French National Assembly modifies sexual violence legislation

The French National Assembly has concluded the examination of a comprehensive bill aimed at combating sexual and gender-based violence. While some progress was made, such as the adoption of a new specific leave for employees who are victims of sexual assault or harassment to facilitate medical and legal procedures, several key measures were rejected.

Notably, the Assembly voted against a provision that would have prevented foreign victims of sexual violence from being issued an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) after filing a complaint. This measure, supported by feminist and child protection organizations, aimed to ensure that vulnerable women—whose residency status often depends on a spouse—could report abuse without fear of deportation. The Rassemblement National (RN) and several members of the central government bloc opposed the measure, arguing it could be exploited to bypass immigration controls.

Additionally, the Assembly rejected an RN amendment that sought to make permanent deportation the mandatory rule for foreigners convicted of certain sexual offenses. The government opposed this, advocating for individualized sanctions to ensure proportionality. Feminist associations have expressed outrage over these developments, characterizing the removal of certain protections as a regression in rights for foreign women and workers.