The ACT's sexual consent laws must be reformed to eliminate confusion over what does and does not constitute "yes", young women's rights activists say.
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Greens crossbencher Caroline Le Couteur wants to introduce an affirmative consent model in the ACT that would define consent as "free and voluntary agreement".
Her private members bill would also require someone accused of sexual assault to prove they knew or were "satisfied on reasonable grounds" that consent was freely given.
The exposure draft is being scrutinised by an ACT Legislative Assembly committee, which is considering whether the changes would reverse the onus of proof and undermine the right to a fair trial.
The ACT Bar Association and the Director of Public Prosecutions have panned the proposed changes, concerned the legislation is unnecessary and regressive.
Director of Public Prosecutions Jon White said there was no need for a statutory definition of consent as it was inherent in the common law meaning of the term that it be freely and voluntarily given.
The Bar Association said the provisions were contrary to the right to a fair trial, set out in the ACT's human rights laws.
But eighteen-year-olds Tanvi Nangrani and Zahra Moinkhah from Young Women Speak Out told the inquiry that reform was required to remove the "grey areas" around consent.
Ms Moinkhah said in other areas of life, the absence of the word no or silence would not be mistaken for agreement, and sex should be no different.
She hit out at the legal profession for opposing the changes on "technicalities".
"The law is put into place to protect the citizens and let them feel safe but no young women can feel safe when the defenders of the law are arguing to keep the [law] outdated instead of moving forward and promoting safety," Ms Moinkhah said.
"I am here so young women no longer feel unprotected by laws that should have been put into place to protect them, that if a loved one of mine is hurt she will be able to speak up and get the justice she deserves with the help of the law that is put in place to protect and value her. If there is a single young woman in your life you care about there should be no question in you supporting this change."
Ms Nangrani told the inquiry the power imbalance in universities and workplaces left young women vulnerable to exploitation.
“The good news is this power imbalance is finally changing in our community, women are being heard, their allegations of sexual assaults and rapes are listened to and investigated. It’s about time the law reflects these changing attitudes in the community," Ms Nangrani said.
"Canberra proudly calls itself a liberal and progressive city. Unfortunately the law of consent in the ACT is archaic and puts a blot on its progressive image. All other states and territories define consent as what it is rather than what it is not.
"It’s difficult to understand as to why the ACT is still sticking to the current definition of consent which puts onus of consent entirely on the victim. The current law fails to protect victims of sexual assault who’ve felt too scared or unsafe to say no. It’s beyond comprehension why changing the law is such a problem."
Ms Nangrani said defining consent in law would go some way to addressing the under-reporting of sexual assaults.
"That way everyone has a clear definition of exactly what consent is, then people would be more able to speak up because they won’t be questioning ‘will my voice be heard’ or not," Ms Nangrani said.
The inquiry continues on Tuesday.
