What is the difference now that rape has been defined as a crime against persons?
The old rape law defined rape as a crime against chastity. It was a direct translation form the old Spanish Penal Code and was outdated in the sense that it defined rape as a crime against chastity. Chastity is a sexist standard which categorizes women to either being “chaste” (clean; a “good” woman) or unchaste (dirty; a “bad” woman). Hence, it perpetuates discrimination against women. With the change in law defining rape as crimes against persons, it recognizes the crime against the person itself—as abuse to a woman’s human’s rights , a violation against the very person’s right to life, security, health. The new definition also works towards the non-judgemental, gender-sensitive, and successful prosecution of all women survivors of rape—whether they have had previous sexual relations, they are engaged in prostitution, they are married or single, or they are from rural or urban communities. The circumstances of the rape were also expanded to include use of threat, by means of fraudule
