Elizabeth A. Kelly CBE (born 1951)[1] is a British professor and director of the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU), London Metropolitan University,[2] former head of the, now defunct, Women's National Commission,[3] and co-chair, along with Marai Larasi, of the End Violence Against Women Coalition.
[4] Kelly has written numerous papers and articles relating to violence against women and children, and has been a guest editor on the journal Child Abuse Review.
[5] Her review of why so many alleged rapists go unprosecuted and unconvicted, which she conducted for the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, stated, "that at each stage of the legal process, stereotypes and prejudices play a part in decision-making".
[6][7] In her book "The Hidden Gender of Law", Kelly argues "there is no clear distinction between consensual sex and rape, but a continuum of pressure, threat, coercion and force".
Such a definition was criticised by Wendy McElroy, describing it as "disastrously subjective" also noting "regret is not a benchmark of consent".