The country has a “pervasive ‘rape culture’ and endemic impunity for rapists,” according to an Amnesty International report to be released Tuesday about the Nordic nation, which has long been held up as a bastion for equality. The Danish Justice Ministry estimated in 2017 that some 5,100 rape cases occur in Denmark that year. The Amnesty report points to an “antiquated” legal definition of rape that judges whether an attack occurred based on the use of violence rather than the absence of consent. “Authorities must improve the treatment of rape victims during all stages of the legal process and also ensure that rape myths and gender stereotypes are challenged in all levels of society,” said Kumi Naidoo, secretary-general of Amnesty International. More and more women have begun to speak publicly about rape and sexual assault and, since 2016, several Danish newspapers have featured their stories.

Source: bd News24 March 05, 2019 07:41 UTC