French legislators are facing pressure to redefine the legal definition of rape to include consent, a move supported by nine out of 10 citizens according to a 2023 survey. While other European countries have already adopted consent-based rape laws, France still defines rape based on acts of violence, coercion, threat, or surprise, without explicitly requiring consent.
Legal experts and women’s rights activists are divided on the issue, with some arguing that adding consent could shift the focus onto the victim’s behavior rather than the accused. However, the high-profile trial of Gisele, where a video of one defendant having sex with her while she was asleep was shown in court, has reignited the push for change.
A cross-party delegation for women’s rights in Parliament is working on a bill to redefine rape laws, with hopes of passing it by 2025. The trial has highlighted a legal loophole in current laws, with only 14% of rape complaints leading to formal investigations in France due to the difficulty of proving violence, threat, coercion, or surprise.
With public pressure and support from legislators, the conversation around consent and rape laws in France is shifting, signaling a potential change in the near future.