Italy's Senate has postponed debate on a landmark bill that would stipulate for the first time that sex without consent constitutes rape, exposing tensions within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition.

Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that the measure, approved by the lower house earlier this month, stipulates that anyone engaging in sexual acts without the other person's free consent could face six to 12 years in prison.

Italian law currently defines sexual violence as forcing someone to perform or undergo sexual acts "through violence, threats, or abuse of authority" and does not explicitly recognise lack of consent as sufficient grounds for a rape charge.