Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice
Change the law so women can be prosecuted for rape under the relevant Act
Closed
59 signatures
What the petition asks
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 states that only a man can commit rape. However, women can use other parts of the body to penetrate another person and use a male to penetrate themselves. Therefore, I think all penetration should be included in section 1 of the Act.
Currently, a woman can only be charged with other sexual offences. While some of these offences carry the same maximum sentence as rape, I think the law is highly discriminatory as it’s very phallocentric. The woman may be charged with what some consider a lesser offence as it isn't possible for them to be charged for rape. I believe this is not appropriate and unfair to victims.
Timeline
| 5 Apr 2024 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 29 May 2024 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
59
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
5 Apr 2024
Closed
29 May 2024
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.