France has taken a historic step toward gender justice as the Senate voted to introduce a consent-based definition of rape into the country’s penal code. The move has been hailed by Amnesty International France as a landmark victory for survivors of sexual violence and a testament to the tireless efforts of feminist organizations, activists, and campaigners who have long fought for reform.
According to Lola Schulmann, Gender Justice Advocacy Officer at Amnesty International France, the new law represents a long-awaited breakthrough that acknowledges non-consensual sex as rape, a change that will play a crucial role in preventing sexual violence and improving access to justice for victims. She emphasized that the amendment will have a powerful educational impact by fostering a culture of consent and influencing the training of those within the legal system.
While the adoption of this law is a major milestone, Schulmann cautioned that achieving real change will require more than legislative reform. She stressed the need for significant financial investment and an intersectional approach to ensure the effective implementation of the law and to eliminate impunity for gender-based and sexual violence.
The new law was first approved by the National Assembly on 23 October before being passed by the Senate. France now joins sixteen European Union member states, including Spain, Sweden, and Germany, that have adopted consent-based definitions of rape, aligning their national laws with international human rights standards such as the Istanbul Convention.
