Austrian Minister supports sexual criminal law reform

Austrian Family Minister Claudia Bauer (ÖVP) has expressed support for a proposed reform of sexual criminal law, which includes the introduction of a consent-based principle, often referred to as ‘Only Yes means Yes’. Bauer stated she welcomes any tightening of the law that shifts focus from stigmatizing victims to holding perpetrators accountable and closing existing legal loopholes.

The SPÖ has submitted a draft law for coordination within the governing coalition. While there has been some confusion regarding the exact stage of the legislative process, an working group has been established to discuss specific legal enhancements. Bauer clarified her previous comments regarding a specific case involving minors, noting that while she doubted the consent principle would have changed the outcome in that particular instance, she remains open to broader reforms.