EU: Only Yes Means Yes!
To the European Commission and EU Member States
Petition
We call on you to:
- introduce an EU-wide law that defines rape based on consent - making clear that only yes means yes.
- ensure that all EU countries adopt a consent-based definition of rape, and close the legal gaps that fail survivors.
Why is this important?
Do you remember Gisèle Pelicot? [1]
For years, Gisèle’s husband drugged her and then “offered” her to dozens of men that raped her while she was unconscious. [2]
When the truth came out, she chose to speak publicly.
Her case exposed something deeply wrong. Before justice finally believed her, she had to spend days on end proving she had been raped. With videos, texts and testimonies. And it was a close call.
Why does the law still ask survivors to prove they fought back, instead of asking one simple thing: Did she agree to this?
Because in parts of Europe, that is still how rape is defined. Rape survivors - even the ones that were drugged, asleep or speechless - have to prove that they resisted. Nobody cares if they wanted to. [3]
But just days ago, a window for change opened. Lawmakers want to update the EU-wide definition: only “yes” means consent. [4]
This window won’t stay open for long. Gisèle Pelicot spoke out. Now it’s up to us to join her. Sign now to make sure only yes means yes - for everyone in Europe!
References:
[1] [2] https://www.lemonde.fr/en/global-issues/article/2026/02/11/gisele-pelicot-publishes-memoirs-after-mass-rape-trial_6750362_199.html ; https://www.bbc.com/afrique/articles/cjd9emv3e8zo
[3] https://www.eunews.it/en/2026/03/03/gender-based-violence-one-in-three-women-in-the-eu-is-a-victim-of-abuse-only-6-per-cent-of-them-report-it/
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/28/european-parliament-urges-eu-draw-up-standardised-consent-based-definition-rape ; https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/28/europe/rape-consent-yes-europe-latam-intl