Diverging Legal Definitions of Sexual Consent and Their Impact on Justice: A Comparative Analysis of India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia
Abstract
The legal concept of sexual consent forms the foundation of sexual offence legislation, yet its definition and application differ significantly across jurisdictions. These differences influence judicial interpretation, legal certainty, and public understanding of individual rights and responsibilities. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the legal frameworks governing sexual consent in India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It examines statutory definitions, judicial interpretation, and the extent to which each jurisdiction adopts an autonomy-based approach to consent. While Indian law provides a statutory definition of consent, its practical application is complicated by overlapping legislation, age-based provisions, and exceptions relating to marital relationships. In contrast, the legal frameworks of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia define consent more explicitly as voluntary, informed, and ongoing agreement, placing greater emphasis on personal autonomy and affirmative participation. Through comparative legal analysis, this study argues that clearer and more consistent definitions of consent contribute to greater legal certainty, improved judicial consistency, and enhanced public understanding. The findings highlight the importance of coherent legal standards in strengthening access to justice and promoting the protection of sexual autonomy.
Keywords
difference between will and consent
sexual consent definition
consent vs will
Indian Penal Code 375
personal autonomy
affirmative consent
comparative criminal jurisprudence
legal definition of consent
Citation
51 CitationsMeena, K. (2026). Diverging Legal Definitions of Sexual Consent and Their Impact on Justice: A Comparative Analysis of India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Global Youth Science Journal, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19499163
Meena, Khushi. "Diverging Legal Definitions of Sexual Consent and Their Impact on Justice: A Comparative Analysis of India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia." Global Youth Science Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, 2026. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19499163.
Meena, Khushi. "Diverging Legal Definitions of Sexual Consent and Their Impact on Justice: A Comparative Analysis of India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia." Global Youth Science Journal 2, no. 1 (2026). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19499163.
Meena, K. (2026) 'Diverging Legal Definitions of Sexual Consent and Their Impact on Justice: A Comparative Analysis of India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia', Global Youth Science Journal, 2(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19499163.
@article{GYSJ2026Meena,
title={Diverging Legal Definitions of Sexual Consent and Their Impact on Justice: A Comparative Analysis of India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia},
author={Khushi Meena},
journal={Global Youth Science Journal},
volume={2},
number={1},
year={2026},
url={https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19499163}
}
TY - JOUR TI - Diverging Legal Definitions of Sexual Consent and Their Impact on Justice: A Comparative Analysis of India, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia JO - Global Youth Science Journal VL - 2 IS - 1 PY - 2026 UR - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19499163 AU - Khushi Meena ER -
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