The matter became a topic of conversation in Spain last year, when the then president of the Spanish Football Association, Luis Rubiales, kissed star player Jenni Hermoso at the award ceremony of the Women’s World Cup.
The Spanish Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that kissing another person without their consent can be defined as sexual violence.
The Supreme Court upheld the verdict given by the lower court in Andalusia. The court had sentenced the police officer to one year and nine months in prison for sexual violence, because he had kissed a woman on the cheek while she was being held by the police.
“Kissing someone unexpectedly, in other words kissing without showing or expressing consent, is actually sexual violence,” the court says.
– When trying to kiss a woman, the victim does not need to say no, but rather consent is needed so that the act is not criminal.
The issue became a topic of conversation in Spain last year, when the then president of the Spanish Football Association Luis Rubiales suddenly kissed the star player Jenni Hermosoa at the award ceremony of the Women’s World Cup.
Rubiales claimed at the time that it was a consensual kiss on the lips. Hermoso denied this and sued Rubiales.
Rubiales’ trial begins in February. The prosecutors demanded a 2.5-year prison sentence for him – one year for sexual violence and 18 months for coercion.
Source: AFP