There is a law called the Consent Act (samtyckeslagen). It means that you are only allowed to have sex with someone if they have given their consent.

There must be consent for the entire time you are having sex. Consent must also be given every time you have sex. You may want to have sex one way on one day, but another way on another day. 

It is not allowed to force someone to have sex 

It is illegal to force someone to have sex. It is also illegal to have sex with someone who does not express that they want to have sex. That's why you should never pressure someone to have sex. Then the person might have sex with you even if they don’t really want to. That is not the same as giving consent. 

Can be considered rape 

Having sex with someone without consent is considered rape or sexual assault. A common punishment is imprisonment. 

There are different ways to tell that someone wants to have sex. Here are some examples:

• They say “Yes” to sex. 
• They ask you to continue what you are doing. 
• They look like they’re enjoying themselves and look happy. 
• They touch you and hold you. 

Ask the person if they want to have sex if you are unsure. It is better to ask than to not be completely sure.

Here are some examples of situations where it is illegal to have sex with someone: 

• The person has not said or shown that they want to. 
• The person is sleeping and doesn’t notice that you are having sex with them. 
• The person is affected by alcohol or drugs and cannot say either “Yes” or “No”. 
• The person feels that they have been forced or persuaded to have sex. 

Sex should feel good and you should feel safe. No one is allowed to do anything sexual with you when you haven’t said or shown that you want them to.

Contact the police 

Contact the police if you have been the victim of sexual assault. The link leads to a Swedish website. 

Contact healthcare providers 

Call the telephone number 1177 for help with where to get the healthcare you need. Sometimes it is possible to get help in languages other than Swedish and English. Call +46 771 11 77 00 if you have a phone with a foreign number.  

You can get support after an assault 

Through a healthcare centre you can talk to a psychologist or counsellor. There are also various organisations that provide support services. Here are some examples: 

• Brottsofferjouren. The link leads to a website in English, but they offer support in several languages. 
• Terrafem. The link leads to a website in Swedish, but they offer support in several languages. 
• Alla Kvinnors Hus. The link leads to a website in Swedish. 

You need to take responsibility for your behaviour if you have had sex with someone who did not give consent. It is important that you seek help so that you don’t do the same thing again. There is treatment available. 

You can call the Preventell helpline for advice. The link leads to a website in Swedish. You can also contact a healthcare centre (vårdcentral).