France to debate comprehensive sexual violence law in October

The French government has announced that the National Assembly will begin examining a comprehensive bill against gender-based and sexual violence in early October. This legislative move follows the Lyhanna affair, involving the death of an 11-year-old girl, which intensified calls for systemic reform. The proposed law, introduced by Socialist deputy Céline Thiébault-Martinez, consists of 69 articles aimed at strengthening protections for women and children.

Due to the upcoming senatorial elections at the end of September, the government is unlikely to convene an extraordinary parliamentary session this month. Instead, the bill is expected to be the first item on the official agenda when regular sessions resume in October. A special commission is scheduled to begin reviewing the text on September 7.

Simultaneously, a political dispute has emerged between Justice Minister Laurent Nuñez and former Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin regarding the handling of sexual violence cases involving minors. Nuñez has rejected Darmanin’s claims of a “phantom stock” of unprocessed or lost files, asserting that all cases are being handled and prioritized in coordination with prosecutors.