France poised to toughen laws against sexual harassment and extend deadlines for rape charges
One of the most eye-catching aspects of the bill has been the plan to punish sexual harassment on the street with fines
France was poised to announce a series of measures against sexual violence on Wednesday, including on-the-spot fines for sexual harassment on the street and extended deadlines for filing rape complaints.
President Emmanuel Macron has said the bill is meant to ensure “women are not afraid to be outside”, after a wave of sexual assault allegations levelled against men in the public eye around the world triggered a protest movement online.
Under the legislation, which still needs to be approved by parliament, underage victims of rape will have until they are aged 48 to file a complaint, taking the deadline to 30 years after they turn 18, from 20 now.
The law will also set an age – 15 – under which one will be presumed not to have agreed to having sex with someone aged 18 or more. This age of consent will facilitate rape prosecutions, Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa said.
We want to preserve seduction, chivalry and ‘L’Amour à la française’ by saying what is key is consent
Together with the age of consent, one of the most eye-catching aspects of the bill has been the plan to punish sexual harassment on the street with fines.
