Women4Change Indiana issues statement on Interim Study Committee’s decision not to recommend legislation defining consent

The Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code met yesterday and decided not to recommend proposed legislation defining consent in the Indiana statute. 

 In response, Rima Shahid, executive director of Women4Change Indiana, said, “Unfortunately, the Interim Study Committee was unable to come to a consensus to make a recommendation about passing legislation to define consent in the state of Indiana. After hours of testimony, it is evident that Indiana is in dire need of legislation geared toward defining consent in the Indiana statute. Women4Change remains committed to continuing the fight and advocating for Hoosier women.”

DISTURBING FACTS

·      One in five Hoosier women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

·      Indiana has the fourth-highest number of high school girls who are sexually assaulted.

·      Sex without consent is not a crime in Indiana.

BACKGROUND

On March 5, 2020, as part of an awareness campaign, clotheslines bearing more than 1,500 postcards with Hoosiers’ personal statements about sexual assault were hung in the Indiana Statehouse, starkly revealing the scale of the problem and calling for legislative action.

 Two months later – 10 years after victims’ rights groups began working on the issue – the Indiana Legislative Council assigned a committee to study the topic of sexual consent. On Sept. 15, the study committee met to hear testimony from survivors and advocates about changes needed in Indiana law.

 Rep. Sue Errington-D (Muncie), Rep. Wendy McNamara-R (Evansville), Rep. Chris Campbell-D (West Lafayette), Rep. Sharon Negele-R (Attica) and Sen. Karen Tallian-D (Ogden Dunes) provided letters of support for the study committee.

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MEDIA CONTACT:  Rima Shahid, 317-308-8910