This petition was submitted during the 2019 to 2024 Parliament
Rejected petition Criminalize Rape
Rejected on
Under the UK legislation (Sexual Offences Act 2003), if a woman subjects a man to coercive sexual intercourse by what is known as "forced-to-penetrate", this is not classified, under law, as rape. However, it is rape: its method is the same as rape and its outcome for the victim is the same.
The issue of forced-to-penetrate has been studied by researchers. See report here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-49057533
Because forced-to-penetrate is not classified as rape, this means rape of a male victim by a woman is, in effect, decriminalized under UK law. Those those who commit this crime are not held to account.
It is important that a society not excuse rape; should hold rapists to account; and rape victims not be blamed. Yet current legislation does this to men who are raped.
Why was this petition rejected?
There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.
You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/556250
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.