Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice
Extend the legal definition of rape
Closed
841 signatures
What the petition asks
The current legal definition of rape is penetration with a penis of the vagina, anus or mouth. This definition prevents victims of sexual acts, which did not involve a penis, or physical penetration, from receiving justice. This requirement is outdated and fails to accommodate for these individuals.
We call on the Government to change the definition of rape to include all forms or sexual acts, even when it is non-penetrative and has not involved a penis.
Timeline
| 12 Mar 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 12 Sep 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
841
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
12 Mar 2021
Closed
12 Sep 2021
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.