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Picture of Linnea Wegerstad

Linnea Wegerstad

Senior lecturer

Picture of Linnea Wegerstad

Sense and Caution : A Comparative Perspective on Sweden’s Negligent Rape Law

Author

  • Linnea Wegerstad

Editor

  • Elisa Hoven
  • Thomas Weigend

Summary, in English

Many jurisdictions have broadened the scope of criminalized sexual violence through the introduction of consent-based models. At the same time, measures have been taken in regards to the subjective elements for criminal liability in answer to a common defence in rape cases: namely, that the defendant lacked knowledge of the other person’s lack of consent. While some jurisdictions have introduced limitations to the defence of mistaken belief in consent – for example, the ‘reasonable steps’ provision in Canada – other countries, like Sweden, have introduced negligence as a sufficient fault element for rape liability. This paper examines the recently established negligent rape law in Sweden as one instance of a trend: a move in sex crimes law towards introducing a duty of diligence for persons who initiate sexual acts. I use a rape case from a Swedish court of appeal to illustrate fault elements across jurisdictions and to discuss some implications of criminal law operating with a diligence standard.

Department/s

  • Law and Vulnerabilities
  • Health Law
  • Department of Law

Publishing year

2022

Language

English

Pages

119-126

Publication/Series

Consent and Sexual Offenses : Comparative Perspectives

Document type

Book chapter

Publisher

Nomos

Topic

  • Law

Keywords

  • Criminal law
  • Comparative law
  • Rape
  • Straffrätt
  • Komparativ rätt

Status

Published

Project

  • The #metoo momentum and its aftermath:digital justice seeking and societal and legal responses
  • #Metoo-skalvet och dess efterdyningar: Om brottsoffers sökande efter rättvisa och den samhälleliga och rättsliga responsen

Research group

  • Law and Vulnerabilities
  • Health Law

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 978-3-7489-3024-2
  • ISBN: 978-3-8487-8653-4