The definition of consent has always been central to discussions of sexual assault. At the heart of every sexual assault case is the question of whether the accuser consented to the actions of the accused.
Traditionally, the victim in a sexual assault case has had to prove that he or she said “no,” that he or she actively refused the advances of the aggressor.
This is difficult to prove: as a result, according to the Department of Justice, only between eight and 37 percent of rapes ever lead to prosecution, and only three to 18 percent end in a conviction.