The New German Law on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. Issue 6 (1st November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hörnle, Tatjana
• Is Part Of: German law journal. Volume 18:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 1309
• Page End: 1330
• Publication Date: 2017-11-01
• Subjects: Law -- Germany -- Periodicals; Law -- Europe -- Periodicals; Comparative law -- Periodicals; International law -- Periodicals; jurisprudence; 349.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S2071832200022355
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2071-8322

Abstract

Abstract : In 2016, the German parliament changed the law on sexual assault and rape (Sect. 177 StGB). The new law assumes a "no-means-no"-model, while the old law required coercion as a necessary feature of rape and other forms of sexual assaults. In addition, two new offense descriptions were introduced: sexual harassment (Sect. 184i StGB) and offenses out of groups (Sect. 184j StGB). In this Article, I describe the deficiencies of the old law, the process of law reform, and the newly enacted prohibitions.