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SP National Councilor Tamara Funiciello lobbies for revision of the Sexual Penal Law. She has collected celebrities in front of the camera.
Danny SmurfEditor’s Sunday view
It’s actually very simple, says actress Melanie Winiger (43) at the beginning of the film. Rapper Knackeboul (40) takes it upon himself: “My body belongs to me.” SP national councilor Tamara Funiciello (32 years old) reverses the perspective and points to the camera: “Your body is yours!”
Six other celebrities deliver their own short sentences. The 60-second video is powerful, serious and political. Tamara Funiciello brought celebrities in front of the camera. The message: “Only yes means yes.” Singer Naomi Lareine (28) says: “It’s about protection from violence.”
With their performance, the personalities of culture and politics enter the ongoing debate on the revision of the sexual criminal law. Already today it is clear: the law is getting tougher. Minimum penalties and statute of limitations increase. The focus is on the concept of rape. In the future, it should include male victims. And it should be tight.
The question is: how?
The Council of States must have the books
Today, a sexual act is considered rape only if the victim is forced to do so through physical or psychological pressure. If the Federal Council and the Council of States prevail, a “no” from the victim should be sufficient in future: if the victim expresses her refusal verbally or non-verbally, sex is defined as rape – even without violence or violence psychological pressure. “No means no” is the formula.
But that’s not enough for the PS, the Greens and women’s organizations like Alliance F. They require explicit consent as a requirement for consensual sex. “Many victims absolutely cannot express their displeasure because they are in shock,” says Tamara Funiciello. She is therefore clear to her: “Only yes means yes.”
In October, the majority of the National Council’s legal affairs committee approved this solution. The grand chamber will discuss it next week. If the National Council accepts the proposal, the Council of States will have to review the accounting books.
“I want it to be in the law”
Various organizations are lobbying them: The UN Commission on Women’s Rights calls on Switzerland to adopt the principle “Only yes means yes”. On Monday, Amnesty International and Operation Libero, together with 50 other organisations, presented a “warning bell to Parliament” to the Federal Chancellery. There was also Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (58), candidate for the Federal Council of the PS.
Now the SP is launching the celebrity video. Protagonists want every voice to be taken seriously – “by our partners, law enforcement and the law”. Drag Queen Paprika (25) says, “It takes communication, awareness and respect.” Melanie Winiger says that “only yes means yes” is a matter of course and belongs to the law.
Why this movie?
“It should demonstrate to Parliament that the company is ready,” says Tamara Funiciello. “Our demand is so obvious, people from all walks of life are campaigning for it.” According to Funiciello, it is important that this consensus solution shifts attention from the victims to the perpetrators. Singer Naomi Lareine says, “It goes without saying that they only have sex with each other if everyone involved wants it. I want it to be in the law, that’s what I’m committed to.”
Caroni suspects an unnecessary criminalization
If Andrea Caroni (42) does his own thing, the “No is No” should become law. The FDP Council of States helped shape the review. “Our reform is a great success,” underlines Caroni. “But I think this last additional request from the PS is unnecessary.” The “No means no” solution covers all cases, Caroni says. “The consent solution, on the other hand, leads to unnecessary criminalization and legal uncertainty.” Which variant is ultimately in the law is not decisive for him: “The fundamental thing is that the reform passes, and it will.
Even Funiciello and his celebrities believe it. But they want to finish the journey. For her it is clear: “Only yes means yes.”
