Overview
- The Senate gave final approval on Oct. 29, completing passage of a measure that will take effect upon official publication.
- The law defines rape and other sexual assault as any sexual act without consent, which must be free, informed, specific, prior and revocable, and cannot be inferred from silence or lack of reaction.
- The reform replaces a violence-centered standard that hinged on violence, coercion, threat or surprise in the penal code.
- Backed by a broad cross-party majority and led by deputies Marie-Charlotte Garin and Véronique Riotton, the text faced opposition from the far right.
- Lawmakers accelerated the overhaul after the Gisèle Pelicot case, in which 51 men were convicted; the ex-husband received 20 years and one appeal yielded a higher 10-year sentence earlier this month.