Cannabis policy reform in Germany: Political and constitutional discourses on decriminalisation and regulation strategies

There is relentless discussion in Germany about the right manner to deal with cannabis and its users. In 1994 and 2004, the Federal Constitutional Court reaffirmed the legal appropriateness of prohibition. However, since then, studies and data about the dangers and effects of cannabis use have quieted alarm, and Europe, alongside the once-prohibitive United States, has had its initial experiences with liberalised use of cannabis. Since the founding of the Schildower Kreis, a network of experts from science and practice, 122 German criminal law professors have petitioned the Bundestag for an Enquête Commission. The aim of this paper is, on the one hand, to provide insight into German narcotics law. On the other hand, the political arguments for sticking to prohibition are contrasted with the numerous empirical findings that are now available. The results of the empirical studies now challenge the Federal Constitutional Court and the legislature to review their previous course and possibly break new ground in drug policy. The basis of the Federal Constitutional Court’s decisions no longer exists. The Narcotics Act and constitutional discourse on cannabis prohibition need to be reviewed, as do political arguments about resources and high costs. Indications of a paradigm shift in drug policy, as required by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, are hesitantly appearing in Germany.

Punishment, rewards and the importance of desert

We tend to think that if we are rewarded or punished, it is due to the fact that we deserve it – that we did something that merits such praise or blame. In this article, I am interested in its relationship with criminal responsibility and criminal punishment. Whilst desert is an important concept in criminal responsibility its importance is, at times, undeveloped. My aim in this work is not to reject desert or deny its importance in criminal punishment. Instead, I will rework the concept of desert defended mainly by retributivism. I will approach this issue by considering the problem of desert in relation to rewards and punishment. Furthermore, I distinguished between two particular ways in which desert plays different and important roles: formal desert and material desert.

Reforming the rape offence in Norwegian criminal law

This article addresses the content, context and development of the Norwegian rape offence to frame and explain current reform discussions. The authors describe how the offence has gradually expanded over time by partial reforms, the last in 2000, leading up to the contemporary stand of law. The article shows that the role and priorities of the feminist movement has had consequences for how the rape offence has developed. There are currently debates on whether to further revise the rape offence. While debaters share the view that rape is a serious offence and that more should be done to combat it, they are divided in how they see the potential and role of law; some debaters emphasise law as a practical instrument, others instead focus more on its symbolic functions. The authors argue that both perspectives are legitimate and needed, and see this acknowledgment as key for moving debates forward.

Rape in Finnish criminal law and process - A discussion on, and beyond, consent

Chapter 20 of the Finnish Criminal Code, which regulates sexual offences, is currently undergoing structural changes. Focusing on the section of rape, this article investigates the amendments proposed by the Ministry of Justice in 2020 in the light of the current Finnish legislation, legal practice, supranational normative developments and societal change. Lessons are drawn from a recent research project about the attrition of sexual violence in the Finnish criminal process by a research team at the University of Turku. The article welcomes the increased emphasis on voluntariness, contextuality, power imbalances and communication in the suggested draft law. It also criticises some weaknesses of the draft legislation. Conclusively, it proposes further action to improve legal clarity and strengthen the enforcement of a new legal conceptualisation of sexual violence.

The rape law revision in Denmark: Consent or voluntariness as the key criterion?

The adoption of a consent-based rape provision in the Danish Penal Code has gradually gained sufficient political support. The overall objective behind the law reform is to render better protection of the right to sexual self-determination and sexual integrity. However, in the recent run-up towards a political agreement, a sharp dividing line has separated the proponents of change due to a heated controversy with regard to the choice of the term to be used in the revised criminal law provision, i.e., ‘consent’ or ‘voluntariness’. The disagreement has caused a protracted deadlock in the reform process. This article examines the polarising opinions in the debate and compares the potential impacts of the debated models. It will be demonstrated that the demarcation line between the two opposing parties in the debate concerning the choice of the appropriate terminology has been drawn unnecessarily sharp. The reach of the amended rape legislation will not merely depend on the wording of the rape provision but will, at least in part, depend on the clarifications provided in the preparatory works. Ultimately, the courts will have to clarify the legal implications of an individual’s passivity in a sexual encounter and address the adequate assessment of sexual encounters taking place against the backdrop of psychological violence and abuse.

Swedish rape legislation from use of force to voluntariness - critical reflections from an everyday life perspective

After decades of debate and reforms on the rape legislation, a shift from a use of force-based into a consent-based rape offence (with voluntariness as the decisive criteria) entered into force in Sweden in July 2018. The aim of this article is to review and critically analyse Swedish statutory regulation of rape, starting in the historical development and debates as a backdrop. The authors take their starting point in critique put forward within the field of feminist legal studies and uses an everyday life perspective to examine some of the assessments made in the preparatory work in the decisions made on how to best protect the individual’s right to personal and sexual integrity and sexual self-determination. The analysis shows that a male rationale permeates the preparatory works and points at a need for further research on the criterion of voluntariness and its presumptions on autonomy.

Introduction

Introdcution.

Legislation on the offence of rape in Icelandic criminal law

In recent years the concept of rape has been frequently discussed in Iceland. The chapter on sexual offences in the Icelandic General Penal Code (GPC) was revised in its entirety in 1992 and 2007, and important amendments were made on the provision on rape, section 194 of the GPC. The amendments in 2007 included a new, broad definition of the concept of rape, which was intended to cover all incidents where sexual intercourse or other sexual relations were performed against the victim’s will. In 2018 amendments were made on section 194 on rape, where the word “consent” was included in the provision. This does not constitute a substantive change since lack of consent was already an underlying element of the provision due to the amendments in 2007. The article addresses the academic discussion and societal views that were the precursor of these amendments, evaluates the current provision and discusses whether further amendments are needed.

Child-friendly Justice and Procedural Safeguards For Children in Criminal Proceedings: New Momentum for Children in Conflict with the Law?

Child-friendly justice has its focus on on the effective participation of children in justice systems. During the past decade the concept, grounded in international children’s rights, has become meaningful for justice systems in Europe and beyond. Despite its flaws and gaps, it has the potential of making justice systems more accessible for children, including the (juvenile) criminal justice system with its particular complexity. However, in order to understand its true potential more research is needed. This article elaborates on the concept of child-friendly justice and sheds light on a research agenda around its core elements.