Overview
- Both the National Assembly and the Senate approved the revised text that adds explicit, revocable consent to France's penal code.
- The law defines sexual assault as any non-consensual sexual act and specifies that silence or lack of reaction does not constitute consent.
- The Senate said consent must be free, specific and capable of being withdrawn.
- The reform follows years of debate renewed by the Gisèle Pelicot case, in which her ex-husband drugged her and 51 men were convicted.
- Austria's justice minister Anna Sporrer said she will seek to codify the 'Only yes means yes' principle, arguing it would aid victims and set a clear societal standard, with Sweden, Norway and Denmark already using similar approaches.