New Bill on Gender-Based Violence Reaches French Parliament

A comprehensive bill targeting sexist and sexual violence begins its parliamentary review in a special committee. The legislation follows the tragic murder of Lyhanna, an 11-year-old girl found dead and sexually assaulted in June.

Makers of the bill argue the murder highlights an urgent need to reform protections for women and children, noting the main suspect had faced a prior unresolved rape complaint.

“Je suis motivée pour qu’on aille au bout des débats et qu’on parvienne à adopter un texte qui soit dans l’esprit de ce qu’il est aujourd’hui.”

Backed by 240 lawmakers across eight political groups excluding RN, LFI, and UDR, the bill aims to cover prevention, victim support, justice, and perpetrator tracking.

Initially drafted with 140 association proposals, the text was reduced to 69 articles following advice from the Council of State. Lawmaker Céline Thiébault-Martinez emphasized her motivation to meet the expectations of feminist and children's rights associations.

Legal expert Audrey Darsonville praised the bill for spanning multiple disciplines. Key measures include article 5, which establishes specialized courts and trained judges for sexual and domestic violence cases.