France Adopts Stronger Sexual Consent Laws

Thousands of protesters demonstrate against sexual abuse in the 2018 “Balance Ton Porc” movement, a predecessor to France’s 2021 reckoning on sexual violence (Wikipedia Commons).

The French Parliament adopted a new law on April 16 to strengthen measures against pedophilia and incest. Parliament’s action was prompted by ex-EU Parliament member Oliver Dunhamel’s admission to sexually abusing his stepson. The new law, passing with a unanimous Senate vote, signals a shift in France’s sexual culture, which has long been marked by high levels of sexual freedom with relatively few protections for minors. 

French President Emmanuel Macron and hundreds of French protesters pushed Parliament into swift action to enact tougher protections for minors after Dunhamel’s step-daughter, Camille Kouchner, came forward in her new book. She levies allegations that her father, a former French EU representative and political pundit, sexually abused her step-brother in his early teens. Kouchner’s story resonated with hundreds of French people who tweeted #MeTooInceste in response to the news, revealing a deep problem of sexual abuse within French society.

The new law, which translates to “Against Sexual and Sexist Violence,” introduced by centrist senator Annick Billon, includes provisions to prevent incest among minors, pedophilic relationships, and sexual harassment. The law also strengthened existing French laws against sexual violence, which have long faced international criticism for being too lax. Under the new law, relationships with minors under 15 will effectively be criminalized, along with any incestuous relationships involving a minor under 18. The time period for reporting sexual crimes will be extended from 20 to 30 years after the act was committed, and police officers will now be allowed to fine low-level sexual assault perpetrators without the need for a trial. 

“We hear you and… you are not alone,” said the French Minister of Justice to survivors of sexual assault and harassment.

Remnants of a dwindling attitude towards sexual consent have not disappeared entirely. The most controversial part of the bill is an exemption clause titled “Romeo and Juliet,” allowing legitimate relationships between minors and adults within five years of age. Proponents argued that without the escape the law would be an affront to liberty, with others arguing that allowing a 13-year-old to date an 18-year-old crossed a redline. Former En Marche politician Albaine Gaillot recommended the clause be amended to a four-year age difference. Either way, France has taken a large step towards ensuring the safety of minors and reckoning with its past of sexual abuse.