The new amendment to the Slovenian criminal code, debated for nearly three years, removes the requirement for evidence of use of force or the threat of use of force and violence to classify an act as a rape.

The country joins Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Sweden and the UK in having consent-based legal definitions of rape.

The governments of Spain and the Netherlands are currently holding consultations on similar changes to their respective laws.

Nils Muižnieks, Europe director at Amnesty International, said: “This is a historic victory for women in Slovenia and an important step along the road to changing culture, attitudes and behaviour. It is also a testament to years of campaigning by survivors who have helped to ensure that other women do not have to go through what they endured.

“Shockingly, Slovenia is only the 13th country in Europe to recognise the simple fact that sex without consent is rape, although more countries are changing their legal definitions of rape.

“There is still a great deal of work to be done to challenge the deep-seated attitudes to rape and harmful gender stereotypes, but today we take a moment to celebrate.”