the other person. Our campaign is not saying "don't have sex"; it is about ensuring that sex is mutually agreed.'
The hard-hitting campaign posters:
