French Parliament Debates Redefinition of Rape to Include Absence of Consent

The proposed law, backed by the government, seeks to align France’s legal framework with international standards, with a vote scheduled for April 1, 2025.

The French Parliament is actively debating a transpartisan proposal to redefine rape by explicitly including the absence of consent in its legal definition.
Current French law defines rape based on violence, threat, coercion, or surprise, without addressing consent explicitly.
The proposal specifies that consent must be 'free, informed, specific, prior, and revocable,' with amendments addressing concerns raised by critics.
The Council of State has reassured critics that the investigative focus will remain on the accused, not the victim, and provided clarifications on interpreting silence and lack of resistance.
Supporters argue the reform addresses societal attitudes and stereotypes about victims, while some critics question the need for the law and its focus on victim behavior.