Sexual violence bill gets green light from lower house and now passes to senate.Italy's lower house on Wednesday gave unanimous approval to a bill that introduces the concept of consent into the definition of sexual assault, defining sex without consent as rape.There were 227 votes in favour and none against the bill which was the result of a bipartisan agreement between premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) and the opposition, centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) party led by Elly Schlein. The bill, which must also be passed by the senate before becoming law, marks a shift from previous legislation that has focused on physical coercion or threats. The amended text states that anyone charged with committing or inducing sexual acts without "the free and current consent" of the other person will face between six and 12 years in prison. "This new text represents a great cultural change, because too often we have witnessed women being forced to justify themselves even in the face of the violence they have suffered" - said Michela Di Biase (PD) who presented the bill with Carolina Varchi (FdI) - adding: "Sex without consent is rape." The approval of the bill in the chamber of deputies comes a week before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women which is held annually on 25 November.

Italy's lower house on Wednesday gave unanimous approval to a bill that introduces the concept of consent into the definition of sexual assault, defining sex without consent as rape. There were 227 votes in favour and none against the bill which was the result of a bipartisan agreement between premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) and the opposition, centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) party led by Elly Schlein. The bill, which must also be passed by the senate before becoming law, marks a shift from previous legislation that has focused on physical coercion or threats. The amended text states that anyone charged with committing or inducing sexual acts without "the free and current consent" of the other person will face between six and 12 years in prison. "This new text represents a great cultural change, because too often we have witnessed women being forced to justify themselves even in the face of the violence they have suffered" - said Michela Di Biase (PD) who presented the bill with Carolina Varchi (FdI) - adding: "Sex without consent is rape." The approval of the bill in the chamber of deputies comes a week before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women which is held annually on 25 November.