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3w ago

French National Assembly Debates Redefinition of Rape to Include Non-Consent

Lawmakers are considering a proposal to align France's legal definition of rape with international standards, sparking discussions on its symbolic importance and practical implications.

Si la notion de consentement semble intégrée par les jeunes interrogés par La Croix, tous n’y adhèrent pas. Selon la sociologue Rébecca Lévy-Guillain, ceux qui y sont sensibles « appartiennent plutôt aux classes moyennes supérieures et à la bourgeoisie. »
Comme certaines associations féministes, les avocats s’inquiètent d’un éventuel renversement de la charge de la preuve sur la victime. Ici, un collage féministe dans les rues de Rennes.
Faut-il inscrire la notion de non-consentement dans la définition pénale du viol ? Les débats qui agitent juristes et associations féministes arrivent mardi dans l’hémicycle
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Overview

  • The proposed law would redefine rape as any sexual act without consent, specifying that consent must be free, informed, specific, prior, and revocable.
  • The measure, supported by the Council of State, aims to consolidate existing jurisprudence while addressing gaps in the current legal framework.
  • Feminist groups and victims express cautious optimism, seeing the reform as a symbolic step toward reducing systemic impunity for sexual violence.
  • Critics, including some feminists and legal experts, warn the reform could shift investigative focus onto victims' behavior rather than perpetrators' actions.
  • The proposal passed committee review without opposition but faced abstentions, and its first reading in the National Assembly reflects both support and skepticism.