France reconsiders approach to combating sexual violence

France's National Assembly spent two days reviewing a bill overhauling how the country handles sexual violence, driven by years of advocacy and the mass rape trial of Gisèle Pelicot, who was drugged and raped by her ex-husband and at least 50 others. The bill would bar investigators from probing a victim's sexual history, let victims file complaints at healthcare centers instead of police stations, and strip custody from parents convicted of violence.

The push gained urgency after the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna this summer by a man with three prior, unaddressed complaints of sexual violence against minors on his record. A subsequent audit found 85,047 unaddressed complaints of sexual violence against minors nationwide, triggering protests.

NGO leader Sarah McGrath welcomed the bill but flagged protections missing for foreign-born victims, whose residency status abusers can weaponize, an issue lawmakers debated Thursday to applause. Vincent Blanchon of Citoyens et Justice said the bill ignores treatment of perpetrators, warning that punishment without support for reoffending risks releasing more dangerous people later. A vote is expected Oct. 13.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.