French officials have announced that a new "comprehensive law" aimed at combating sexual and gender-based violence will be reviewed by the National Assembly starting in early October. The proposed legislation, introduced by Socialist Party (PS) deputy Céline Thiébault-Martinez on August 11, contains 69 articles and will first be examined by a special committee on September 7. The government had asked the Council of State, France’s top administrative court, for its opinion on the bill, which was provided in mid-July. This prompted lawmakers, advocacy groups, and ministers to collaborate on refining the text. The push for this legislation comes in the wake of the Lyhanna case, which shocked the nation. An 11-year-old girl was found dead and raped in the Gers department, a rural area in southwestern France. The tragic incident has intensified calls for stronger legal protections for children and victims of gender-based violence. The initial version of the bill was drafted by Thiébault-Martinez at the end of 2025, drawing on 130 proposals from a coalition of feminist and child rights organizations. Originally, the National Assembly had planned to hold a public debate on the bill during an extraordinary session on September 28. However, recent reports suggest that the government has decided not to proceed with this session. Parliamentary sources indicate that the government will instead resume the legislative process on October 1st. This shift has raised questions about the timeline and urgency of the debate, as the issue remains highly sensitive and politically significant. The proposed law is seen as a critical step in addressing systemic issues related to violence against women and children in France. While the government has not yet confirmed its full support for the bill, the involvement of multiple stakeholders—including civil society groups and legal experts—suggests that the legislation may face further revisions before it is formally debated. The outcome of this process could have far-reaching implications for France’s legal framework on gender-based violence.