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ACSVAW's Further Submission on Security Bureau’s Consultation Paper "Improving the Laws on Sexual Offences in Hong Kong" raises two principal concerns, which we ask the government to address: the mistaken belief in consent defence, and the omission of a "persistent child sexual abuse" offence.
An overview of the Association’s response and key discussions regarding the Security Bureau's July 2026 public consultation on 'Improving the Laws on Sexual Offences in Hong Kong'...
The Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women (ACSVAW) and "We Are X – Sexual Offence Reforms Concern Group", a group self-organised by victim-survivors of sexual violence, held a press conference to express their views following the launch of the government's public consultation on Improving the Laws on Sexual Offences in Hong Kong.
In 2000, with the support of Dr. Philip S.L. Beh, the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women established RainLily, Hong Kong's first sexual violence crisis support centre. Since then, Dr. Beh served as an honorary consultant to the Association and RainLily, consistently speaking up for sexual violence victim-survivors with care. Dr. Philip S.L. Beh passed away on 2 July, 2025. His family donated part of the funeral condolences to RainLily. In gratitude for his years of contribution and to continue his selfless spirit and love for RainLily and sexual violence victim-survivors, RainLily has established the Dr. Philip Beh Swan-lip Charitable Memorial Fund.
The Association welcomes the government’s statutory definition of consent, expansion of rape offences, and criminalisation of ‘stealthing’ and liquid splashing. However, we remain deeply concerned that failing to restrict the vague ‘mistaken belief’ defence leaves a critical loophole, allowing courts to misinterpret trauma responses as implied consent.
Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women (ACSVAW), Hong Kong Committee on Children's Rights (HKCCR), Plan International Hong Kong, and TALK Hong Kong today launched a Joint Position Paper to urge the Hong Kong Government to close legal loopholes and modernise the city's legal framework regarding child sexual abuse. The paper has garnered the support of 32 signatories from children's rights organisations, anti-sexual violence groups, and individual professionals.
Confused by love and confronted with buried pain, a spirited teenager unleashes chaos with words spoken in a moment of anger. Anonymous notes questioning her actions begin to arrive, altering her quiet life. "The World of Love" explores the quiet resilience it takes to own one’s story — and future. Join RainLily for a charity screening.
Hong Kong’s outdated sexual offence laws continue to leave victim-survivors of all gender backgrounds vulnerable. Following the Security Bureau's announcement to review the city's sexual offence legislation in the first quarter of this year based on "gender-neutral" principles, the urgency for reform has never been greater. To further explore the prevalence of sexual violence against transgender and gender-diverse individuals and their perspectives on current legislation, Quarks and the Association conducted the "Survey on the Experiences of Sexual Violence Among Transgender and Gender-Diverse Individuals" between May and August 2025. The survey collected 108 responses, with 102 valid samples.
ACSVAW has published a study focusing on victimisation experiences related to "Non-Consensual Condom Removal" (NCCR), commonly known as 'stealthing'. The research reveals that the responding public broadly considers NCCR a violation of informed consent. It also found that victims come from diverse sexual and gender backgrounds. However, both current community and institutional systems fail to adequately acknowledge victims' experiences, creating significant hurdles when seeking help. The Association urges the authorities to expedite the reform of sexual offence laws to explicitly strengthen protections without gender distinction, and to urgently improve the responsiveness of emergency medical support services for victim-survivors.
MEDIA Coverage
Position Papers
ACSVAW's Further Submission on Security Bureau’s Consultation Paper "Improving the Laws on Sexual Offences in Hong Kong" raises two principal concerns, which we ask the government to address: the mistaken belief in consent defence, and the omission of a "persistent child sexual abuse" offence.
Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women (ACSVAW), Hong Kong Committee on Children's Rights (HKCCR), Plan International Hong Kong, and TALK Hong Kong today launched a Joint Position Paper to urge the Hong Kong Government to close legal loopholes and modernise the city's legal framework regarding child sexual abuse. The paper has garnered the support of 32 signatories from children's rights organisations, anti-sexual violence groups, and individual professionals.
The Association supports the passage of the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill by the Legislative Council and urges improvements.
Press Release
The Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women (ACSVAW) and "We Are X – Sexual Offence Reforms Concern Group", a group self-organised by victim-survivors of sexual violence, held a press conference to express their views following the launch of the government's public consultation on Improving the Laws on Sexual Offences in Hong Kong.
The Association welcomes the government’s statutory definition of consent, expansion of rape offences, and criminalisation of ‘stealthing’ and liquid splashing. However, we remain deeply concerned that failing to restrict the vague ‘mistaken belief’ defence leaves a critical loophole, allowing courts to misinterpret trauma responses as implied consent.
Forum on Sexual Offence Law Reform calls for bridging the gap between survivors' experience and legal system. Survivors testify to a system that ignores trauma and permits "absurd" legal defences regarding the "mistaken belief" of consent.