“Only yes is yes” law in Spain leads to retroactive sentence reduction Even animals can make comedy: the winners of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

The most recent tightening of the Spanish sex criminal law, which against the intentions of the legislator has led to numerous reductions in sentences, including for already convicted offenders, continues to cause concern. The Supreme Court stated on Wednesday in the motivation of a judgment that the mitigating application of the new law was “compelling”. However, this must be checked individually in each case. The 152-page statement of reasons for the verdict was available to the German press agency.

The court sentenced two men to nine years and one day in prison for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl. The judges rejected the prosecutor’s request for ten years in prison citing the lesser penalties of the new “Only yes is yes” law. The application of this more lenient penalty is mandatory because the law that is more favorable to the person concerned always applies retroactively.

The unexpected consequences of the “Only yes is yes” law have left Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s left-wing government in trouble. The rules, which came into effect in October and are designed to better protect women against many forms of sexual violence and harassment that were previously not punishable, also set lower minimum sentences for existing offenses in some cases. Since then, dozens of convicted offenders have received reduced sentences. Some were even released early.

Equal Opportunities Minister Irene Montero, from whose house the new law originates, accused judges who decided to reduce sentences of “machism”. The government has meanwhile announced its intention to supplement the law with a passage about the intentions to amend the law. However, experts assumed that this would have little effect, as reported by the newspaper “El País”. (saw/sda/dpa)