Consent Law

[Mary]

Hello, I know this is a campaigns site and probably not the best forum for my question, but i am writing my dissertation on the new sexual offences bill/ act and I was wondering if anyone could help. My dissertation title is 'Defining Consent: Has the sexual offences Bill finally got it right?'. I have covered a lot of old law and American law and talked a lot about 'provocative' behaviour and violence/ pressure but i have not really got much on the bill itself. Can anyone point me in the direction of any material that criticises/ supports the definition of consent in the bill? I personally think the definition is really awful- so unspecific and leaving a lot open to interpretation. It does not deal at all with defining what degree of pressure/ threat will be sufficient to inhibit the freedom to choose and basically does nothing to improve the stance that the courts already had. you agree? I have been reading a lot about how the current law puts a duty upon the victim to convey non-consent and suggestions that the way forward is an express verbal consent standard... you agree? I mostly need stuff that refers specifically to the new law defining consent and whether or not it is good enough. I would really appreciate any help, i obviously want my dissertation to be good, but i chose to do this subject as i have friends that have been raped and i have one friend that was drugged, but i managed to find her before anything happened. i am at an all girls college and issues like this are very close to the hearts of a lot of girls here. I want my dissertation to argue something that i can pass on in the campaign for better rape laws on consent.

Thank you, and good luck to you all.
Mx