New law on violence passed unanimously

The National Assembly passed a comprehensive law on sexual and gender-based violence against women and children unanimously on October 13, 2026. The law aims to cover the entire chain of violence, from prevention to repression, and had entered public debate in June following the aftermath of the Lyhanna case, which involved the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl.

Years of activism lead to progress

Feminist and child protection associations, including Aude Doumenge from the association Face à l’inceste, had mobilized for years to push for the law. After numerous demonstrations in late June and early July in front of the Ministry of Justice in Paris and courts throughout France, the government included the examination of the law in the parliamentary agenda for the autumn.

First step in legislative process

The vote in the National Assembly is the first step, with the examination of the text in the Senate scheduled for January 2027. Aude Doumenge expressed relief and victory over the unanimous vote, calling it the culmination of months of activism and advocacy.

Some measures left out

However, she noted that some important measures, such as those concerning foreign women victims of violence, were not passed. She emphasized that the victory is a realization of the active struggles of feminist and child protection associations and praised the commitment of parliamentarians on the issue.

New measures for child safety

The law includes several measures requested by associations, such as article 30, which mandates an individual annual interview for all students starting from the nursery to assess their safety and detect possible violence. The return of this obligation in the passed text is the result of mobilization and advocacy by Face à l’inceste, the Foundation for Childhood, and the coalition of associations.

New definitions in penal code

Other notable provisions include article 19, which establishes an autonomous definition of incest within the penal code, allowing for the term "incestuous rape" and including sexual violence between cousins. This marks a first step in recognizing the specificity of incest as both sexual and filial violence.

Law inspired by research and awareness

The comprehensive law is largely inspired by the work of the Ciivise, which published a report in September 2023. The mobilization around the law has been driven by increased awareness since the #MeTooInceste movement in 2021 and the book La familia grande by Camille Kouchner.

Funding and legislative risks remain

Despite the passage of the law, challenges remain, including the need for a budget of at least 3 billion euros to ensure the law's effectiveness. Associations warn that a law without adequate funding would be a broken promise, as inaction on sexual violence against children costs society 9.7 billion euros annually. The passage to the Senate poses potential risks, as senators may be less receptive to the analyses and realities of the issue. However, associations plan to continue mobilization and sensitization efforts with senators to ensure the law is not unraveled.