Rape remains one of the most widespread crimes worldwide, affecting one in ten women. Rape has been criminalized in the majority of countries, yet most of the perpetrators remain unprosecuted. Under international humanitarian and criminal law, it is widely understood that rape violates several human rights such as the right to bodily integrity, the right to autonomy (including sexual autonomy), and the right to privacy. The definitions of rape that are most commonly accepted today are based on the lack of consent, rather than on the presence of physical force, and such definitions prove to be most inclusive of all rape victims and ensure the prosecution of all perpetrators. However, such definitions evolved over time, beginning with the acknowledgment of rape as a war crime, and still continues to be revised to address issues with defining marital rape as a crime.

Read More