A petition has been initiated in Portugal demanding a legal amendment to classify “stealthing”—the act of removing a condom during sexual intercourse without the partner’s consent—as a crime under the Portuguese Penal Code. This initiative seeks to address the violation of consent and ensure legal accountability for such actions.
A public petition launched on Saturday urges the Assembly of the Republic and the Ministry of Justice in Portugal to amend legislation and classify stealthing—the non-consensual removal of a condom during sexual intercourse—as a crime under the Portuguese Penal Code. The petition highlights the need for legal recognition of this act as a serious violation of consent.
A petition has been launched in Portugal calling for the criminalization of stealthing, the act of removing a condom during sexual intercourse without a partner’s consent. The petition, available for signature on the Public Petition website, argues that by criminalizing stealthing, Portugal would take a significant step in safeguarding sexual consent rights and align its laws with international human rights and justice standards. The petition urges both the Assembly of the Republic and the Ministry of Justice to make this important change to the Portuguese Penal Code.
A petition has been launched in Portugal calling for the criminalization of stealthing, the act of removing a condom during sexual intercourse without the partner’s consent. In addition to urging a revision of the Penal Code to categorize stealthing as a sexual crime, the petition’s signatories are also requesting the Assembly of the Republic and the Ministry of Justice to consider implementing protocols for evidence collection that adhere to international best practices. Furthermore, they advocate for educational campaigns aimed at raising awareness about consent and the serious consequences of stealthing.
A petition launched in Portugal emphasizes that stealthing—a non-consensual act of removing a condom during intercourse—is a clear violation of sexual consent. It highlights the severe risks this action poses to victims, including the potential transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unwanted pregnancies, and significant emotional trauma. The petition calls for legislative changes to recognize stealthing as a crime under the Portuguese Penal Code.
A petition launched in Portugal calls for the criminalization of stealthing, pointing out that in countries like Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and certain U.S. states, it is already recognized as a form of sexual assault, with corresponding punishments. The petition highlights that, under current Portuguese law, stealthing is not specifically addressed, leaving victims without adequate legal protections and without clear mechanisms to report the crime and seek justice.
The petition launched in Portugal to criminalize stealthing also underscores that in other countries, the victim’s testimony plays a central role in the judicial process. It further explains that medical examinations conducted immediately after the incident can serve as vital evidence, documenting biological material or confirming the absence of condom use. Additionally, communications such as text messages, voice recordings, or any other exchanges where the perpetrator acknowledges their actions can be used in court. In cases involving digital communication, experts are often called upon to validate messages, emails, or any electronic evidence, ensuring its credibility and admissibility in legal proceedings.
The petition launched in Portugal calls on legislative authorities to act swiftly in protecting citizens and ensuring that practices that violate sexual consent, such as stealthing, are not left unpunished. The signatories urge lawmakers to take immediate action to address this issue and introduce legal measures that would hold perpetrators accountable.
As of the publication of this article, 355 individuals had signed the petition to criminalize stealthing in Portugal. According to the Assembly of the Republic’s website, any petition that gathers at least 1,000 signatures is published in the Official Gazette, and petitioners are invited for a hearing before the relevant committee. Furthermore, if the petition receives more than 7,500 signatures or is endorsed by the committee, it will be presented for consideration in a plenary session of the Assembly of the Republic.
The petition to criminalize stealthing in Portugal was launched following the public disclosure of accusations made by musician Liliana Cunha, known by her stage name Tágide. She has accused pianist and teacher João Pedro Coelho of rape and stealthing, which allegedly occurred in 2023. This case has sparked widespread outrage and contributed to a wave of approximately 85 harassment complaints within the national artistic community, particularly in the jazz sector. These complaints involve a range of offenses, including harassment of minors, rape, stalking, and stealthing.
