US EditionKissing a Woman's Hand Can Be Sexual Assault, Spanish Court Finds
Spain's Supreme Court ruled that non-consensual sexualized physical contact, such as an unsolicited hand kiss, constitutes sexual assault, reinforcing consent as a legal requirement.
- On Monday, the Spanish Supreme Court ruled that kissing a person's hand without consent constitutes sexual assault rather than street harassment, according to a decision obtained by AFP.
- The case involved an incident in January 2023 at a bus stop in Alcobendas, Madrid, where the defendant's lawyers unsuccessfully argued to reclassify the act as street harassment.
- Judges explained the defendant "acted with the intention of violating her sexual integrity," adding that the act involved "contact of a sexual nature and tone that the victim had no obligation to endure."
- Upholding a fine of more than 1,500 euros, the court confirmed that legal protections apply to all unwanted sexual contact, aligning with recent Spanish reforms prioritizing affirmative consent.
- The ruling follows the 2025 conviction of former Spanish Football Federation head Luis Rubiales, who was fined 10,800 euros for an unsolicited kiss on Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women's World Cup in Sydney.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Den som kysser någons hand utan samtycke gör sig skyldig till ett sexuellt övergrepp, slår Spaniens högsta domstol fast.
Court confirmed the condemnation of a man who touched and kissed a woman without permission
Spain’s Supreme Court rules non‑consensual hand kiss is sexual assault
Spain’s Tribunal Supremo (Supreme Court) has clarified that physical contact of a sexual nature without consent, including an unsolicited kiss on the hand, constitutes a sexual assault offence rather than street harassment. The decision establishes a clear legal boundary and will influence how similar incidents are treated under Spanish law. The case involved an incident in January 2023 at a bus… Source
Spain's highest court has upheld a man's conviction for sexual assault after he touched a woman at a bus stop.
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