In the aftermath of the high-profile Gisèle Pelicot rape trial, a group of French lawmakers has called for a major change in the country’s rape law to explicitly include the concept of consent.
Currently, French law defines rape as an act involving “violence, coercion, threat or surprise,” but does not clearly address consent. The cross-party panel of MPs, led by Véronique Riotton from President Macron’s Renaissance party and Marie-Charlotte Garin of the Ecologists party, has proposed an urgent revision to the law. In a report presented to parliament on Tuesday, they argued that the definition of rape should emphasize that consent must be “specific, freely given, and capable of being withdrawn at any moment.”
This call for reform comes after the Gisèle Pelicot trial, where her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and organizing the rape of Gisèle Pelicot by 50 other men over the course of more than a decade. The case has shocked the nation, leading to widespread discussions about rape culture in France. The trial also sparked public protests and rallies, with Gisèle Pelicot’s bravery throughout the proceedings inspiring many activists to push for stronger measures against sexual violence.
The parliamentary report emphasized that France lags behind 14 other EU countries—such as Germany, Spain, and Sweden—that have already updated their rape laws to include consent. The panel noted that French society still holds persistent stereotypes about what constitutes a “real victim” and “real rape,” which contributes to a climate of impunity for perpetrators.
While President Macron and Justice Minister Didier Migaud have expressed support for updating the law, some legal experts and women’s rights groups oppose the move. They argue that such a change could inadvertently shift the focus onto the victims instead of the perpetrators. A study by the Institute of Public Policies revealed that only 14% of rape complaints in France result in formal investigations, citing challenges in gathering sufficient evidence of violence, threat, or coercion.
The call for reform aims to shift the focus towards protecting victims and creating clearer, more effective legal recourse in sexual violence cases.
